Month: November 2023

 19:48, 8 November 2023

 20:38, 8 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan violated the right to a fair trial of Vagif Khachatryan, an Armenian by nationality, during the implementation of an obviously simulated and false trial.

The Deputy Chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Rustam Bakoyan said on social media.

"I am a villager, not a terrorist"

Vagif Khachatryan of Armenian nationality uttered these words in the Azerbaijani court. The arrest of the latter was from the beginning a continuation of an obvious war crime, and the criminal legal processes carried out against him after all this are a vivid proof of gross violations of human rights in a totalitarian country like Azerbaijan.

Despite its membership in the Council of Europe and ratification of the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Azerbaijan violated the right to a fair trial of Vagif Khachatryan, an Armenian by nationality, during the implementation of an obviously simulated and false trial.

Vagif Khachatryan denied his participation in the so-called "Meshal events" and apologized in Armenian, literally saying that he was not there. In other words, the person, in fact, did not accept the criminal charges brought against him, while the translator, deliberately and obviously acting in the domain of anti-Armenian practices within the framework of Azerbaijani state policy, conveyed to the audience that Khachatryan apologized to the Azerbaijani people for all the incidents committed by Armenians.

During the entire judicial process, Vagif Khachatryan's thoughts were distorted, as a result, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

I have sent urgent letters to my international colleagues to ensure the immediate return of Vagif Khachatryan to the Republic of Armenia within the framework of their powers.

I have requested that the political level officially acknowledge that the trial held against Vagif Khachatryan is entirely false and aims to conceal the criminal anti-Armenian activities of Azerbaijan and the implemented military tactics,'' Bakoyan said.

 10:25, 9 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has welcomed the G7 Japan 2023 Foreign Ministers’ Statement that called on Azerbaijan to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law.

“Welcoming G7 statement, we underline that strong international steps & clear public commitments by all involved parties are paramount for normalization btw Armenia & Azerbaijan in line with Granada statement, & to address needs of Armenian forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia has such a commitment,” Mirzoyan said in a post on X.

The G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, after their meeting in Japan, said in a statement:

“We are gravely concerned over the humanitarian consequences of the displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh after the military operation conducted by Azerbaijan. We urge Azerbaijan to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and welcome international efforts to address urgent humanitarian needs for those who have been displaced. We underline our support for advancing a sustainable and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the principles of non-use of force, respect for sovereignty, the inviolability of borders, and territorial integrity.”

 11:20, 9 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Cabinet ministers have observed a moment of silence in commemoration of the victims of the 44-Day War of 2020.

“Today is November 9^th, and I am asking you to pay tribute to all our fallen brothers and sisters of the 44-Day War with a moment of silence,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

The 2020 war ended with the trilateral ceasefire agreement signed between Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020.

The death toll on the Armenian side in the 2020 war unleashed by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh is 3809.

220 people are missing in action.

 11:32, 9 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has approved an additional financial support program for the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The decision was approved at the November 9 Cabinet meeting.

The forcibly displaced persons will each receive an additional 50,000 drams in November and December for essential consumer expenditures. Those who temporarily live in hotels or guest homes, or are currently abroad or have more than 2 million drams in savings on their bank accounts will not be eligible for the program.

 11:53, 9 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government plans to launch a new environmental protection agency.

Authorities seek to replace the current Forestry Committee with the Environmental Protection Agency. The relevant functions currently carried out by other agencies will also be covered by the new body.

“We are now carrying out an 8-hour patrol in forests and national parks, but we need 24-hour patrols. These changes are aimed at this,” Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan said at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday where the decision was approved. 

Environmental Protection Agency officers will be authorized to file proceedings, calculate damages and hand out fines, and use force if the offender fails to comply.

The agency will have 1176 employees. The agency will be fully operational in 2024.

 13:04, 9 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The issue of determining the border with Azerbaijan continues to be a principled matter for Armenia in the negotiations, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan has said.

“The issue of clarifying the border line continues to be principled for us. Specifying the border line between the two countries must be the cornerstone of the possible agreement on normalizing relations with Azerbaijan. Recording the four principles of the unblocking process, which are recorded in the Granada statement, are also among the important issues. The creation of a clear mechanism for dispute settlement will also be important,” Kostanyan told reporters on November 9, adding that the two sides must bring their positions closer over these issues.

Kostanyan said that Armenia continues to be interested in signing a treaty with Azerbaijan on normalizing relations.

 13:18, 9 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. There is no agreement on a high-level Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting at this moment, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said on November 9 when asked whether the talks are in a deadlock.

“At this moment there is no agreement on any specific meeting. There’s been no meeting on the level of leaders, but the mediators have been carrying out certain work in the direction of organizing a new meeting. We are waiting for a new meeting to take place, at this moment it is difficult to say anything about the level, location and mediator of the meeting,” Kostanyan said.

 13:05, 9 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. On November 9, Minister of Defense of Armenia Suren Papikyan received the delegation led by the Chief of the Defence Staff of Italy Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who is in Armenia on a working visit, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release.
Issues related to the Armenian-Italian defense cooperation and regional security were discussed.
The Minister of Defense emphasized the prospects for development of relations in various aspects of bilateral interest, on which agreements were reached during the meeting.

 13:13, 9 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has left for France to participate in the Paris Peace Forum 2023. His wife Anna Hakobyan is accompanying him on the visit.

On November 9, PM Pashinyan will have a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

The Armenian PM will participate in the Paris Peace Forum on November 10.