Author: Tania Jagharian

 15:36,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Tehran will submit its final conclusion regarding the conditions on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal on Monday night, Tasnim news agency reports.

In comments on Monday, Amirabdollahian said Iran is going to send its final conclusion about the JCPOA talks to the European coordinator in written form at midnight.

The final phase of the talks is currently at its first stage, the Iranian foreign minister added, reiterating that if the US observes Iran’s red lines and guarantees that Iran will fully enjoy its economic benefits, a deal will be achievable.

 11:20,

XI’AN, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS. The central Shaanxi province of China and its provincial capital Xi’an are considered to be the cradle of Chinese civilization: this is where the Silk Road began.

As part of a program organized by the China International Press Communication Centre, international journalists were taken on a tour to Xi’an.

Being in the center of the entire history of China, now Xi’an is transforming into a modern megapolis which will again be the beginning of the Silk Road. One of the biggest cities of the Ancient World, the city can now be considered as China’s spirit.

The capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties, Xi’an is now the link connecting the country’s north to south and west to east.

There are 9 other large cities in Shaanxi province, which in their vision will be multi-functional cities utilizing their modern technology potential. As of 2020, the population of the province stood at 39,5 million.

The city is known for the Terracotta Army inside the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum from 3rd century BC, Ming dynasty city walls, the Gate of Xi'an, the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower and many other historic sites.

Xi’an has a population of over 12 million and is an important economic hub because of its trade-logistic center. It is in the focus of the Belt and Road initiative.

Out of the total 60 universities in the city, the Xi'an Jiaotong University is perhaps the most famous one, as well as the Northwestern Polytechnic University and the Railway Vocational and Technical Institute.  

Noteworthy fact: Xi'an and Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2015. In February 2020, Gyumri sent humanitarian aid to Xi’an to help in the COVID-19 response.

Varvara Hayrapetyan

 17:20,

YEREVAN, 11 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 11 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.31 drams to 406.09 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 4.30 drams to 419.78 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 6.70 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 4.92 drams to 495.67 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 15.28 drams to 23436.34 drams. Silver price down by 1.95 drams to 266.80 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 20:39, 4 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. The President of the European Council Charles Michel is in close contact with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan over the issue of their relations. He has already talked with the Prime Minister of Armenia and will talk with the President of Azerbaijan as well, ARMENPRESS was informed from the EU.

It is also noted that Charles Michel's team and EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar have been in intensive contact with both sides in recent days to achieve immediate de-escalation and progress through dialogue on all the issues on the agenda.

The tension in Nagorno-Karabakh started on August 1, when, according to the Artsakh Defense Army, Azerbaijani units resorted to provocation in a number of parts of the northern and northwestern border zone of the Artsakh Republic starting at 09:00 in the morning, trying to cross the contact line. As a result of the Azerbaijani provocation, the serviceman Albert Bakhshiyan was injured. Aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani side continued in the following days. On August 3, around 3:00 p.m., Azerbaijani units launched a new attack in the northwestern direction of the contact line, using attack drones, as a result of which two servicemen of the Artsakh Defense Army were killed, and 14 more servicemen were wounded in various degrees.

 12:49, 3 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan states that Azerbaijan’s demand to organize the traffic connecting Artsakh with Armenia through a different route instead of the Lachin corridor is not legitimate.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Grigoryan, yesterday, during the extended session of the Security Council, the President of Nagorno Karabakh said that Azerbaijan, through the commanding staff of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, has presented a demand to them to organize the traffic connecting with Armenia by another route. How would you comment on this statement?

Grigoryan: Point 6th of the 2020 trilateral statement of the Armenian Prime Minister, the Russian President and the President of Azerbaijan, which defines issues relating to the creation and activity of the Lachin corridor connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia, says the following: “The Parties (Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan) have agreed that a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined within the next three years, providing communication between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, with the subsequent redeployment of Russian peacekeeping troops to protect this route”. During this period, of course, some work has been done on this direction, but as of this moment there is no agreed plan. In any case, Armenia has not approved any plan, therefore, Azerbaijan’s demand is not legitimate.

ARMENPRESS: But you have stated that Armenia is starting the reconstruction of the Kornidzor-Tegh-M12 road which is supposed to join the new route of the Lachin corridor.

GRIGORYAN: Yes, that construction has already started, but notice that the trilateral statement mentions about the plan for the construction of a new route. No such agreed upon plan exists. The Republic of Armenia has already proposed to agree over and sign the plan in a trilateral format and move forward with an agreed schedule and roadmap. This is what is envisaged by the 2020 November 9 trilateral statement.

 18:06,

YEREVAN, 29 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 July, USD exchange rate is up by 1.02 drams to 407.71 drams. EUR exchange rate is up by 5.31 drams to 417.45 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.09 drams to 6.63 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.76 drams to 496.55 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is up by 573.33 drams to 22985.19 drams. Silver price is up by 7.96 drams to 253.32 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 17:46,

YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan, the first session of the interdepartmental commission created for coordinating the work on improving the road safety level of the Republic of Armenia took place today, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The session was also attended by Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Kristine Ghalechyan, Deputy Minister of Health Lena Nanushyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Karen Trchunyan, regional governors, Head of Traffic Police Yegor Karapetyan, representatives of concerned state bodies and other public institutions.

The purpose of creating the interdepartmental commission is to draw the attention of interested government departments and organizations to the challenges and gaps facing Armenia in the field of road safety, creating a platform for cooperation, information exchange and accountability on road safety issues.

Deputy Prime Minister Matevosyan welcomed the participants of the session and noted that one of the important tasks for the transport system of Armenia is to increase the efficiency of the country's road transport infrastructure and to provide efficient transport services.

"Millions of people die in traffic accidents all over the world. In this regard, the statistics of Armenia are also worrying, because more than 300 people die from road accidents every year. Armenia should take all the necessary steps to improve road safety, which implies the implementation of measures aimed at revising road safety legislation, improving road infrastructure, vehicle safety, as well as the need to implement educational programs and public awareness campaigns”, Hambardzum Matevosyan emphasized and proceeded to the discussion of the issues on the agenda, which related to the draft national road safety strategy of Armenia and the current state of road traffic safety, as well as existing problems.

 18:18,

YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks in Sochi on August 5, ARMENPRESS reports, citing Interfax.

"Turkish President Erdoğan will meet with Putin on August 5 in Sochi," the agency reports.

In turn, the Turkish media say that Erdoğan’s visit to Russia will be one-day.