Author: Vanyan Gary

Post-war situation touched upon at the meeting of the Armenian, Greek MPs

 19:41,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The members of the Armenia-Greece Parliamentary Friendship Group Vladimir Vardanyan, Arusyak Julhakyan and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on European Integration Arman Yeghoyan on November 29 met with the Chairman of the Greece-Armenia Friendship Group of the Greek Parliament Dimitrios Markopoulos and the members of the delegation headed by him, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia.

Welcoming the guests, the Armenian parliamentarians highly appreciated the Armenian-Greek relations, highlighted the further development of the cooperation between the two parliaments and the close collaboration of the friendship groups. From the point of view of strengthening the inter-parliamentary cooperation, the joint work in the international parliamentary structures was highlighted.

Arman Yeghoyan assessed the implementation of the EU-funded Twinning Program "Strengthening of Capacity of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia to Further Support the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement’s Oversight and Implementation ", which was entrusted to the Greek and Italian parliaments. The chairman of the committee noted that this program is being implemented for the first time for the National Assembly and has a great role in developing the capacity of the parliament. The parties expressed confidence that through the implementation of the program, the ties between the two parliaments will be further strengthened.

The interlocutors praised the implementation of the oversight and representational functions of the parliaments. The legislators also spoke about the centuries-old friendship and common challenges of the Armenian and Greek peoples.

The post-war situation was touched upon, and the establishment of security and stability in the region was highlighted.

The MPs also stressed the need to develop cooperation in the spheres of economy and tourism.

 18:11,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The body of Suren Avetisyan (born in 2001), a conscript of the N military unit of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, was found dead with a gunshot wound in the head on November 24 at around 14:50. Investigation is underway to clarify the circumstances of the incident, ARMENPRESS was informed from MoD Armenia.

“The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia shares the grief of the loss and expresses support to Suren Avetisyan's family members, relatives and co-servicemen”, reads the statement.

Ali Haydar Kaytan (C) is seen with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan (R) in an unknown place. (Photo by security sources)

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson hailed growing relations with Turkey, saying they have successfully improved in all fields as the two countries continue to boost cooperation.

Speaking at a weekly news conference in the capital Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said relations between Ankara and Tehran have made progress in the political, social, economic and security fields.

"The capacity for cooperation between Turkey and Iran is more than realized. We have maintained close relations in recent years, and there are many projects that will be implemented. There will be high-level diplomatic visits with Turkey in the near future," Khatibzadeh said.

Reiterating that Iran has stood against the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan over the last 30 years and has defended Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, he said: "We congratulated the Azerbaijani administration and people over the areas liberated from the occupation, and we welcome its anniversary."

He noted that Tehran and Baku are in favor of developing relations and that their foreign ministers meet regularly, adding efforts are underway to set aside some misunderstandings between the two countries.

"We hope that relations between the two countries will further develop and such misunderstandings will not be repeated," he added.

Iran, apart from Azerbaijan and Armenia, is the only regional power that borders the once illegally occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh, making it a state remarkably influenced by the conflict. Still, throughout the fighting, Tehran took a “neutral” position, and even though it never condemned Armenia for its unlawful occupation of Azerbaijani territory, it also never pledged open support to Yerevan, unlike some pundits' expectations. Conversely, Turkey has openly supported Azerbaijan and condemned Armenia's aggression and occupation.

Last month, the interior ministers of Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding designed to prevent terrorism and illegal activities the countries face, particularly along their borders.

Meanwhile, Khatibzadeh also argued that the steps taken by the U.S. administration regarding the nuclear agreement contradicted its own claims.

"To return to the nuclear agreement, the U.S. must admit that it has done wrong. It must lift all sanctions. In addition, it should guarantee that no U.S. administration will repeat the present conditions," he said.

Noting that the U.S. is not a party to the nuclear agreement and therefore cannot attend the next meeting on it in Vienna on Nov. 29, he said Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani would be the chief negotiator and the delegation will be formed under his guidance.

Turning to Afghanistan, Khatibzadeh said Ahmad Massoud, the son of the famed anti-Taliban fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud, visited Iran with the knowledge of various groups and units in Afghanistan.

Khatibzadeh also said that negotiations with Saudi Arabia are continuing, and progress depends on Riyadh's attitude.

Defense ministry denies reports claiming 60 Armenian servicemen have been besieged in area of Lake Sev

 02:25,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Armenia denied the statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry according to which 60 Armenian servicemen had been besieged in the area of Lake Sev and were set free only with the meditation of the Russian side.

“On November 10, several Azerbaijani media outlets reported that a fight has allegedly taken place between the Armenian and Azerbaijani servicemen in the territory of Lake Sev of Armenia’s Syunik province and that a group of Armenian servicemen have been besieged.

