Author: Garnik Tadevosian

 09:57, 20 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The parliamentary select committee probing the causes and course of the 2020 Second Karabakh War is holding its first open session on June 20. All previous sessions where high-ranking former and present government officials and military commanders testified proceeded behind closed doors.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will testify at the session today.

Pashinyan earlier said he’d want his testimony to be broadcast live at an open session. 

Both opposition factions are boycotting the session.

 14:13, 14 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani forces opened fire at Armenian military positions near Yeraskh village at 13:45, June 14, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in a statement.

“On June 14, at 1:45 p.m., the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire from different caliber small arms against the Armenian combat positions in the vicinity of the Yeraskh settlement. No losses from the Armenian side,” the Defense Ministry said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Azerbaijani forces shot and wounded two Indian construction workers at a construction site of a steel plant in Yeraskh.

 00:45,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenia defeated Wales 4:2 in a stunning Euro 2024 qualifer match in Cardiff.

Wales' defeat at home was described by the BBC as a humiliation and embarrassment.

Wales’ Daniel James opened the score in the 10th minute but the Welsh fans’ excitement was silenced by a shot from Armenia’s Lucas Zelaryan 9 minutes later.

Armenia ‘s Grant-Leon Ranos brought the score to 2:1 in the 30th minute and the first half ended with Armenia in the lead. Armenia fans at the Cardiff stadium were euphoric when Ranos scored another goal in the 66th minute.

Harry Wilson hit a goal for Wales with some 20 minutes remaining, but Zelarayan’s stunning second restored Armenia's two-goal advantage.

Wales striker Kieffer Moore got a red card for an off-the-ball clash with Armenia’s goalkeeper. Armenia won 4:2.

 13:04,

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Yeraskh mayor Saro Ayvazyan said Thursday that there is no panic among the residents of the village regarding the recent Azerbaijani gunfire targeting a steel plant construction site.

The construction of the plant will proceed normally, he said.

Ayvazyan told ARMENPRESS that the Azerbaijani forces began shooting at Yeraskh in the past two days, with each shooting lasting about 15 to 20 minutes, and the target of the gunfire was the steelworks which is being built by Armenian and American businessmen.

“They [Azerbaijan] want to disrupt the construction of the plant and not allow our economy to develop. This is the main reason,” the mayor said.

The construction site is just 400 meters away from Azerbaijani positions, in their direct vicinity. However, the plant’s executives are determined to continue the construction with the same pace.

“Life proceeds normally in the village. A sports school is now being built in Yeraskh, as well as gas supply construction process is underway. All works are proceeding, there is no panic whatsoever,” Ayvazyan said.

Yeraskh residents can’t be intimidated with Azerbaijani gunfire, the mayor said.

Both locals and foreigners are employed by the plant in the construction process. The mayor said more jobs will be opened at the construction site during the process.

 15:51,

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The head of the European Alliance of News Agencies has called for press agencies to work together to counter the threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI).

Clemens Pig was speaking at the opening of the fifth Future Media Conference organised by the Polish Press Agency (PAP) in Warsaw.

"AI in the wrong hands can lead to massive waves of fake news, attacking and endangering democratic societies," said Pig.

"Therefore it is crucial for us, as news agencies, to work together, benefit from each other in building knowledge of AI, its challenges and opportunities, and to cooperate on joint solutions in order to be able to deal with AI-supported waves of false news and similar challenges.

"Serious media can only survive in this battle with credible and trustworthy journalism," he added.

 12:46,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan doesn’t change its behavior and is once again attempting to display aggressive conduct on the ground both before and after Armenian-Azerbaijani talks, with the goal of securing more gains around the negotiations table, Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Sargis Khandanyan told reporters on June 14 when asked on the latest Azerbaijani provocations.

“Regarding the incident that occurred in the Yeraskh section and overall the latest intensified shootings, it is concerning especially because this is happening parallel with the intensified negotiations process. We once again see Azerbaijan’s conduct, that before or after negotiations they are trying to display more aggressive behavior on the ground, attempting to gain more around the negotiations table,” Khandanyan said.

He pointed out the Azerbaijani shooting targeting the civilian infrastructure in Yeraskh.

“The shooting targeted the construction of the factory where American investments have been made and which is extremely important for the Republic of Armenia. I think the foreign ministry’s statement expressed these concerns. This doesn’t change our positions, we are voicing about these incidents and I know that the EU civilian mission is also recording this and is regularly reporting its observations to member states. I assume that they’ve made an observation regarding yesterday’s incident as well,” the MP said.

Two foreign nationals were wounded on Wednesday when Azerbaijani military forces opened fire at a steelworks which is being built with foreign investments in the Armenian village of Yeraskh.