Author: Hambik Zargarian

 16:39, 4 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. NATO calls for immediately ceasing the hostilities between the Armenian and Azerbaijani forces and returning to the negotiation table.

“NATO calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces. We deeply regret the loss of life and urge both sides to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table”, Javier Colomina, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said on Twitter, adding: “NATO supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan”.

On August 3, two Artsakh soldiers were killed and 19 others were wounded when Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire and launched an attack on Artsakh military positions. The Azerbaijani military used mortars, grenade-launchers, combat UAVs in attacking a permanent deployment location of an Artsakh military base.

 20:14, 2 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. After receiving an alarm about the presence of an explosive device in the Karen Demirchyan metro, the doors of all metro stations are closed, passengers have been evacuated.

In a conversation with ARMENPRESS, press secretary of Yerevan metro Tatev Khachatryan mentioned that works are currently underway. More information will be provided later.

On August 2, at 6:59 p.m., the National Crisis Management Center received information that explosive devices have been installed in Yerevan City Hall, all metro stations, "Zvartnots" International Airport, 19 Baghramyan St., as well as in all important military and civilian facilities.

 10:15,

GYUMRI, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Gyumri is getting ready to celebrate Gyumri Day on August 27.

Before that, the second largest city of Armenia will also host a Beer Festival on August 20.

Guest homes and hotels are already being booked by many tourists.

Gyumri Mayor Vardges Samsonyan told ARMENPRESS that his city has become a tourism center over the past years, but there’s still a lot to be done, such as solving the unemployment issues, repairing roads and resolving the makeshift shelter issue.

Currently large-scale road construction works are underway, with 22 streets included in subvention programs this year.

As part of the subvention program, the city is implementing a thermal insulation program of buildings in the districts of Ani and Mush. The renovation of the garden near the station and the plaza is nearing completion.

14 apartments will be renovated and donated to homeless families – those who live in makeshift shelters.

A new kindergarten is also being built in the city.

Works are implemented in the city also with funds from the World Bank, the EBRD and the KfW.

Various private companies are already constructing hotels and apartments. “We have many offers, many are interested in the prospects of building hotels in various parts of Gyumri, and we really need new hotels, the demand is seen especially during holidays and festivals,” the mayor said.

There are still nearly 2700 makeshift shelters/structures in Gyumri. But 500 of them are vacant, the mayor said.

In terms of solving the unemployment issue, the mayor said some businesses have brought forward proposals and the City Hall has offered to support in providing spaces.

 21:32,

YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the solemn event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Border Guard Troops of the National Security Service. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan, Director of National Security Service Armen Abazyan, Chief of Police Vahe Ghazaryan were also present at the event, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Pashinyan congratulated all the servicemen on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Border Guard Troops and noted, “In general, as in any country, the border guard troops in the Republic of Armenia are considered part of the Armed Forces. During the entire history of the Third Republic, the border guard troops contributed to the protection of the territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Armenia and together with the army fulfilled the tasks that were set before the army. But I want to emphasize that purely in terms of the idea, the concept, the border guard troops are generally the symbol of peace, because the borders, the protection of which is entrusted to the border guard troops, are usually considered peaceful borders. Because it is assumed that a friendship or peace treaty has been concluded with the states located in the direction of those borders, and this is a very important circumstance to record.

The border guard troops, in fact, since their formation, have not always and not everywhere acted according to the logic of this function. We bow our heads and pay our respects to the border guards who died protecting the Motherland. But I want to emphasize again that the logic of our policy is that we want all the borders of the Republic of Armenia, without exception, to be handed over to the control of the border guard troops, and the army units to return to their permanent locations. And this is exactly what we mean in the logic of the Armed Forces when we say peace agenda, this is exactly what we mean when we announce that the Armenian Government has adopted a peace agenda.

Of course, we understand the complications facing this process. There are a lot of discussions that yes, we need peace, but not at any cost. In general, one does not need anything at any cost, because everything has a price, and peace can be achieved not at the cost of everything, not at any cost, but at the cost of peace itself.

I am saying all this on this occasion to emphasize the direction and desire of our policy, but also to record that we still have a long way to go to achieve this goal, a very difficult and complicated way.

Unfortunately, the security challenges facing our country are not only unresolved, but remain concerning. All of us, first of all the country's political leadership, must work to ensure peace and stability along our country's borders.

By and large, our strategic goal is to hand over all the borders of the Republic of Armenia to border guards so that they can perform their special functions: border protection, which includes the fight against illegal migration, the fight against illegal border crossings, the fight against illegal activities, fight against drug trafficking, etc.

I consider it important to emphasize this context in relation to the service of the border guard troops. But right now, talking about our vision for the future, I want to emphasize this day and the past. We should once again pay our respects to all the border guard troops who fell for the sake of the Motherland and the future.

I would like to thank all of you for your service during this time, for that you carry shoulder marks on behalf of the Republic of Armenia and the people of Armenia. I want to thank your family members, because your service brings with it difficulties also for your families. I would like to wish success to all the border guard troops of the Republic of Armenia, to all of us, the Republic of Armenia, in fulfilling our mission. And we have only one mission: to ensure the safe, prosperous development and future of the Republic of Armenia, to ensure the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, to guarantee that the Republic of Armenia as an independent state will be handed down from generation to generation to the proud and dignified citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

Congratulations once again, thank you for your service”.

The Prime Minister presented state awards for the bravery and dedication shown in defending the borders of the Motherland. Captain Hrant Arzumanyan was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor, Sergeant Karen Sargsyan was posthumously awarded the Medal for Combat Service. The Prime Minister handed over the awards to their relatives.

Nikol Pashinyan presented Medals for Combat Service to lieutenant colonel Vahan Hambardzumyan and captain Vladimir Tumasyan.

Prime Minister Pashinyan also laid flowers at the khachkar dedicated to the memory of border guards who fell for the Motherland, paying tribute to their memory.