Later, the Azerbaijani defense ministry also joined this misinformation, stating that 60 Armenian servicemen have been besieged and were released only with the mediation of the Russian side. The statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry is obvious disinformation. Moreover, after the actions of the Armenian armed forces following the provocation of the Azerbaijani side in the area of Lake Sev, the Azerbaijani armed forces applied to the Russian side with a request to resolve the situation, and it was due to the active work of the Russian side that the situation was stabilized.

The Defense Ministry of Armenia reaffirms that the situation in the territory of Lake Sev is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces”, the statement says.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:18,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government extended until June 20, 2022 the nationwide “quarantine” regime which was introduced instead of the state of emergency which was declared over COVID-19 in early 2020.

The “quarantine” regime allows the government to continue enforcing safety rules such as social distancing, mask wearing and other anti-epidemic preventative measures.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 22:18, 7 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview to the Public TV about the implementation process of the 2020 November 9 trilateral statement on the ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh. Pashinyan said that the first point of the statement relates to the cessation of fire and all military operations. He said that it can be recorded that the war has stopped with that statement. In this respect he highly valued Russia’s and President Vladimir Putin’s contribution to the stop of the war.

“One of the very important points of the statement has been fully implemented, as Russian peacekeepers are deployed in Nagorno Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor, and we highly value their activity and they play a key role today in ensuring security in Nagorno Karabakh. On the other hand, I must regret over the fact that the ceasefire regime is not being fully observed also in Nagorno Karabakh, this has also been recorded by the peacekeepers. I hope that a proper investigation over these cases will be carried out and necessary measures will be taken”, he said, adding that after the November 9 statement the Armenian side had many losses and wounded. “We had nearly 28 losses, especially as a result of the incident in the Khtsaberd-Hin Tagher section, as well as incidents have taken place along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border when we had losses. This fact is very concerning. I must note that we also had cases of military actions, especially in Khtsaberd-Hin Tagher and Sotk-Khoznavar sections which is a gross violation of the trilateral statement. I must state that most of the 40 confirmed captives have been captured after the November 9 statement and have not been released yet despite the point 8 of the statement which clearly says that the prisoners of war, hostages and other persons held must be released”, the PM said.

The next concerning fact, according to Pashinyan, relates to the ceasefire violations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which is also a gross violation of the statement. Pashinyan said that till today the right of the Armenian residents of Shushi and Hadrut region to return has not ensured yet.

The next problem, Pashinyan said, is that the regional communication has not unblocked yet, although he stated that an important work is being done on this path and expressed hope that they will achieve concrete results soon.

“All this, of course, raises also some concerns, although there is no doubt that the November 9 statement and the deployment of peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh is the cornerstone result that has been recorded. The ceasefire violations, the facts on the killings of our soldiers lead us to a concern that Azerbaijan has adopted a policy of discrediting the activity of the peacekeepers”, he said.

 

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 18:26, 5 November, 2021

YEREVAN, 5 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. Board Member of the EEC Internal Markets, Informatization, Information and Communication Technologies Gegham Vardanyan reported to the Government of Armenia about the intention of terminating his powers and presented to the Eurasian Economic Commission his application of resignation, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan told ARMENPRESS.

“Decisions on terminating the powers of Board Member of the EEC Internal Markets, Informatization, Information and Communication Technologies Gegham Vardanyan and appointing Varos Simonyan to that post were included in the agenda of the October 14 sitting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and were approved.

The above-mentioned decisions are currently at signing phase and will take effect and will be published after being signed by heads of all EEU member states”, the Deputy PM’s office told ARMENPRESS.

 19:58, 2 November, 2021

YEREVAN, 2 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. Member of boxing team of Armenia Davit Chaloyan secured at least a bronze medal at the World Championship.

ARMENPRESS reports Davit Chaloyan competed with Lazizbek Mullojonov representing Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals of the +92 kg weight category at the World Championship in Serbia, winning 3: 2. Chaloyan reached the semifinals, securing at least a bronze medal at the World Championship.

Earlier it was reported that the bronze medalist of the Olympic Games in the 63 kg weight category Hovhannes Bachkov will compete in the quarterfinals with the representative of Thailand Somchai Wongsuvan.

 11:11, 1 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. 1071 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded over the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases to 309,397, the Armenian healthcare ministry said Monday.

12,835 tests were administered.

51 patients died, bringing the death toll to 6379. This number doesn’t include the deaths of 1299 other individuals infected with the virus who succumbed to co-morbidities.

The total number of recoveries reached 270,741 (1641 in the last 24 hours).

As of November 1, the number of active cases stood at 30,978.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan