Month: December 2020

 16:25, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan received today Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacôte, the deputy PM’s Office told Armenpress.

During the meeting the officials discussed a number of issues relating to Artsakh. They agreed that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship is the only format for the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Tigran Avinyan highlighted the recent adoption of resolutions by the French Senate and National Assembly on the need to recognize the Republic of Artsakh.

The officials discussed the humanitarian situation in Artsakh, as well as issues relating to the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage. In this context the Armenian side highly appreciated the engagement of the French people, President of France Emmanuel Macron in particular for providing humanitarian aid to the displaced people.

As for the exchange process of the prisoners of war, deputy PM Avinyan said the Armenian side has proposed to apply “all for all” principle, as well as to create a mechanism according to which in case of having a new POW each of the sides is obliged to return them without preconditions.

Avinyan also informed that currently the government is working on an anti-crisis economic program which should contribute to the recovery of the economic activity in the country.

In his turn the French Ambassador said the bilateral agenda is quite full and stressed the need for taking active steps to implement new projects.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:50, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Authorities are searching for the suspect who placed a bomb under the car of a banking executive in Yerevan in an attempted murder, the Committee of Investigations told ARMENPRESS.

The suspect placed an explosive under a Lexus SUV belonging to the executive director of ARMECONOMBANK (AEB) which was parked on Davtyan Street in Yerevan. The bomb exploded Wednesday morning but the banking executive escaped unharmed because he wasn’t in the vehicle. The SUV was being driven by someone else when it exploded. Authorities did not reveal the identity of the driver but said they he also escaped unharmed.

The Committee of Investigations launched a criminal case on attempted murder and illegal acquisition of firearms and explosives.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:21, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, 9 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 9 December, USD exchange rate up by 1.35 drams to 515.48 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.23 drams to 624.97 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.03 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 6.24 drams to 693.01 drams.

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

Gold price up by 216.63 drams to 30960.97 drams. Silver price up by 13.05 drams to 405.63 drams. Platinum price up by 60.98 drams to 16970.82 drams.

 18:24, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS.  Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Vahram Dumanyan received on December 9 the delegation led by Ambassador of the USA to Armenia Lynne Tracy.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Ministry, issues referring to the educational, scientific and cultural programs between Armenia and the USA, as well as issues referring to the possible expansion of the cooperation were on the agenda.

Greeting the guests, Minister Dumanyan emphasized the importance of the activities of the U.S. Embassy and its joint programs with the Ministry. Focusing on the Azerbaijani policy of eradicating the Armenian historical-religious heritage during and after the war, Vahram Dumanyan proposed to observe the possibilities of expanding cooperation in the sphere of culture.

‘’At the moment the Armenian cultural and religious monuments that have passed under the Azerbaijani control are being destroyed and distorted. Azerbaijan's policy of cultural genocide violates international norms and contradicts universal values’’, Minister Dumanyan said, adding that he expects the assistance of also the U.S. Embassy in protecting Armenia’s material and mom-material heritage.

Thanking for the reception, Ambassador Lynn Tracey noted that they are ready to expand cooperation and help Armenia overcome the difficulties of the post-war period as soon as possible.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

 18:35, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS.  The Dutch parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on the need to ensure the permanent security of the people of Artsakh and decide its status. ARMENPRESS was informed from the website of the Dutch parliament.

‘’There is an urgent need to initiate a final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, to ensure strong security for the local population and to determine its status. To this end, we call on the government to make efforts within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group’’, reads the resolution.

 18:53, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS.  Governor of Ararat Province of Armenia Garik Sargsyan has submitted a resignation letter, ARMENPRESS reports Sargsyan wrote on his Facebook page.

‘’Today I submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. I worked as the governor of Ararat for 2.5 years. Immediately after starting work, I set about developing the region and making the lives of our residents more prosperous. Of course, there was not enough time to implement all our plans, but during this time a lot of work was done that had not been done for years before the revolution’’, Sargsyan wrote.

At the same time, Garik Sargsyan assured that the maximum was done with the resources available in the past 2.5 years. He promised to present a detailed report on the work done in the near future.

 18:38, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS.  Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan continues to hold the position that the solution of Nagorno Karabakh issue should be acceptable for the people of Armenia, people of Artsakh and people of Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said at the National Assembly during parliament-Cabinet Q&A session.

MP from ‘’Bright Armenia’’ Party Arkady Khachatryan asked the PM how he sees the implementation of the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh under the current circumstances.

‘’Yes, I continue to hold the position that the solution of Nagorno Karabakh issue should be acceptable for the people of Armenia, people of Artsakh and people of Azerbaijan’’, Pashinyan said, adding that the remaining issues are nuances needing to be clarified during the negotiation process.

 19:27, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Opposition rally demanding PM Pashinyan’s resignation ended near the National Assembly. ARMEPRESS reports the united candidate of ‘’Fatherland Salvation Movement’’ for PM’s post Vazgen Manukyan said at the end of the rally that their struggle is not political.

‘’Our struggle is not political, it’s not for changing the power. This is a national struggle. I have been one of the leaders that led you to victory and we created an independent state. Now I again tell you, let’s go together and we will win’’, Manukyan said.

Vazgen Manukyan served as the first Prime Minister of Armenia from 1990 to 1991 under President Levon-Ter Petrosyan. He then served briefly as Defense Minister.

He was the President of the Public Council from 2009 to 2019.

 

 19:55, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Armenia issued a statement on the International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide, noting that during the Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh starting on September 27 the Armenian people was once again exposed to existential threat with new victims of genocidal actions.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Foreign ministry of Armenia, the statement runs as follows,

‘’ Today, on December 9, Armenia, together with all the progressive humanity of the world, commemorates the victims of the Crime of Genocide.

In 2015 Armenia guided the international efforts to designate December 9 as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.

Armenia, as a nation which has survived the Genocide, has been an advocate for the fight against this crime on the international arena for many years, and is consistently working towards the prevention of the crime of genocide, raising awareness of the dangers of hate crimes and building legal and institutional capacities to respond to them.

Along with the efforts, the world today encounters serious challenges such as the rise of intolerance and extremism, gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law, as well as human life and dignity.

This challenge should not only be a reason for condemning and compassionate calls, but also for putting on the agenda the steps aimed at strengthening the early response mechanisms within the international organizations.

Genocide and other mass atrocities are usually pre-planned, and are carried out by targeting the civilian population, destroying cultural and religious heritage, and spreading extreme hatred. All these actions were carried out against the people of Artsakh during the aggression unleashed since September 27, 2020, which was planned and implemented by Azerbaijan with the full political and military support of Turkey and the involvement of foreign mercenaries and terrorist fighters. Thus, with new victims of genocidal actions, the Armenian people was once again exposed to existential threat.

One of the main reasons that leads to genocide, as well as other crimes against humanity, is impunity. Inapropriate condemnation of past crimes and avoiding of punishment create fertile ground for denial and justification of genocide. These factors pose a serious threat to the efforts aimed at strengthneing democracy and human rights, as those states that turn genocide denial into a state ideology will never ensure the realization of such basic rights like freedom of speech, assembly, protection of minorities and the fight against racism and intolerance.

The prevention of mass atrocities is first and foremost a responsibility and Armenia will continue its efforts to actively contribute to the promotion of this vital issue within the global agenda''

 20:55, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. 3 Armenian POWs have been transferred to Armenian side by the Russian mediation, ARMENPRESS reports the United Armenian Information Center wrote on its Facebook page, citing the Office of Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan.

‘’The office of Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan informs that 3 Armenian POWs have been transferred to the Armenian side by the Russian mediation’’, reads the statement.