Month: September 2020

 11:34,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. 5 new cases of COVID-19 were registered in Artsakh over the past 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases to 345, the Artsakh Healthcare Ministry said.

301 people have so far recovered from the disease.

The number of active cases as of September 16, 11:00 stood at 42.

Artsakh doesn’t have COVID-19-related deaths so far, although two people infected with the virus had died, but their deaths were caused by other pre-existing conditions, according to authorities.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 16:07,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. A Turkish survey vessel’s return to port from eastern Mediterranean near Greek shores was a tactical step, argues analyst Ruben Safrastyan, the interim scientific director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Armenian Academy of Sciences.

“If we generally evaluate Erdogan’s foreign policy in the recent years, we see that it has the following peculiarity: he tries to increase tensions around Turkey. In these conditions he may take a small step back and in exchange expect a big concession from the other side. I think the Turkish vessel’s return from Greek waters was the manifestation of this very tactic,” Safrastyan said.

Safrastyan argues that Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s policy in the Mediterranean is aimed at strengthening and expanding his circle of influence at all cost and to subsequently gain material benefits namely the major gas reserves underwater. The expert on Turkey argues that Erdogan seeks to monopolize natural gas use and become a regional supplying hub, therefore these actions are aimed at both increasing geopolitical influence and becoming a center in the energy carrier sector.

Ruben Safrastyan says Turkey is carrying out its aggressive policy in a number of countries in the region and is expecting that these actions would increase its reputation or influence, but it backfired as Ankara received a strong counter response from what Safrastyan calls an "anti-Turkish axis" comprising Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, France and others. 

“Therefore I wouldn’t say that Erdogan’s aggressive policy is giving the results he expected,” Safrastyan said.

He noted that Europe is actively speaking about possible sanctions against Turkey, and didn’t rule out that this issue will be raised during the upcoming EU leaders sessions in a week. Aside from European countries, an "anti-Turkish axis" is also being formed among Arab countries since they very well realize the Turkish threats, according to Safrastyan.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 16:49,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian military has commented on Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov’s order to the Azerbaijani troops to maintain high combat readiness and vigilance.

“The concerned reaction of the Azerbaijani Defense Minister after their own provocation was fully predictable,” Armenian Ministry of Defense spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan told ARMENPRESS.

As usually, the Azerbaijani top brass is spreading disinformation and attempting to put the blame on Armenia after their own provocation killed an Armenian soldier.

Junior Sergeant Hovik Tamazyan of the Armenian army sustained the fatal injuries while on duty at a military position in the northeastern part of the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border on September 16.

The Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in a statement that in recent days Azerbaijan has become active in this section of the border and attempted to carry out reinforcement works, which led to escalation.

“With the purpose of suppressing the adversary activity and preventing future escalations the Armenian Armed Forces vanguard units were forced to take appropriate countermeasures. As a result of the adversary’s provocation, Junior Sergeant Hovik Tamazyan sustained fatal gunshot and shrapnel wounds in the combat position of a military base in the northeastern section on September 16,” the defense ministry said.

 “The entire responsibly for this situation and the border escalation falls on Azerbaijan’s military-political leadership,” it added.

After this, Hasanov announced he has ordered the Azerbaijani troops to “immediately and decisively prevent the possible provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces in different directions.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:00,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The two opposition parties in parliament are demanding the resignation of the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan for what they describe as a complete failure of reforms in the sector.

The Prosperous Armenia (BHK) party officially joined the Bright Armenia (LHK) in their call for the minister's resignation. The LHK has introduced a draft motion requesting the Prime Minister to sack Harutyunyan. It will be put up for vote on September 17 in parliament.

Arayik Harutyunyan, however, has strongly dismissed accusations of mishandling the reforms and the activities of the ministry.

Meanwhile, the LHK has also called on supporters to gather outside parliament and demonstrate against Harutyunyan.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:06,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Edward Hovhannisyan received Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri, the SRC told Armenpress.

A number of issues relating to the bilateral relations, in particular the necessity of implementing the program on upgrading and expanding the Meghri border checkpoint, the operation of the Meghri free economic zone were discussed during the meeting.

The meeting participants highlighted Armenia’s key role for Iran as a transit route ensuring entry to the market of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The sides highly valued the achievements recorded between the two countries as a result of cooperation and agreed to be consistent in further strengthening the mutual partnership.

The SRC leadership assured that all issues aimed at promoting the Armenia-Iran commercial relations and trade turnover are among the priorities of both the Committee and the Armenian government, and Armenia will make all efforts to further develop them.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

'Azerbaijan was wrong, we were right': Armenian PM on logic of July battles

 17:31,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan considers the September 14 statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs constructive and logical.

“It [the statement] is in accordance with the visions of the Armenian side on resuming or continuing the negotiation process. We have principles in the negotiation process, we have recorded these principles, but we have also stated that we do not consider these principles as a precondition, we have stated that we will not negotiate if these issues are not solved. Because if all these issues are solved, there is no need to negotiate. Negotiation aims at solving these issues, it doesn’t need to start after the solution of these issues”, the PM said during a Q&A session in the Parliament, in response to the question of independent MP Arman Babajanyan.

The PM said in his view Azerbaijan has preconditions, as it says that Karabakh must be exclusively a part of Azerbaijan. He said that before the July battles Azerbaijan was making militaristic statements which are not in line with the negotiation logic at all.

