Author: Edgar Tavakalian

 13:01,

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 25, ARMENPRESS. According to the verified information, 5 contract servicemen of the Defense Army of Artsakh received wounds of various degrees as a result of the skirmish provoked by the Azerbaijani forces in the night of March 25, the Artsakh Information Center said.

“Their lives are not in danger”, the Center said.

 11:45,

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS. 21 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases to 422,444, the Armenian Ministry of Healthcare said.

1 patient died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the death toll to 8608.

64 people recovered (total recoveries: 409,757).

2406 tests were administered (total tests: 2,964,598).

 16:33,

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Human Rights Ombudsman’s Staff of Artsakh has published a trilingual (Armenian, Russian, English) interim report on “The Violations of the Rights of the People of Artsakh by Azerbaijan in February – March, 2022”, which was sent to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, organizations with a primary human rights protection mandate and international human rights organizations, the Ombudsman’s Office said in a press release.

The report briefs on the violations committed by Azerbaijan against the life, health, physical and psychological integrity of the people of Artsakh after the adoption of the trilateral statement on November 9, 2020.

The first section presents facts about the Azerbaijani criminal actions in the direction of the border settlements of the Republic of Artsakh in February – March, 2022. From March 7 to 12, 2022, the Azerbaijani side used a 60 mm grenade launcher, a total of 57 shells were fired at various regions of Artsakh. During that time, the ceasefire regime was continuously violated by firearms targeting residential houses and other civilian infrastructures. One civilian was injured.   

The second section presents the humanitarian consequences of the disruption of gas supply by Azerbaijan in the territory of Artsakh. 65% of the schools in the country where 60% of the total number of students receive education are heated with gas. Due to the lack of proper heating, classes in all secondary schools have been suspended. The attendance of children in kindergartens is 22%. 12 kindergartens have ceased their activities at all, and some of them are working for a half day.90% of secondary vocational education institutions, art schools, medical and music collages, children’s creative centers heated by the use of gas which have completely ceased their activities.

70% of health organizations and hospitals are heated by the use of gas, where 419 citizens are currently receiving inpatient treatment, including 46 children in the children’s hospital, and 51 newborns and mothers in the maternity hospital. Hundreds of entrepreneurs also suffer great losses as a result of the gas supply disruption. Gas stations were particularly hard-hit causing personnel downtime, greenhouses operating with gas supply were also affected.

The third section presents the manifestations of psychological terrorism and information attacks carried out by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh which are aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear, despair among the civilian population under the threat of use of force and compelling the people to leave their homes.

The report was prepared on the basis of studies conducted by the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Staff, visits to various communities, educational and health institutions, settlements, private conversations with citizens, as well as information received from state authorized bodies. The report aims to document the cases of violations of rights of the people of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and their various manifestations, to draw the attention of international structures and human rights organizations to the situation in Artsakh.

The report is available at the following link: 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1078260.html?fbclid=IwAR3i16k3yLL72EM6SHAwUq-Et1WoF4ifQQGsZHbyh2Nl4PS6VO9RrPNdI8g

 14:38,

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. According to assessments of various international organizations the sanctions against Russia could lead to 6-10% economic decline, and Armenia will also be impacted, expert Meri Hovsepyan from the Amberd Analytical Center said at a press conference.

“Naturally Armenia will also be impacted given the fact that Russia is our main trade-economic partner. Recently Amberd Analytical Center released expert assessments according to which 1% economic decline in Russia could lead to 0,7% decline in Armenia. This means that if a 6-10% decline were to happen in Russia, the decline in Armenia could be around 4-6%,” she said.

Hovsepyan added that the sanctions against Russia have impacted Armenia’s exports because supply chains are disrupted, in some cases also suspended, which created risks and obstacles for Armenian exporters.

“In addition, we will see the impact in the form of transfers and investments. And naturally in the context of this all the transfer volume will drop,” Hovsepyan said.

The expert also drew attention on the issue of food security, noting that the EAEU countries have already implemented procurements for the 2021-22 season and if in that period any member-state, including Armenia, were to have the need for additional imports then this could be done through a licensed process.

 18:02,

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced about the necessity for holding a meeting of the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union and the CSTO member states to work out decisions to countereffect the sanctions against Russia, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, Lukashenko said during the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We must gather within the CSTO, we must gather within the EEU, unite together. After all, everyone is talking about that we should be together. I suggest and I think you will support me. We have to gather in Moscow and sit down at the negotiating table," Lukashenko said.

The President of Belarus noted that Russia has always helped its allies.

According to him, by uniting the markets, they will forget in a month about the sanctions.

Armenian FMA doesn’t have a decision concerning participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum

 17:52, 2 March, 2022

YEREVAN, 2 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. There is no decision concerning the participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, ARMENPRESS reports, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan said at the National Assembly during the Q&A session answering to the question of MP Sargis Khandanyan of “Civil Contract” faction about the position the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

“I hope that you will agree that in the world, let me say, events develop very rapidly and change  every day, every second. And when the deadlines approach, we will make a decision'', said Mirzoyan.

Earlier Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu informed that Armenia also is invited to the diplomatic forum of March 11-13 to be held in Antalya. Ministers of Foreign Affairs participate in the forum. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan announced at the press conference that Armenia will very likely accept the invitation of participation in the Antalya diplomatic forum , but everything depends on the situation at that moment.

A view of Haram al-Sharif and Church of All Nations from At-Tur (Mount of Olives), during sunset in Jerusalem on October 12, 2021. ( Mustafa Alkharouf – Anadolu Agency )