16:11,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Krikor Bedros XX Gabroyan, the Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholic Church has died at the age of 86 in Beirut, Lebanon.
Gabroyan was inaugurated Patriarch in 2015.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
16:53,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Newly-appointed Ambassador of Mongolia to Armenia Davaa Dulamsuren (residence in Moscow, Russia) presented his credentials to President Armen Sarkissian, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.
The Armenian President congratulated the Ambassador on appointment and wished success to his mission.
The officials discussed the development prospects of the Armenian-Mongolian relations. Given that there are good cooperation traditions between the two countries in particular in the fields of education and science, they both emphasized deepening the mutual partnership in particular in the fields of information and high technologies.
The Ambassador said Mongolia is interested in developing the relations with Armenia and stated that he himself is ready to contribute to the deepening of the ties between the two countries with his activity.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:57,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Shots were fired from the Azerbaijani side at Armenian on-duty servicemen, the defense ministry said.
The incident involving firearms happened at the “border section” of Verin Shorzha in Gegharkunik Province – where around 14:20, May 25 “automatic shots were discharged from the Azeri side in the direction of Armenian servicemen”.
The defense ministry said it is clarifying details of the incident.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
17:04,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. A meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden is expected to take place on June 15-16 in Geneva, Switzerland, CNN said citing sources in the Biden administration on Tuesday, reports TASS.
“The officials said Geneva has emerged as the final contender as a host city for the long-discussed meeting between the two leaders, who are expected to come together on June 15-16 at the conclusion of Biden's first international trip since taking office”, the TV channel reported.
17:15,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. An Armenian serviceman was killed on May 25 near the border with Azerbaijan.
The Defense Ministry said that Junior Sergeant G. Khurshudyan (born 1989) was killed during a firefight which began after the Azerbaijani troops had opened fire at the border section of the Verin Shorzha village in Gegharkunik Province. The junior sergeant was a contract serviceman.
The Ministry of Defense said “Junior Sergeant V. Khurshudyan suffered a fatal gunshot wound as a result of the exchange of fire which started after the adversary opened fire”.
“The situation is now under control, there is no shooting,” the defense ministry said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
17:30,
YEREVAN, 25 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 25 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 520.57 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.28 drams to 638.01 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 7.10 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.43 drams to 738.22 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price up by 70.53 drams to 31467.53 drams. Silver price down by 2.60 drams to 462.69 drams. Platinum price down by 402.07 drams to 19648.9 drams.
18:13,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received on May 25 Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, the sides particularly referred to the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the humanitarian issues resulted by the war, particularly the necessity for an immediate return of Armenian war prisoners and civilians kept in Azerbaijan. The sides exchanged views on regional security and stability issues.
18:20,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The Dutch parliament has adopted a resolution, calling on the government to make efforts so as the EU should demand Azerbaijan to immediately withdraw troops from the Armenian territory.
ARMENPRESS reports, citing the Armenian Embassy in the Netherlands, the resolution particularly runs as follows, ‘’ After hearing the debates, recording that Azerbaijani troops had invaded the Armenian territory, and aiming to prevent a possible escalation of the conflict, the Chamber calls on the government to insist in the (European) Council to join French President Macron's demand addressed to Azerbaijan for immediate withdrawal of troops’’.
18:59,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received on May 25 Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacôte.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, President Sarkissian and Ambassador Lacôte referred to the situation on the Armenian border, the encroachments of Azerbaijan on the territorial integrity of Armenia, as well as the necessity of an immediate return of the Armenian war prisoners and civilian hostages kept in Azerbaijan.
The sides also exchanged views on issues of regional security and stability, as well as the current agenda of the bilateral relations.
19:32,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian issued a statement, referring to the renewed attempts of the Azerbaijani side to escalate the situation on the border with Armenia, urging the international community and all the interested states to be maximally intolerant and take tough measures for giving adequate assessment and condemning Azerbaijan's provocative actions, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office.
The President’s statement runs as follows, ‘’ Today, after the prolonged illegal encroachments on the borders and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, Azerbaijan turned to a new provocation to escalate the border situation.
The Azerbaijani side opened fire in the direction of Armenian armed forces in one of the border sections in Gegharkunik Province. There is one victim from the Armenian side. I offer deepest condolences to the family and relatives of the killed servicemen.
I call on relevant state bodies to make all efforts and take the toughest measures against the threats to the territorial integrity of Armenia and border violations.
Condemning the provocative measures of Azerbaijan and steps to further escalate the situation, we call on the international community and all the interested states to be maximally intolerant and take tough measures for giving adequate assessment and condemning Azerbaijan's provocative actions’’.