Category: 2023

 15:28,

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian foreign ministry has confirmed that there’s an agreement to hold a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

ARMENPRESS asked Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan to comment on Moscow’s recent announcement.

“As we’ve reported earlier, there are proposals on meetings, and now also agreements. We will update on the exact timeframe,” Badalyan said.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova earlier said that an agreement has been reached to hold a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Russia.

 16:20,

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting on April 27 with CEO of Air Arabia Group Mr. Adel Al Ali.

The Prime Minister “attached importance to the partnership between the Armenian government and Air Arabia Group in the civil aviation sector, whereby the Fly Arna airline was launched and is operating,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

PM Pashinyan said that the government of Armenia is interested in further enhancing the mutually-beneficial partnership.

CEO of Air Arabia Group Adel Al Ali praised the cooperation with Armenia and noted that it has big potential for development. He expressed Air Arabia Group’s readiness to continue and expand the joint projects.

Prospects of development of the Fly Arna Armenian airline, a joint venture company between ANIF and Air Arabia Group, were also discussed. In context of developing civil aviation and increasing tourism flows, issues relating to the increase of the volumes of passenger transportation, continuous improvement of service and expansion of the geography of flights were discussed.

 16:59,

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan held a meeting on April 27 with Colonel-General Alexander Lentsov, the newly appointed commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in Nagorno Karabakh.

“Welcoming the newly appointed commander, President Harutyunyan emphasized the role of the Russian peacekeeping troops in the [current] military and political situation, ensuring the security of the people of Artsakh and stability in the region,” Harutyunyan’s office said in a readout.

Both sides underscored the need for steady implementation of the provisions of the Tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020.

President Harutyunyan “conveyed the expectation of the Artsakh authorities from the Russian peacekeeping troops that in a short period of time, the removal of all obstacles to the bilateral communication between Artsakh and Armenia and security will be ensured, in accordance with the obligations assumed by the Tripartite Declaration.”

The activities of the peacekeeping troops, the lifting of the blockade of Artsakh, the maintaining of the regime of the Lachin Corridor, guaranteeing the normal functioning of vital infrastructures and other issues were discussed during the meeting.

 17:18,

YEREVAN, 27 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 27 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.90 drams to 386.43 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.99 drams to 426.85 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.74 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.55 drams to 481.92 drams.

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

Gold price up by 136.31 drams to 24885.30 drams. Silver price down by 1.28 drams to 308.74 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 10:29,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Catherine Colonna says the obstruction by Azerbaijan of movement along the Lachin Corridor is unacceptable and is fraught with serious dangers of economic and humanitarian crisis for the population of Nagorno Karabakh.

In an exclusive interview with ARMENPRESS, French FM Catherine Colonna stressed that this conduct by Azerbaijan also obstructs the peace talks with Armenia. She also expressed concern over the installation of a checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.

Colonna said that France will support any solution that would allow to guarantee the Armenian population in Nagorno Karabakh to continue to live there safely, by preserving its history, heritage and culture.

FM Colonna also talked about the Armenian-French relations and addressed her message on the occasion of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENPRESS: Your Excellency, Nagorno Karabakh has been blockaded by Azerbaijan for already four months and the people of Nagorno Karabakh have appeared on the verge of a humanitarian disaster. The international community, including France, have found the blockade of the Lachin Corridor to be unacceptable and have urged Azerbaijan to ensure free movement of people and vehicles along the Lachin Corridor. Recently the International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to immediately open the corridor and ensure free movement, however Azerbaijan continues to keep the corridor closed, ignoring all calls by the international community and the International Court of Justice ruling. Don’t you think it is time for the international community to start taking clear actions in order for Azerbaijan to end the blockade of Nagorno Karabakh? What steps is France ready to take in this direction? Do you consider the option of sanctioning Azerbaijan? Given the fact that Azerbaijan doesn’t stop its aggressive actions also against Armenia, what practical steps are the EU and France ready to take in the direction of implementing the solution proposing to deploy the troops at a safe distance along the 1991 border of Armenia and Azerbaijan?

Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna: The obstruction of movement along the Lachin Corridor since 12 December is unacceptable. I’ve had multiple occasions to express the position of France in this regard. This situation is unacceptable because it is fraught with serious dangers of economic and humanitarian crisis for the population of Nagorno Karabakh. It is also obstructing the continuation of the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, to which Prime Minister Pashinyan is decisively committed to, and it poses a serious threat to regional stability, which is already deeply impacted by the current geopolitical context. We must together assess the consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

What we are going through today is the return of war to our continent. However, more fundamentally, this is also a conscious attempt to dispute the fundamental principles of the international order which is based on law, substituting it with the law of strength. This is a crucial moment, which must force each and every one to assess their responsibility and realize that peace is our most precious value.

