Asbarez: Azerbaijani Special Forces Suffer Losses after Attack Attempt


A soldier on the frontline

Azerbaijani special forces suffered losses on Friday when their attempt to attack a military base in Artsakh was thwarted by Artsakh soldiers, the Artsakh Defense Ministry reported.

“The elite units of the Defense Army immediately detected the advancement of the Azerbaijani special forces and repelled them back to their starting positions by inflicting losses. The Defense Army did not sustain losses during the firefight,” the Artsakh military said in a statement.

“The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Artsakh calls on the Azerbaijani side to refrain from the futile tactics of artificially escalating the situation. Otherwise, the Azerbaijani side will bear the entire responsibility of the tension created at the frontline,” added the military.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 08-05-20

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 17:31, 8 May, 2020

YEREVAN, 8 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 8 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.97 drams to 484.11 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.99 drams to 524.73 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 6.58 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.36 drams to 599.62 drams.

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

Gold price up by 248.09 drams to 26522.68 drams. Silver price down by 1.00 drams to 233.16 drams. Platinum price up by 225.57 drams to 11797.89 drams.

President of Artsakh introduces several key indicators of Republic’s development during his tenure

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 13:32,

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan made an annual statement at the sitting of the National Assembly on April 30 introducing the performance of the Artsakh Republic President’s program in 2019 and from January 2020 till the end of term of office of the acting Artsakh Republic President, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

Bako Sahakyan presented the work carried out in various directions and noted that in 2019 large-scale activities had been realized in all the spheres of the republic’s life as a result of which positive indicators were registered, and a stable progress was ensured, one of the most important indicators of which being the 10,3% economic growth.

In the final part of the report President Sahakyan touched upon a number of key indicators of the development of the Artsakh Republic during his tenure.

“Now I will move on to some figures and indicators that characterize the results of the 13 years of our joint work, which I do not consider superfluous to speak about from this rostrum.

Quite a lot of work has been carried out, various strategically important projects have been brought to life. Our country has gone through serious difficulties and has overcome them with honor.

As is known, the most significant indicator characterizing the social and economic situation of the country is the gross domestic product. In 2007 it amounted to about 70,8 billion Drams, while in 2019 it exceeded 342 billion Drams.

If in 2007 GDP per capita constituted $1490, last year this index was $4803.

The volume of the state budget for 2007 was 30,8 billion Drams. In 2020, as you know, it amounted to about 121 billion Drams.

Here are some indices registered in different spheres in 2007 and 2019:

– the volume of industrial production has increased from 22 billion to 164,5 billion Drams,
– gross agricultural output has increased from 23,8 billion to almost 70,6 billion Drams,
– the volume of construction has increased from 20,8 billion to 64,6 billion Drams,
– the foreign trade turnover has increased from $277,4 million to more than $656 million.

If in 2007 the energy produced in our country was 90,4 million Kwh, then in 2019 only the amount of energy exported from the Artsakh Republic was almost that much – 85,7 million Kwh, while the total amount of the produced energy was 479,3 million Kwh.

As a result of the realization of state programs aimed at improving the demographic situation, the population of the Artsakh Republic has increased by more than 10 thousand people throughout these years.
Infrastructures of strategic importance have been constructed in our country. The North-South highway has been completed, the Martakert-Vardenis highway has been built, many other roads have been put into operation and repaired.

Capital Stepanakert and dozens of other settlements of the republic have been provided with round-the-clock water supply. It is a fact, that Stepanakert and Shoushi, various villages and towns have been substantially changed for the better.

Extensive work has been carried out in the field of foreign policy to make our country recognizable to the world. Thus, the process of recognition of the Artsakh Republic by the administrative units of different countries started in 2012 is underway today, the development of bilateral relations is actively going on.
Our athletes have achieved tangible results, having won various international competitions almost every year in the recent time period. We also have serious results in the field of culture.

The biggest challenge of all these years was the April war. The Defense Army, our people together with Mother Armenia and the Diaspora neutralized the enemy’s criminal plans, defended the independence, security and dignity of our country.

Speaking of all this, I would like to mention that I am far from thinking that we succeeded to solve all the problems within our terms of responsibility. There is still much to do.

The world is dynamically changing, new challenges are emerging. The problems we face are no less important and responsible, and they will require the application of maximum efforts, consolidating the potential of our entire nation. Only together can we overcome the difficulties,” highlighted the President.

Bako Sahakyan expressed confidence that the new authorities of the republic, based on the achievements of these years, would continue, in some cases, multiply them and efficiently solve all the problems aimed at dynamic improvement of the country’s socioeconomic situation, increasing the people’s welfare on a constituent basis, ensuring reliable security of the citizens, and wished everyone peace, robust health, success and fruitful work for the glory of our homeland and people.

Mnatsakanyan reveals priority discussion issue in upcoming videoconference with Mammadyarov

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 17:20,

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan presented the priority issue that will be discussed with Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov during a videoconference.

“Yesterday I had a videocall with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Today, a videoconference with participation of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Co-Chairs will probably take place. Our present-day priority issue concerns one thing – when the region and the world is focused around the fight against the coronavirus pandemic – the preservation of ceasefire, ruling out any risks is more than a priority issue. We will work in this direction. The rest, later”, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

93-year-old Armenian overcomes coronavirus

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 19:20,

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Over 50 citizens aged above 70 have overcome coronavirus in Armenia. Responding to inquiry of ARMENPRESS, the Health Ministry of Armenia provided age data of the recovery cases.

