Author: Hagop Kamalian

 15:28, 24 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received today President of the Constitutional Court Arman Dilanyan, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told Armenpress.

His Holiness Garegin II highlighted the mission of the Constitutional Court in preserving legality and justice in Armenia.

The meeting also touched upon the current situation in the country.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 21:41,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Only the response of Azerbaijan is still awaited for UNESCO to proceed with the sending of a mission to the field. The authorities of Azerbaijan have been approached several times without success so far, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the UNESCO.

‘’In its press release of 20 November, UNESCO reiterated countries’ obligation to protect cultural heritage in terms of the 1954 Convention for the Protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict to which both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties. The Organization proposed to carry out an independent mission of experts to draw a preliminary inventory of significant cultural properties as a first step towards the effective safeguarding of the region’s heritage.

The proposal received the full support of the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group and the agreement in principle of the representatives of both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Meeting at UNESCO on 10 and 11 December 2020, the members of the intergovernmental Committee of The Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol (1999), welcomed this initiative and confirmed the need for a mission to take stock of the situation regarding cultural properties in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. The Committee requested each of the parties to render the mission possible.

Since 20 November, UNESCO made proposals and led in-depth consultations with a view to organizing the mission which, in the terms of the Convention, requires the agreement of both parties.

Ernesto Ottone, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Cultural, said: “Only the response of Azerbaijan is still awaited for UNESCO to proceed with the sending of a mission to the field. The authorities of Azerbaijan have been approached several times without success so far. Every passing week makes the assessment of the situation concerning cultural property more difficult, not least due to the weather which is expected to become harsher in the coming weeks. The window of opportunity that was opened by the cease fire must not be closed again. The safeguarding of heritage is an important condition for the establishment of lasting peace. We are therefore expecting Baku to respond without delay so that the constructive discussions held over recent weeks can be turned into action.” Reads the statement issued by the UNESCO.

 12:05, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan held a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri and the embassy’s economic affairs specialist Seyed Reza Nourai to discuss cooperation issues.

Praising the centuries-old friendship and many years of cooperation between the two countries, the sides brought forward new proposals for partnership in the healthcare sectors of Armenia and Iran, the healthcare ministry said in a news release.

“We highly appreciate direct contacts with our Iranian colleagues and we are grateful for the provided assistance in this difficult period of time,” Torosyan said, referring to the Iranian humanitarian aid to Armenia for the COVID-19 response. “I am sure that our friendly relations will continue in the future, especially after overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic situation.”

An agreement was reached to organize video-conferences between Armenian and Iranian healthcare officials, doctors and health workers on the treatment procedures of COVID-19. The issue of launching a joint production of medications and medical equipment was discussed in detail.

The Iranian ambassador noted that regardless of the situation in the country the healthcare sector must continue working. The ambassador expressed readiness to further strengthen cooperation in this sector, expressing hope that the countries will be able to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of jointly fighting against it.

“Taking into consideration the cultural ties of our two countries, I am sure that our relations will develop even more from now. A powerful and rich Armenia is a pride for its neighbor country, therefore we want Armenia to have big successes and maximally develop the healthcare sector as a result of cooperation, bringing it to the highest point. I hope that in the next five to six months of cooperation we will achieve tangible results,” the Iranian ambassador said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 18:32, 16 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, YEREVAN. The Armenian side has suspicions that Azerbaijan does not provide the real data of Armenian war prisoners, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Ayvazian told ‘’Le Monde’’.

‘’ Preliminary lists have been compiled. An agreement has been reached between the two countries on exchanging according to “all for all” principle. I would not like to present exact numbers, as there are doubts that Azerbaijan does not provide the real number of Armenian prisoners of war, they may be much more.

However, an urgent solution to this problem is needed, as it has been proven that Armenian prisoners of war and civilians that have been taken hostage are being treated inhumanely’’, Ayvazian said.

The Minister noted that the Armenian side is working with its partners, particularly with  the International Committee of the Red Cross, to ensure the immediate return of the captives.

‘’ It is known that the November 9 ceasefire declaration does not set a deadline and Baku uses this factor to manipulate the issue, to treat POWs, hostage civilians inhumanely, as well as to influence the internal political situation in Armenia’’, the Armenian FM said.

On December 14, an exchange of war prisoners took place through the mediation of Russian peacekeepers. 44 of Armenian confirmed POWs have returned to Armenia from Azerbaijan.