“But I think that the position of the international community is very clear: the Karabakh issue has exclusively a peaceful, negotiated solution, but the July battles changed the following logic: we were stating that no one can talk to Armenia and Artsakh with the language of force, Azerbaijan was stating that they would solve the Karabakh issue by force within 24 hours. It turned out that Azerbaijan was wrong, we were right”, the Armenian PM stated.

He also informed that no meeting is scheduled between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, discussions are in process.

On July 12, 2020, Azerbaijan unleashed an attack on the border with Armenia, in the direction of Tavush province, targeting not only the Armenian military positions, but also the civilian settlements. But all attempts of Azerbaijan resulted in failure as the Armenian Armed Forces confidently pushed back all the attacks and took the situation under full control.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:42,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan states that with the election of judges of the Constitutional Court by the Parliament the crisis around the Court is over.

“I think that what has taken place in the Parliament is very important. It put an end to, closed the crisis around the Constitutional Court. At least we should record with this that something very important has taken place. Does this mean that an ideal Constitutional Court has been formed? No”, the PM said during a Q&A session in the Parliament, in response to the question of the ruling My Step faction MP Viktor Yengibaryan.

Commenting on the question that public has some questions regarding the elected CC judge candidates, in particular with what principle the government nominated Edgar Shatiryan for the CC judge, Pashinyan said: “When you say the public has questions, it is necessary to check out the addresses of the public’s representatives, phone numbers in order to understand whom they are representing. During the election process of the CC judges there were people and circles who constantly wanted to talk about the values of the Revolution and were trying to compare the situation with the values of the Revolution. And there was an impression that the political team which governed or led the Revolution during the Revolution doesn’t have any idea about the values of the Revolution, and people, who knew about the Revolution a week later from May 8, have become warm supporters of the Revolution values. But is it so? No. I want to state that it isn’t so, because in any situation there are groups or forces, be it political or not, who want to place their agenda, their interests in some places on behalf of their people, candidates, supporters, to say so, on behalf of the public”, Pashinyan added.

The PM added that the government made the decision about the candidate for the Court judge within its powers.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:30,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani ceasefire violations in the direction of the Tavush Province of the state border with Armenia are happening nearly twice as much as before since the Azerbaijani attack in the same section earlier in July 2020, Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan said in parliament in response to lawmaker Tatevik Hayrapetyan’s question.

Hayrapetyan asked the minister about the border situation in light of the latest cross border killing of an Armenian soldier by Azerbaijan.

“After the relative suspension of the July actions the adversary’s [ceasefire] violations in the same direction increased nearly twice. We are hopeful that as a result of the appropriate actions of our military the halt will be preserved and will contribute to the negotiations process,” Tonoyan said, stressing that the countermeasures are appropriate.

He said that the Azerbaijani military units are carrying out reinforcement works in an attempt to neutralize the Armenian positions’ advantage and superiority. “That’s why they are using various caliber weapons. This situation is happening for around two weeks now. We were displaying information restraint. The OSCE Co-Chairs are provided with information about all these cases, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office is notified, and for several times we have cautioned that there is not a single mechanism in place to reduce risks of unduly developments of this situation. Today, unfortunately, we have a fatality. Appropriate measures are being taken. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has expressed concern, raised vigilance, this concern was predictable for us because appropriate actions will be taken,” Tonoyan said.

Junior Sergeant Hovik Tamazyan of the Armenian army sustained the fatal injuries while on duty at a military position in the northeastern part of the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border on September 16.

The Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in a statement that in recent days Azerbaijan has become active in this section of the border and attempted to carry out reinforcement works, which led to escalation.

“With the purpose of suppressing the adversary activity and preventing future escalations the Armenian Armed Forces vanguard units were forced to take appropriate countermeasures. As a result of the adversary’s provocation, Junior Sergeant Hovik Tamazyan sustained fatal gunshot and shrapnel wounds in the combat position of a military base in the northeastern section on September 16,” the defense ministry said.

 “The entire responsibly for this situation and the border escalation falls on Azerbaijan’s military-political leadership,” it added.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 18:09,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is confident that the government has done everything right in terms of the strategy of fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), didn’t hide anything from the public, and as for the launch of the parliamentary committee observing the effectiveness of the government’s anti-COVID19 measures, he doesn’t oppose it.

“The Armenian government, as it was obliged to, has been transparent by 100% and remains transparent over the coronavirus. I am happy over the creation of the committee because looking at something again is always useful. In general, the most important indicator we need to pay attention to is the percentage ratio of our daily positive cases with the tests. Now the positive cases comprise nearly 5-6%, compared to the number of tests. This means that we are detecting the cases very effectively”, the PM said during a Q&A session in the Parliament, commenting on the question about the creation of a parliamentary committee aimed at observing the efficiency of the government’s anti-coronavirus measures.

“We have adopted the following public principles: we have stated that we need to get used to living with the coronavirus. We have done it, do it and have done it right in terms of the strategy. We have done everything right in terms of the strategy. Of course, shortcomings took place in that process”, he said.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 18:45,

YEREVAN, 16 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 September, USD exchange rate down by 0.38 drams to 484.93 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.65 drams to 575.95 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 6.49 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.93 drams to 627.79 drams.

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

Gold price down by 169.71 drams to 30392.04 drams. Silver price up by 9.96 drams to 429.45 drams. Platinum price up by 424.98 drams to 15201.09 drams.