Author: Lara Chatinian

 12:59,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan has commented on the statement of Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu according to which “if the peace is lasting, Turkey and Azerbaijan are ready to undertake steps aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia”.

The MFA spokesperson gave a comment to PanARMENIAN.Net.

Question: Recently, Foreign Minister of Turkey Cavusoglu stated that if the peace is lasting, Turkey and Azerbaijan are ready to undertake steps aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia. Can you comment whether the Armenian side is ready to “normalize the relations”. What does this statement mean? Has any initiative been undertaken in this regard, particularly by the Turkish side?

Answer: I would not like to comment on the statements of Turkish-Azerbaijani leadership, which are not consolidated by any action. Moreover, they contradict each other. The Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercises carried out near the Armenian border in violation of relevant OSCE commitments do not prove that the Turkish-Azerbaijani leadership has peaceful intentions towards Armenia. The cessation of hostile actions against Armenia may create conditions for building trust in the region.

 13:14,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The leader of the Bright Armenia (LHK) opposition party of the Armenian parliament Edmon Marukyan has called on the international community to ramp up pressure on Azerbaijan to release the Artsakh War PoWs that are held in captivity months after the war ended.

Marukyan says that France and the United States should join the efforts of their OSCE Minsk Group partner Russia, as well as Armenia, in achieving the repatriation of the captives – one of the terms of the Nagorno Karabakh armistice.

The opposition leader says the entire international community should be consolidated in order to increase pressure on Baku, even achieve sanctions so that Azerbaijan returns the Armenian captives.

“In terms of humanitarian law they are wrong, they are wrong in terms of wartime rules of engagement, they are wrong even in terms of the rules by which the ceasefire was signed – Azerbaijan is wrong under all rules,” Marukyan said.

“I believe that the United States and France – as two Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – should join the efforts of Russia and Armenia, and on top of that the EU and other countries should also join. The civilized world must unite around this issue and pressure Azerbaijan into returning the Artsakh prisoners of war and civilian captives to Armenia,” he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:02,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Russia recorded 21,734 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the lowest number since November 18, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis. Russia's case tally has hit 3,612,800.

According to data from the crisis center, the coronavirus growth rate is 0.6%.

There are currently 544,151 active coronavirus cases in Russia.

Russia has documented 586 deaths from COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in the past 24 hours, compared to 471 the day before. The overall death toll has reached 66,623, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed reporters on Tuesday.

 11:54,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government approved today the energy development strategic program by 2040 and the timetable for the implementation of the program.

According to the explanation, the energy system long-term development program adopted in 2015 was not fully reflecting the Armenian government’s current policy in the energy sector, the ongoing situation of the field and its development prospects. The main purpose of the current document is the strategic planning of the energy sector.

The adoption of the draft decision will define the main directions of Armenia’s energy development by 2040 and the actions aimed at ensuring its implementation.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:10,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde highlighted the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict while presenting the priorities of the Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship 2021 to the OSCE Permanent Council.

“We need to keep the resolutions of the conflicts in our region on the top of our agenda”, she said, mentioning the current crisis around Nagorno Karabakh, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Belarus.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Russian Ambassador congratulates Armenians and Russians on New Year

 12:07,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 31, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin issued a congratulatory message on New Year. ARMENPRESS reports the congratulatory message of the Ambassador runs as follows,

''The coronavirus pandemic, the dramatic developments over the escalation of Nagorno Karabakh conflict left a trace on all aspects of our lives.

In the face of the severe challenges, the fraternal and allied relations between our countries, that are greatly demanded and have no alternative, were demonstrated with special clarity, as well as the traditional features of those relations – common strategic interests, support, willingness to help and mutual trust.

Entering the New Year with this baggage, we have every reason to look to the future with optimism, despite the problems and difficulties we face.

We always expect good news and events from the New Year. I want to believe that it will not deceive us. I wish all of us, our families peace, health and welfare. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas’’, reads the congratulatory message of the Russian Ambassador.

 11:10, 21 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. 7 more trucks delivering humanitarian aid from Russia have arrived in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), the Artsakh State Emergency Service reports.

The humanitarian aid will be distributed to different settlements in Artsakh.

This is the second batch of the humanitarian aid provided by Russia.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan