Author: Suren Karakhanian

 20:10,

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. From June 1, Italy will lift all Covid-related entry restrictions for tourists, ARMENPRESS reports the Association of Tour Operators of Russia informs.

Vaccination certificates, negative PCR tests, or a certificate for recovery from a coronavirus infection will not be demanded from travelers. Besides, from June 15, the regime of wearing masks will be abolished in cinemas, theaters and private events.

The statement of the Ministry of Health says that the "Green Certificate" of entry into Italy, which expires on May 31, will not be extended. In this regard, entry into the country will be according to pre-epidemic rules, which means that a Schengen visa will be required.

 21:10,

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Russian peacekeeping contingent continues to fulfill its tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Russian peacekeepers are monitoring the situation around the clock at 27 checkpoints and monitoring the ceasefire.

According to the statement, no violations were registered in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

 15:50,

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan described as “constructive” the first meeting of the commissions on delimitation and border security between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Grigoryan, who is the head of the Armenian commission, told TASS News Agency that organizational issues relating exclusively to the future joint work were discussed at the first meeting.

“We met on the border on May 24. I consider the meeting to be constructive. There is no agreement yet on the date of the next meeting of the commissions, but there is a confirmation that the meeting will take place in Moscow,” Deputy PM Grigoryan said.

Grigoryan added that next week Moscow will host the meeting of the Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan trilateral deputy prime-ministerial working group on unblocking of transport and economic connections.

 08:45,

YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. European Council President Charles Michel released a statement after hosting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for trilateral talks in Brussels.

“Today I hosted President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia again. This was our third discussion in this format. We focused on the situation in the South Caucasus and the development of EU relations with both countries as well as the broader region.

The discussion was frank and productive. We reviewed the entire set of issues. We had a detailed discussion on humanitarian issues, including demining, and efforts to free detainees and address the fate of missing persons.

We reached the following outcomes:

Border issues
The first joint meeting of the Border Commissions will take place on the inter-state border in the coming days. It will address all questions related to the delimitation of the border and how best to ensure a stable situation.

Connectivity
The leaders agreed on the need to proceed with unblocking the transport links. They agreed on the principles governing transit between western Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan, and between different parts of Armenia via Azerbaijan, as well as international transport through communications infrastructure of both countries. Notably they agreed on principles of border administration, security, land fees but also customs in the context of international transport. The Deputy Prime Ministers will take this work forward in the coming days.

Peace Agreement

The leaders agreed to advance discussions on the future peace treaty governing inter-state relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Teams led by the Foreign Ministers will take forward this process in the coming weeks. In addition to this track, I also stressed to both leaders that it was necessary that the rights and security of the ethnic Armenian population in Karabakh be addressed.

Socio-economic development
The EU will take forward with both parties the work of the Economic Advisory Group, which seeks to advance economic development for the benefit of both countries and their populations.

I also stressed the importance of preparing the populations for long-term sustainable peace. The EU is ready to step up its support.

We agreed to remain in close contact and will meet again in the same format by July/August,” Michel said in the statement.

 10:42, 18 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The latest Azerbaijani accusations that the Armenian military opened fire at the border is again a disinformation, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“The statement issued by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan claiming that on the night of May 17-18 the Armenian Armed Forces shelled from various caliber small arms the Azerbaijani military positions in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is disinformation,” the Armenian Ministry of Defense said.

It added that the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively stable and is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces.

 13:10,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. The statement issued by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense accusing the Armenian military in opening fire at Azerbaijani positions in the evening of May 20 in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is a disinformation, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said.

It added that the situation at the border is relatively stable and is under the full control of the Armenian military.

 13:28,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda vowed during his meeting with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan to provide every support for the preservation of the Armenian cultural legacy that has gone under Azerbaijani control.

The presidents held a joint press conference after their meeting in Yerevan.

President Vahagn Khachaturyan said that the high-level visits between the two countries show the strong ties coming from the depth of centuries and the continuation of relations based on similar value system, as well as the determination to expand bilateral cooperation.

The presidents had a comprehensive discussion on the current state and prospects of the Armenian-Lithuanian relations, as well as a broad circle of agenda issues relating to bilateral friendly relations.

“The readiness to deepen inter-state relations was reiterated from both sides. Special attention was paid to the possibilities of increasing trade volumes and deepening bilateral economic cooperation. In this context we discussed prospects of partnership in industry, IT, renewable energy, agriculture and other areas,” President Khachaturyan said.

Khachaturyan said they also discussed Armenia’s efforts aimed at establishing lasting peace in the region. “The efforts of Lithuania and Armenia are identical in this matter. The need for preserving the Armenian cultural monuments in Artsakh and under the Azeri control was specially emphasized. President Nausėda vowed to provide every support for the preservation of the Armenian Christian cultural legacy,” the Armenian President said.

In this context they highlighted the need for a visit of the UNESCO expert mission to Artsakh to the territories that have gone under Azeri control.

The Armenia-EU partnership agenda and projects were also discussed.

 14:25,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. The United States highly values its partnership with Armenia, which is based on shared democratic values, and continues to see a positive future for the U.S.-Armenia relationship, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy said in an exclusive interview to ARMENPRESS on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the United States.

During the interview the Ambassador talked about her diplomatic mission in Armenia, the past and present experience, her impressions on the country, the agenda of the Armenian-American relations, as well as regional and international developments.

She also touched upon the general dynamics of the Armenia-U.S. relations over the past 30 years, their development prospects, sharing important information about the current development of the bilateral ties.

Ambassador Tracy said “the U.S. Embassy is committed to supporting Armenia’s democratic and economic reform agenda and partnering with Armenia to achieve its goals”. 

“We are committed to continue helping the Armenian people build a future based on shared democratic values, a path they chose in 2018 and to which they recommitted themselves during the 2021 parliamentary election”, Ambassador Lynne Tracy said.

 

The full text of the interview with the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia will be published soon.