Author: Kalantarian Kevo

 11:54,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned on August 11 that the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh continues to deteriorate.

Commercial supplies into Nagorno-Karabakh have been blocked by Azerbaijan since December 2022 through its illegal blockade. Furthermore, since July 15 Azerbaijan has been blocking humanitarian supplies, including baby food and medication, including through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, PM Pashinyan said that the Armenian government on July 26 decided to send humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh, and the 19 trucks carrying food and medicine remain stranded in the village of Kornidzor near the entrance to the Lachin Corridor.

“I’d like to remind you that these 19 trucks carry 100 tons of flour, 80 tons of pasta, 60 tons of sugar, 40 tons of vegetable oil, 40 tons of powdered milk, 20 tons of salt, 12 tons of baby food and 9 tons of medicine. A total of 361 tons of humanitarian aid.  The content of the cargo has been verified by foreign diplomats accredited in Armenia and can be verified again at any moment by inspecting the trucks which have been in Kornidzor for already 16 days. Then, two other trucks joined the humanitarian convoy, carrying 9 tons of confectionaries sent by a candy company and 1 truck carrying 25 tons of pasta sent on behalf of the Mayor of Paris and the heads of the French regions of Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Hauts-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Pays de la Loire,” Pashinyan said.

The blocking of the humanitarian convoy further corroborates fears that Azerbaijan wants to commit genocide against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, he said.

“And indeed, stronger opinions are voiced by international expert circles that Azerbaijan’s policy on causing a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor can be viewed from the perspective of the 9 December 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. I think that the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of Lachin Corridor has reached a level where greater efforts are required in the direction of giving an international legal assessment to the situation, especially when Azerbaijan is still not implementing the February 22 and July 6 binding rulings by the International Court of Justice on ensuring unimpeded movement of persons, goods and vehicles along the Lachin Corridor,” Pashinyan said.

PM Pashinyan highlighted the fact that the highest instances have recently recorded that Azerbaijan’s comments on the ICJ rulings have nothing to do with reality and that Azerbaijan must ensure unimpeded functioning of the Lachin Corridor.

“In these conditions I must note that the best solution in this situation would be the lifting of the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and the start of the Stepanakert-Baku dialogue within the framework of an international mechanism. For its part, the Republic of Armenia continues to reiterate its commitment to the peace agenda and calls on official Baku to refrain from steps nullifying the historic chance for establishing peace,”  Pashinyan said.

 10:33, 3 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern on the ongoing blockade of Lachin Corridor, describing it as ‘continued challenges related to the freedom of movement along the Lachin Corridor’, and called for urgent steps to facilitate access for the delivery of humanitarian aid. 

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the reports of continued challenges related to the freedom of movement along the Lachin Corridor,” Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said in a statement. “He recalls his previous statement on the need for the Parties to implement the Orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), including the Orders issued on 22 February 2023 and reaffirmed on 6 July 2023, related to measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  He is particularly concerned about reports of the deteriorating humanitarian situation on the ground and calls for urgent steps to facilitate access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in need.  He urges both parties to intensify efforts towards the long-term normalization of relations for the benefit of peace and security in the region,” the Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General added.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.

On July 25, the Government of Armenia said that it will try to send over 360 tons of flour, cooking oil, sugar, and other foodstuffs and medication to Nagorno-Karabakh to mitigate the humanitarian crisis resulting from the blockade of Lachin Corridor. Armenia requested the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh to escort the aid but Azerbaijan has blocked the convoy at the entrance of the Lachin Corridor.

 11:44, 3 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has said that there is a chance of achieving long-term and sustainable peace with Azerbaijan and called on Baku to refrain from steps aimed at decreasing these chances.

“Despite all difficulties, we really do have a chance of achieving long-term, sustainable and lasting peace. And I call on Azerbaijan to refrain from steps aimed at decreasing this chance, for example the continuous torpedoing of Stepanakert-Baku dialogue within the framework of an international mechanism, the illegal blockade of Lachin Corridor and the kidnapping of Vagif Khachatryan, who was being transported by the ICRC to Yerevan, from Lachin Corridor earlier this week.  The release of Vagif Khachatryan, other captives, prisoners of war and detainees would be an impressive signal of commitment to the peace agenda,” Pashinyan said.

 14:50, 2 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. The upcoming “Navasard” Armenian-Iranian cultural-culinary festival will feature a rich program and draw a large number of tourists, organizers said Wednesday.  

The festival will take place August 10 in Sisian, Syunik.

“We manage to make it a traditional and long-awaited festival for many people,” said Armenian Tourism Federation President Mekhak Apresyan. “It is a unique regional tourism product. It is an important factor in directing the flow towards us in the reshaping global tourism market in the post-coronavirus era. This event is very important in terms of promoting cultural heritage, cuisine, presenting one of the results of Armenian-Iranian friendship.”

Sisian Boghossian, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy, noted that Iran is one of the target markets for the Armenian tourism industry. Tourism authorities carry out targeted work to attract Iranian tourists.

“Iran is an important market for us, these festivals help us create a more interesting atmosphere in Armenia and attract more tourists from Iran. Last year was very successful for the festival, it had quite a large number of visitors. We expect the same and even more activity this year. I myself was born in Iran and I know Iranian cuisine very well, they have quite tasty dishes. So, I suggest you visit Sisian city and see for yourself,” said Sisian Boghosian.

Mohammad-Ali Kiani, the acting cultural adviser at the Iranian Embassy in Armenia, added that a variety of culinary and cultural events will be offered.

“We were allocated 20 booths in the festival. We’ve done everything to ensure high quality participation. We involved chefs from both Iran and Armenia. We aim to present to the locals that an Iranian cuisine market is available here as well,” said Kiani. He also added that there is a goal to organize such an event in Iran as well, the venue and dates of the event are being discussed.

Emphasizing the work with Iranian partners, the Chairman of the Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions NGO Sedrak Mamulyan noted that both sides have a disposition to create a common tourist result and present it to the world.

The festival will feature the renowned Navasard harissa, a festive dish, as well as a cooking competition, Mamulyan said. The event will also include a music and dancing segment.

 17:15,

YEREVAN, 24 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 24 July, USD exchange rate up by 0.61 drams to 387.09 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.64 drams to 429.36 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.28 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.28 drams to 496.79 drams.

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

Gold price down by 154.15 drams to 24400.12 drams. Silver price down by 5.04 drams to 307.77 drams.