11:03,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The media reports according to which Defense Minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan has been dismissed have nothing to do with the reality, Armenian prime minister’s spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan told Armenpress.
“That reports do not correspond to the reality”, she said.
In her turn the defense minister’s spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan has stated that minister Tonoyan has not submitted a resignation letter.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
12:53,
STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The ceasefire regime along the Artsakh-Azerbaijani line of contact has been fully observed, the Defense Ministry of Artsakh said in a statement.
“The Defense Army has resumed its normal activities, involving necessary forces and means for fulfillment of the set tasks. Planned measures are being carried out in permanent deployment places. The process of replacing the combat shift and ensuring servicemen’s social, living conditions enters into normal course”, the statement says.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
14:35,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The main achievement of the ceasefire in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone is the fact that “cannons are silent”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, reported by TASS.
“We need to ask military experts”, he said when asked how the Kremlin evaluates the first week of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace. “However, we primarily need to focus on the fact that cannons are silent. This is the main achievement. People are not dying. This is the most valuable thing there can be”.
On November 9 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a statement on a full ceasefire and cessation of all military actions in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone since 01:00 Yerevan Time on November 10. Russian peacekeepers are being deployed to Nagorno Karabakh.
14:51,
STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The government of Artsakh has announced that all public utility services (natural gas, power, water, telecommunications, internet) in the country will be free of charge for its citizens for 1 year.
President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan convened a consultation on November 17 to discuss government support programs for the population to overcome the post-war social situation.
Another relief project envisages the provision of financial assistance to socially vulnerable families who have a per capita income lower than the minimum consumer basket threshold of 60,000 drams.
All citizens left homeless will receive a one-time financial assistance of 300,000 drams.
The government said it will start rebuilding the residential homes which were damaged during the war in the coming days.
The President said the housing issues will be solved within several years, and until then the government will provide financial assistance to the affected citizens in the form of rent compensation.
The meeting also focused on providing financial support to the militia members and other social support programs.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
15:02,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Moscow hopes that the UN agencies will join the solution of humanitarian problems in Karabakh immediately after the International Committee of Red Corss (ICRC), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today, RIA Novosti reports.
“We hope that other humanitarian structures, firstly the agencies of the United Nations, will join the work. I mean the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the Humanitarian Coordination Leadership, and of course, Nagorno Karabakh is also facing problems of preservation of cultural heritage. Here UNESCO can play its role”, Lavrov said.
He said the ICRC is long in the region and its experience can be useful for other organizations. “I think that the cessation of military operations based on these agreements, of course, is opening additional opportunities for the operation of the International Committee of Red Cross which is present both in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and also Nagorno Karabakh”, the Russian FM said, adding that the ICRC can play a key role in overcoming the consequences of what has taken place in Karabakh.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
15:05,
STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Army of Artsakh is denying media reports claiming that the Azeri forces have ambushed the Uryan heights and that 200 Defense Army servicemen are surrounded at Ghushchyullar.
The Defense Army said these reports are “total disinformation.”
“As we reported earlier today, the ceasefire regime is maintained. We urge you to follow exclusively official news,” the Artsakh military said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
14:53,
STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan visited today Lisagor community of Shushi region to be sure on the reliability of Stepanakert-Berdzor highway, the President said on Facebook.
The President of Artsakh was accompanied by commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops, Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov.
“I visited Lisagor community of Shushi region together with commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Artsakh, Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov and was personally convinced on the reliability of passability of the Stepanakert-Berdzor highway.
During the visit I talked to the community residents and the military, discussed with them the future programs”, the President of Artsakh said.
On November 9 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a statement on a full ceasefire and cessation of all military actions in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone since 01:00 Yerevan Time on November 10. Russian peacekeepers are being deployed to Nagorno Karabakh.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
15:40,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sacked Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan a day after firing Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.
Kocharyan was serving as Deputy FM for more than a decade.
Editing and Translating Stepan Kocharyan
16:15,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that the agreements on cessation of war in Nagorno Karabakh are being maintained, adding that the situation stabilizes there, RIA Novosti reports.
Talking about global and regional security during the BRICS summit, Putin reminded that the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh has escalated in September this year.
“The Russian side has made the most active efforts to help stopping the hostilities between the two states and convince them to reach compromise decisions. Thanks to our mediation efforts an agreement has been reached on November 9 over complete cessation of fire and deployment of Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh”, Putin said, adding that this is fixed in the statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:32,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Newly-appointed Ambassador of Canada to Armenia Alison Mary LeClaire (residence in Moscow, Russia) presented her credentials to President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.
President Sarkissian congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office, wishing productive work. He expressed confidence that the new Ambassador will invest her efforts and capacities to develop the mutually beneficial partnership between Armenia and Canada.
“Despite the geographical distance between our countries, we have great opportunities for cooperation”, the Armenian President told the Canadian Ambassador.
In her turn Ambassador Alison Mary LeClaire said it’s an honor for her to represent Canada in Armenia. “I am looking forward to continue the firm and friendly relations with your country. I would like to state that we are committed to support Armenia in these difficult times”, the Ambassador said.
At the meeting President Sarkissian also touched upon the consequences of the recent Azerbaijani-Turkish military aggression against Artsakh, and the current situation in the country within this context.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan