13:32, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Ara Aivazian and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov are holding a meeting in Moscow, the foreign ministry said.
“Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian, who is on a working visit in Russia, is meeting with the Foreign Minister of RF Sergey Lavrov,” the foreign ministry said on social media.
Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
15:02, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian has addressed a message on the 32nd anniversary of the 1988 earthquake, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.
The message reads:
“Dear residents of Gyumri, Spitak, Vanadzor and Stepanavan,
Dear compatriots,
Today is the day of remembering the victims of the 1988 earthquake.
This year we commemorate our thousands of compatriots, who fell victim in the devastating earthquake 32 years ago, having one more pain in our souls. We have multiple human losses as a result of the recent war unleashed by Azerbaijan and Turkey against Artsakh, we have lost a part of the territory of Artsakh. As a result the country is facing a multi-layered crisis, starting from psychological, healthcare up to socio-economic.
I once again extend my condolences and support to the families and relatives of the victims, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.
Even in such situation we have no right to lose hope. We should do everything to heal the wounds of the earthquake, make more efforts for the restoration and development of our cities and villages.
The consequences of the earthquake and today’s war, as well as the pain caused have also been joined by a domestic political tense situation in our country these days. Here as well we have no right to lose hope.
National consent and unity are our salvation. Undoubtedly, it was thanks to this that we managed to come out of the devastations of the 1988 earthquake and today as well we are ought to come out of the current situation united. For the sake of our heroes fallen at the recent war, for the sake of our compatriots killed in the 1988 earthquake.
I bow before the memory of all, wishing good health, tenacity and determination to their families and you all, as well as peace and prosperity to our country”.
Edited and Translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
15:21, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sees preconditions for turning the South Caucasus from a zone of disagreements into a region of stability and prosperity.
“We are yet getting out of the heated phase of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. I would like to highlight the importance of the joint statement signed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Russia and the Azerbaijani President which stopped the war, ensured agreements which enable the refugees to return to their homes, unblock all economic and transportation routes. We can turn the South Caucasus from a region of disagreements into a region of stability and prosperity for all nations living there. We will assist with all means in this process”, the Russian FM said in an extended format meeting in Moscow attended by Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian.
He offered his condolences over the 32nd anniversary of the earthquake in Armenia’s Spitak town.
“The selection of my first visit at this level is in full accordance with the spirit of the Armenian-Russian relations which are based on deep ties, centuries-old friendship and traditions between our brotherly nations. I want to thank Russia and you in particular for the efforts on ceasing the fire in the large-scale war which was unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh in late September this year with the participation of Turkey and mercenary-terrorists from the Middle East”, the Armenian FM said at the meeting.
The Armenian FM also touched upon the importance of preserving the Armenian religious monuments in Nagorno Karabakh which have come under the Azerbaijani control.
Edited and Translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:04, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he discussed with his Armenian counterpart Ara Aivazian the issues of creating a humanitarian response center in Nagorno Karabakh.
“We talked about the issues of creating a humanitarian response center,” Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Aivazian in Moscow. “This is President Putin’s initiative. We’ve proposed to make this center an international one, with participation of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Now the practical issues of this initiative are under discussion. Numerous Russian ministries and agencies will participate in its realization,” Lavrov said.
The Russian FM added that his talks with his Armenian counterpart proceeded in a “traditionally warm and allied, strategic-collegial atmosphere.”
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Armenia, Russia FMs highlight 'speedy implementation' of exchanging bodies, captives of Artsakh War
15:05, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian and Russian foreign ministers both attached importance to the speedy implementation of the exchange of POWs and the bodies of the victims of the Artsakh War, a clause under the Russia-mediated Karabakh armistice signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“The exchange of the captives is a highly important matter,” Russian FM Sergey Lavrov said in an expanded format meeting with the Armenian FM Ara Aivazian in Moscow. “We will try to mediate through our peacekeepers to complete with issue as soon as possible. We know that this a very difficult matter for the families and friends of those who are held captive, as well as the issue of the exchange of the bodies of the victims, which should also be solved,” Lavrov said.
Armenian FM Ara Aivazian noted that the exchange of captives is more actual in the light of evidence showing inhumane treatment of Armenian prisoners by Azerbaijani soldiers.
“Certainly, the issue of the search for the servicemen missing in action, the exchange of captives and the bodies of the victims is a very sensitive issue and requires speedy solution. This is more actual under the circumstances of facts of barbaric acts against [Armenian] servicemen, and not only,” Aivazian said, referring to the Azeri mistreatment and torture of both servicemen and civilians.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
16:17, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Russia will continue donating COVID-19 response measures to Armenia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a joint press conference with Armenian FM Ara Aivazian in Moscow.
“In the bilateral format, Russia will continue [donating] mobile biological laboratories, testing systems, reagents and medical equipment to our Armenian friends. Yerevan is displaying interest for cooperation in using the Russian coronavirus vaccine,” Lavrov said.
Earlier in November, Russia donated a mobile laboratory and samples of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
16:15, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian has invited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit Yerevan.
“We had a very useful and first complete contact with the new foreign minister of Armenia. Ara Aivazian invited me to pay another visit to Yerevan. I will arrive with pleasure. We will agree over the dates in the future”, the Russian FM told reporters following the meeting with his Armenian counterpart in Moscow.
Armenian FM Ara Aivazian is in Moscow on a working visit.
Edited and Translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:34, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian says Turkey should withdraw its troops and terrorist groups from the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone and the South Caucasus in general.
“Turkey as the main instigator and inspirer of the Azerbaijani aggression against the people of Artsakh today as well continues running a destructive policy for the region. This obliges the international community to take all possible actions to force Turkey to refrain from any activities which could further escalate the tension. Turkey should withdraw the staff of its armed forces and the armed terrorist groups from the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone and the South Caucasus in general”, the Armenian FM said during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.
The Armenian FM said there are still no concrete signs of the withdrawal of the foreign armed terrorists.
“Quite the contrary, there are confirmed reports that Azerbaijan is planning to expand the geography of spreading armed terrorists and mercenaries and populate the occupied regions of Artsakh with them”, Ara Aivazian said.
Azerbaijan has unleashed a large-scale war against Artsakh from September 27 to November 10 with the direct support and participation of Turkey and foreign mercenary-terrorists.
Edited and Translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
17:24, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, 7 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 7 December, USD exchange rate up by 1.29 drams to 512.54 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.38 drams to 619.76 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 6.89 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 9.39 drams to 679.78 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price up by 251.49 drams to 30369.95 drams. Silver price up by 1.91 drams to 399.19 drams. Platinum price up by 652.13 drams to 17467.25 drams.
20:28, 7 December, 2020
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMEPRESS. The court session over the case of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and others will continue on December 8, chaired by judge Anna Danibekyan, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Facebook page of the lawyers of Robert Kocharyan.
‘’The examination of the case on overthrowing the constitutional order will continue of December 8 at 13:00’’, the lawyers said.
Former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, who served as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in 2008, as well as retired general Yuri Khachaturov, a former CSTO secretary general who served as Deputy Minister of Defense and head of the Yerevan garrison in 2008, and former Secretary of the Security Council Armen Gevorgyan are also charged in the March 1 case (overthrow of constitutional order).