The oldest to overcome the disease in Armenia is a 93-year-old woman. Initially her health condition was moderate but gradually she moved for better. The next oldest to recover the disease is aged 90, followed by a woman aged 88. Oldest man to overcome the disease is aged 86.

State of emergency has been prolonged until May 14 in Armenia. Strict restrictions are imposed on people’s movement.

By 11:00, April 21 Armenia confirmed 1401 cases. 24 people have died, 609 have recovered. There are still 768 active cases. Nearly 14 thousands tests have been done so far.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Unnecessary optimism may harm: PAP deputy on Armenian PM’s statement about possibility to return to regular life

Aysor, Armenia
April 6 2020

The 11 new cases of coronavirus are inspiring hope, but it is necessary to follow the dynamics tomorrow, the day after it and the following days too, deputy from Prosperous Armenia faction Sergey Bagratyan told Aysor.am, referring to the idea voiced by Armenia’s PM about possibility to return to regular life from Monday if the restrictions of Commandant’s office be followed during the week.

“It is possible to think about returning the regular pace of life in only 4-5 days after new cases are not being recorded. Today’s 11 cases are a good news, but it should not raise unnecessary enthusiasm. It is necessary to be cautious. Probably the PM tried to share his delight, it is clear, he is emotional, let God bring his optimism to reality,” the deputy said, warning again that it is necessary to be very cautious taking into consideration that the tempos of the disease in the world are reducing and then growing again.

“We must not hurry not to make a mistake,” he said.

Referring to the damages coronavirus caused to economy, the deputy said, “Naturally we would like the economy to restore a day earlier but we have an issue. What is the dilemma? Healthcare and economy. I mean if we do not pay necessary attention to the healthcare, we will have losses in the economy and the opposite, having issues in the economy we will not manage to fund the healthcare sector. This dilemma must be settled in parallel,” Bagratyan said, adding that the economic collapse may result in collapse of the healthcare.

Artsakh is ready to take all necessary measures of self-defense – MFA

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 18:20, 6 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Artsakh is ready to take all necessary measures of self-defense in accordance with international law and, in particular, the provisions of the UN Charter, reads the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh over the ceasefire violation incident by Azerbaijan on April 5.

The foreign ministry expressed concerns that the incident occurred amid the temporary suspension of monitoring of the ceasefire by the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and in a situation when the whole world is struggling with a new type of coronavirus pandemic (COVID19).

”The Azerbaijani side once again grossly violated the ceasefire regime on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, as a result of which a serviceman of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh was wounded.

It is worrying that this incident occurred amid the temporary suspension of monitoring of the ceasefire by the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and in a situation when the whole world is struggling with a new type of coronavirus pandemic (COVID19).

Such provocations are an open disregard on the part of the Azerbaijani authorities of the call of the UN Secretary General Anthony Guterres for a ceasefire around the world to direct the efforts of all mankind to overcome the global challenge – the coronavirus, as well as ignoring the appeal of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the parties to the conflict to strictly observe the ceasefire and refrain from any provocative actions that may increase the level of tension in a given period.

The non-constructive behavior of Baku has become another manifestation of the irresponsible and aggressive policies of the Azerbaijani authorities and deserves the most rigorous assessment and condemnation from the international community.

Reaffirming its obligations to comply with the agreements on maintaining and strengthening the ceasefire, as well as the Secretary-General’s appeal for global armistice, the Republic of Artsakh urges Azerbaijan to fulfill its obligations and abandon provocative actions.

At the same time, the Republic of Artsakh is ready to take all necessary measures of self-defense in accordance with international law and, in particular, the provisions of the UN Charter”, reads the statement.

Armenia chess grandmaster Levon Aronian’s wife is laid to rest

News.am, Armenia
April 3 2020
Armenia chess grandmaster Levon Aronian’s wife is laid to rest (PHOTOS) Armenia chess grandmaster Levon Aronian’s wife is laid to rest (PHOTOS)

14:55, 02.04.2020

The funeral of Arianne Caoili, the wife of Armenia’s leading chess grandmaster and FIDE World Cup champion Levon Aronian, was held Thursday in Yerevan.

Third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan, members of the Armenian national chess team, and Caoili’s close friends were attended the funeral.

Armenian News-NEWS.am earlier reported that Arianne Caoili, 33, had gotten into an accident on March 14 in Yerevan. The car she was driving had crashed into a concrete pillar on a street.

After the accident, Arianne underwent several operations, but her life could not be saved.

Levon Aronian and Arianne Caoili were married in 2017.


Russian-Armenian epidemiologist with Covid-19 dies in Moscow

PanArmenian, Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russian-Armenian epidemiologist Arpik Asratyan died in a Moscow medical center Friday, March 27.

Asatryan, who previously worked as a professor in the Department of Epidemiology of the Institute of Professional Education at Sechenov University, had been diagnosed with coronavirus.

The 69-year-old woman was hospitalized from her apartment on March 23, but doctors tested her for Covid-19 only hours before her death, Moskovskij Komsomolets reports.

Health professionals are now working to find out whether the coronavirus was the cause of her death. According to preliminary information, the woman did not travel abroad and had no contact with a coronavirus case in the recent past.

Asratyan was a doctor of medical sciences, a prominent voice in the treatment of viral hepatitis.