Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

 19:29, 6 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. Peter Stano, Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, referred to the attack of the Azerbaijani sabotage group on the policemen in Artsakh.

“The EU is sorry for the violence that broke out on the Karabakh contact line yesterday, which resulted in at least five victims. The circumstances of this fatal incident must be thoroughly investigated. We call on all interested parties to exercise restraint to prevent further actions that could further undermine regional stability and threaten the peace process,” he said.

Three Nagorno Karabakh police officers were killed as a result of an ambush by a sabotage team of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on March 5. The officers of the Passport and Visa Department of the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nagorno-Karabakh were attacked around 10:00 in the area called Khaypalu. They were in their service vehicle at the time of the ambush.

 15:58, 2 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan held separate meetings with officers serving in a military base after his trip to the military positions on the south-eastern border.

The officers presented to the minister the routine of their service, management of the units, integration and planned trainings.

During the separate meetings with officers, Minister Papikyan inquired about the social conditions and the housing program. Papikyan called on the troops to pay extra attention to physical trainings and improve tactical skills to earn high scores in the certification exams.

The Minister called on the commanders of all units to increase the level of discipline in all circles, especially among the servicemembers on combat shift. Papikyan also highlighted morale and called on the commanders to eradicate any possible undisciplined behavior.

 16:30,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Iran’s relations with Armenia are historical and in line with the interests of the entire region, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said during a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Geneva, IRNA reports.

“We’ve numerously said that the good relations between Tehran and Yerevan aren’t detrimental to any country. We support the development of communication between all countries in the Caucasian region, however being against any geopolitical change in the region is our fundamental policy,” the Iranian FM added.

FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that Armenia and Iran have big potential for development of relations especially in the economic sector.

The foreign ministers discussed issues related to bilateral and multilateral partnership, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a .

 20:03,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands referred to the decision of the International Court of Justice regarding Armenia’s petition for unblocking the Lachin Corridor.

“The International Court of Justice has made a decision on provisional measures in the case of Armenia vs. Azerbaijan. It is important that this mandatory legal procedure is implemented and Azerbaijan ensures the unhindered movement of people, vehicles and cargo through the Lachin Corridor,” ARMENPRESS reports, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said.

 14:27,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Governor of Shirak Mushegh Muradyan held a meeting with the Ambassador of Russia in Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin.

The Governor talked about the friendly relations between the two countries and the programs implemented in Shirak, Muradyan’s office said in a read-out.

“Mr. Ambassador, welcome to Shirak Province, I am glad to meet you. The friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples has history of centuries. In 2022, we held big celebrations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia. As governor of Shirak, I also attach importance to de-centralized cooperation. Naturally you know that the Shirak province has memoranda and agreements of cooperation with Ulyanovsk, and Gyumri with Kursk, Mozdok, Domodedovo, Tver and other cities. I’d be happy if we could put the cooperation on more substantive foundations. We are ready for cooperation, I am sure we will be able to have new results through joint work,” the governor said.

The Ambassador thanked for the warm reception and said that he also attaches importance to the steps aimed at more substantive cooperation. He congratulated Muradyan on his appointment as governor and said that he attaches importance to the preservation of the allied relations with Armenia and strengthening of cooperation. “We are happy to visit Shirak and I am ready for the implementation of new practical programs.”

Issues related to the prospects of trade-economic, educational and cultural relations were discussed. An agreement was reached to organize new meetings to implement new joint initiatives.

 14:14,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has revised its growth forecast for the economy of Armenia. The Bank is now forecasting 8% economic growth for Armenia in 2022.

In its latest Regional Economic Prospects (REP), the EBRD said that the economies of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are enjoying some of their highest growth rates in years.

The EBRD said Armenia and Georgia are benefiting from an inflow of Russian businesses and information and communication technology (ICT) professionals, boosting the service sectors of these small economies.

However, the robust growth recorded for the region in 2022 will taper off in 2023, highlighting concerns about its medium-term sustainability. The report warns that current growth in the Caucasus is mainly driven by temporary factors that could easily be reversed.

“In Armenia, the solid recovery seen in 2021 carried strong growth momentum into 2022, with economic growth reaching 13.1 per cent in the period from January to July. As in Georgia, the arrival of many people and firms from Russia led to an increase of 113 per cent in foreign inflows and boosted demand for services.

This has helped Armenia to finance its widening trade deficit. Foreign reserves have also increased by 20 per cent and the exchange rate by 18 per cent. The report forecasts robust growth of 8 per cent in 2022, up from a previous estimate of 4.5 per cent. The slowdown is expected to be less gentle, with a drop to 4 per cent likely in 2023. However, the latest growth estimate for 2023 remains above the earlier projection of 2.5 per cent”, the Bank said.

 10:36, 1 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction approved the motion of investigators to remand into pre-trial detention Lt. General Mikayel Arzumanyan, the former Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh, his lawyer said in a statement.

Arzumanyan is charged with military negligence. Investigators said that during the war, in conditions of martial law, from October 30 to November 9 of 2020, Arzumanyan displayed negligent attitude for his duties during organizing the defense of the town of Shushi and nearby regions and failed to fulfill or improperly fulfilled his duties which led to severe consequences: enemy forces captured Shushi and nearby areas and the Armenian forces suffered casualties.

He denies wrongdoing.

 09:31, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian women’s football team lost 1:2 to Kosovo in the qualifier for the UEFA 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The match took place in Pristina, Kosovo.