A few weeks ago the International Court of Justice delivered a ruling during a brief hearing, demanding Baku to take all means within its authority to ensure movement along the corridor. The ruling is binding for everyone, and it must be respected. In this regard, the decision by Azerbaijan to install a checkpoint at the entrance of the new road in Lachin Corridor is deeply concerning, as noted by the European Union and the United States.

France wants all disputes to be resolved exclusively through negotiations. This is the foundation of France’s commitment, next with the EU. And I am visiting Azerbaijan and Armenia this week to make this call to responsibility, resumption of talks and respect for the law to be heard.

ARMENPRESS: The President of Azerbaijan insists that the Nagorno Karabakh issue is an internal matter and that they are not going to discuss it with anyone, whereas the Armenian side, in context of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan, is advancing the issue of forming an international mechanism for dialogue between Baku and Nagorno Karabakh and international guarantees for ensuring the security and rights of Nagorno Karabakh. What is the position of France, also as a Co-Chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group, in this issue?

Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna: We want negotiations to begin – with support of the international community – between the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh and the Azerbaijani authorities around the content of the population’s rights and guarantees. This implies that favorable conditions must be created for the negotiations, namely around the issue of restoring free movement along Lachin Corridor.

France will support any solution that would allow to guarantee that the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh can continue to live there safely, by preserving its history, heritage and culture. It is their inalienable right.

ARMENPRESS: Could you please also comment on the current level of the Armenian-French relations? How do you assess the cooperation between Armenia and France in various fields and in which sectors do you see the potential for deepening partnership?

Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna: The relations between our two countries are exclusive and developed over the course of a common history, with both joyful and painful moments. Today, these relations are developing between both the two governments and civil societies.

France is decisively supporting the efforts by Mr. Pashinyan’s government aimed at strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Armenia and developing the economy. The courageous choice of democracy by Armenia must receive support, to which we are committed to together with other members of the international community and the European Union.

In December 2021 we signed an ambitious roadmap for economic cooperation, and recently the Ambitions: France-Armenia Forum was held in Paris, and we opened an office of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Yerevan. The AFD is engaged in productive dialogue with the authorities of Armenia to implement new projects, particularly in the fields of water and sustainable energy. Last year the volumes of our bilateral trade grew significantly, and we try to continue this trend, including by supporting French companies who want to invest in Armenia, like Veolia, Pernod Ricard, Carrefour and Amundi-Acba.

Regarding defense, the establishment of a defense mission in the French Embassy in Armenia must enable us to deepen bilateral cooperation in this key area as well.

And finally, in the cultural and educational cooperation we want to rely on the huge success of the French University of Armenia, and we are opening the French Institute in Armenia which will allow to create a rich cultural program, at the same time to offer training courses of French language for all levels. The development of our cooperation in La Francophonie, the areas of science, culture, sports and heritage is also noteworthy, which shows the exclusive dynamics of the relations between France and Armenia, to which I am deeply committed to.

ARMENPRESS: Your Excellency, April 24th of 2023 marked the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. As Foreign Minister of a country which has recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide, what is your message to the world and especially Turkey so that such crimes against humanity don’t ever happen again?

Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna: On April 24th, like every year, we commemorated the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, which France officially recognized by law on 29 January 2001. This tribute became more solemn since the President of France included it in the list of national commemorative events in 2019.

Commemoration is especially resonant because many French people are descendants of survivors of the genocide whom France took in. However, commemorating the genocide is also a message to humanity for such horrendous events to never happen again in a turbulent period of time, where regrettably conflicts are increasing and many minorities are being threatened.

Regarding Turkey, it is noteworthy that at the initiative of courageous civil society organizations the Armenian Genocide is commemorated there as well, and Turkish academics and historians are working around this topic. We must continue to support the efforts around the world, both by institutional actors and civil society representatives to fight against the denial of the genocide and ponder upon the horrendous lessons of history. Together we can preserve the ability of peoples to live together, which is now endangered.

Shant Khlghatyan

 10:05,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Major-general Edward Asryan has praised the EU monitoring mission’s work in Armenia.

“Definitely, I highly appreciate the EU monitoring work in the Republic of Armenia. With this work the Azerbaijani military are more restrained. The work is done very well along the borders of Armenia,” Asryan said during a meeting with the French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in the Armenian town of Jermuk.

FM Colonna also described the cooperation between Armenia and the EU monitoring mission to be very positive. “This work gives positive results for us. It allows us to get information through the monitoring work on the ground that is useful for the EU members. This is a monitoring mission, not an armed mission, the purpose is to monitor the situation, but in any case that presence allows to reduce tension,” the French FM said.

 12:11,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The only goal of France and the EU regarding the regional situation and the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations is the restoration of peace and atmosphere of trust, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told reporters in Jermuk on April 28. 

“Only a peace treaty will allow to truly resolve all outstanding issues stemming from this situation. That is why the EU sent a monitoring mission, which is a civilian mission, an unarmed mission. The goal of the mission is to record the situation on the ground, which allows the EU countries to have direct, first-hand reports on the situation. We believe that the mission is very useful, and it is also due to the work of this mission that we will be able to move forward on the path of peace,” FM Colonna said.

She said it was important for her to visit Jermuk to express support to the EU monitoring mission and on the other hand to see the situation with her own eyes. “Naturally we get informed on the situation based on documents, but seeing it with your own eyes on the ground is also very important, and with this visit we once again reiterate our support to the friendly people of Armenia,” FM Colonna added.

“We understand the situation better by seeing the advancement on these new positions,” she added.

 11:11,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has visited the town of Jermuk in Armenia to see on the ground the consequences of the Azerbaijani attack in September of 2022.

FM Colonna was briefed on the situation by Major-general Edward Asryan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia.

Major-general Asryan told FM Colonna that on September 13-14, 2022, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched an attack against the sovereign territory of Armenia from five different directions: two directions in Syunik Province, two directions in Gegharkunik Province, and one direction in Vayots Dzor Province. Azerbaijan used rocket-artillery strikes and UAVs in targeting both military and civilian structures.

“Unfortunately our military suffered casualties, there were civilian deaths as well. We also had territorial losses. Now, the adversary is deployed on sovereign territory of Armenia in 139 square kilometers area,” the Major-general said, adding that civilian infrastructures in the resort town were severely damaged, and the ropeway is still closed.

In the direction of Jermuk, the Azeri forces invaded into territory of Armenia on an area of over 60 square kilometers. The invasion’s front was 11 kilometers, with a depth of 8 kilometers.

The Azeri military began its first steps after the 2020 war in May of 2021. “In 2021 their actions were similar to fulfilling objectives with the use of soft power. But on September 13-14 of 2022 it was a military aggression against the Republic of Armenia,” Asryan told the French Foreign Minister.

Asryan showed to the French FM the Armenian-Azerbaijani border prior to the Azeri attack and where the Azeri troops are deployed now.

[see video]

 12:39,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has said that Azerbaijan must fulfill the International Court of Justice ruling on ensuring freedom of movement of persons and vehicles along the Lachin Corridor.

Speaking to reporters in Jermuk, the French FM stressed that it is highly important to adhere to the court’s ruling because that’s the legal reality, while non-compliance further worsens the atmosphere of distrust.

Commenting on the Azerbaijani military advance, FM Colonna emphasized that France condemns such unilateral steps. “France has condemned and condemns such unilateral steps. We are saying this here, and I have publicly said this yesterday in Baku as well. We condemn unilateral steps, we condemn the non-compliance with the court’s ruling. The court has made a ruling, it is very important to adhere to the ruling, because that’s the legal reality and because non-compliance also worsens the already existing atmosphere of distrust,” she said.

The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. 

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.

Azerbaijan has so far ignored the ruling.

 19:44,

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. Recently, the State Revenue Committee (SRC) published information on top 1,000 taxpayers, according to which, in the first quarter of the current year, the amount of tax revenues paid by them to the state budget amounted to more than 381 billion 104 million AMD, which compared to the same period last year, increased by more than 54 billion AMD or by 16.5%.

It is noteworthy that over the past 6 years, the tax revenues paid by top 1,000 taxpayers have recorded dynamic growth, including in the first quarter of 2023, increasing 2.1 times compared to the same period in 2018.

In the first quarter of the current year, 212.1 billion AMD in tax revenues were collected from top 100 taxpayers, which makes 55.7% of the total amount collected from the top 1000 taxpayers, that is, more than half of the taxes paid by top 1000 taxpayers are generated by the top 100 taxpayers.

In 2023, Gazprom Armenia heads the list with 20.9 billion AMD in taxes paid to the state budget. Compared to the same period last year, taxes paid by the company increased by 4.2%. The second largest taxpayer is "Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine" (ZCMC), followed by "Grand Tobacco" with taxes paid to the state budget of 15.5 and 11.7 billion AMD, respectively. It is noteworthy that the volume of tax revenues paid by all organizations included in the top ten large taxpayers has increased, except for ZCMC.

The total amount of taxes paid to the state budget of Armenia in the first quarter of 2023 was 461.4 billion AMD, surpassing the indicator of the same period of 2018 by 190.3 billion AMD or 70.2%. It is noteworthy that the share of taxes paid by 1000 large taxpayers in January-March of this year was 82.6% of the total, compared to 65.5% in 2018.