Category: 2020

Armenia MFA spox denies reports claiming all deputy FMs have resigned

Hambik Zargarian

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 16:58,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Deputy foreign ministers of Armenia continue fulfilling their working duties, Spokesperson of the foreign minister Anna Naghdalyan told Armenpress, commenting on the reports which claim that all deputy FMs have submitted resignation letters.

Earlier today deputy foreign minister Shavarsh Kocharyan has been dismissed according to the prime minister’s decision.

On November 16, according to the presidential decree, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan has been relieved from the position of Foreign Minister of Armenia.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Lt. Colonel Artsrun Hovhannisyan files police report on assault, death threats

Jhanna Virabian

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 16:52,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The former representative of the Defense Ministry Lt. Colonel Artsrun Hovhannisyan, who was the spokesperson for the military during the Nagorno Karabakh war and resigned after the fighting ended, has filed a police report on assault.

He said he was attacked by two assailants.

“I’ve been getting various threats since November 9, but I was ignoring them. I’m not even responding to overt calls for vengeance. I refused to file a police complaint against those people. Yesterday night I was attacked by two people, fortunately I was able to defend myself. I am not afraid of anyone and I don’t consider anyone as an enemy. But since these threats and calls for vengeance are continuing, and in some places I am being followed, I am forced to apply to the police,” Hovhannisyan said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Ombudsmen of Armenia and Artsakh record additional evidence on Azeri war crimes

Garnik Tadevosian

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 17:18,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh Arman Tatoyan and Artak Beglaryan have recorded additional evidence on Azeri war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Artsakh war against peaceful population, including gross violations of the right to life, right to health, property and other rights of ethnic Armenians.

UK Member of the House of Lords Baroness Caroline Cox was present at the joint fact finding mission.

International experts and journalists accompanied Baroness Cox during the visit to Artsakh, the Armenian Human Rights Defender’s Office said.

[see video]
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

25 observation posts of Russian peacekeepers deployed in Nagorno Karabakh

Karagyozian Lena

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 19:15,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Russian peacekeepers have deployed 25 observation posts in Nagorno Karabakh for observing the preservation of the ceasefire. ARMENPRESS reports the statement issued by the Russian Defense Ministry says that the deployment of peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh continues in line with the November 10 decree of the Russian President.

Starting from November 10, 162 flights have been carried out to transport peacekeepers and military equipment.

The Russian Defense Ministry informs that the ceasefire regime is preserved along the contact line. The commander of the peacekeeping units is Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov.  

[see video]

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 17-11-20

Garnik Zakarian

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 17:30,

YEREVAN, 17 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 17 November, USD exchange rate up by 0.24 drams to 497.38 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.38 drams to 590.24 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 6.49 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.75 drams to 657.83 drams.

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

Gold price down by 70.16 drams to 30152.89 drams. Silver price up by 0.50 drams to 388.02 drams. Platinum price up by 198.81 drams to 14535.94 drams.

Artsakh’s President receives heads of Russian rescue group

Maral Takmazian

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 19:41,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan received head of Rescue Bodies Department of Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, Lieutenant-General Igor Kutrovski and Director of the Department of International Activities of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia Vladimir Solovyov, ARMENPRESS reports Harutyunyan wrote on his Facebook page.

‘’Expressing deep support on behalf of the authorities of Artsakh over the expected activities, I mentioned that huge works are expected for ensuring the safe and normal life of the peaceful population following the cessation of the military operations and I expressed confidence that an effective cooperation will be expanded with the partner organization of Artsakh’’, Harutyunyan wrote.

Russian, American and French diplomats to discuss situation over Nagorno Karabakh

Manouk Vasilian

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 19:52,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The Russian, U.S., and French diplomats will discuss the situation over Nagorno Karabakh on November 18 in Moscow, ARMENPRESS reports official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova told Ria Novosti, confirming the information spread by the media.

She added that Ambassador at large Igor Popov will participate in the meeting from the Russian side.

Earlier, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that a meeting with diplomats on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be held in Moscow on November 18.




15 French Mayors recognize NK’s independence, urging Government and other countries to do the same

Lilit Nahapetian

15 French Mayors recognize NK’s independence, urging Government and other countries to do the same

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 20:06,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. 15 French Mayors issued a declaration, recognizing the independence of Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh), urging the French Government and the international community to also recognize it.

”Azerbaijan re-ignited the Karabakh conflict on September 27, 2020, which had been frozen by an unstable ceasefire since 1994, launching an unprecedented large-scale offensive against the self-determined republic.

The Azerbaijani army which included mercenaries that had served in Syrian jihadist groups, resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), which was accompanied by serious violations of international conventions on armed conflict.

Both the capital Stepanakert and the border communities were bombed. Many civilians were killed and thousands of Artsakh’s people were deported.

At midnight on November 10, after 44 days of bloody fighting, a ceasefire agreement signed under the auspices of the Russian authorities entered into force, fixing the positions of the conflicting parties.

Although the final provisions of this agreement are not at all satisfactory, they help at least save lives from both sides’’, ARMENPRESS reports reads the statement issued by the 15 Mayors, adding that the loss of territories can lead to extremely unfavorable situation, particularly in terms of the preservation of hundreds of ancient churches and Cathedrals.

”In this regard, the fall of Shushi, Artsakh’s second city, is fraught with the danger of depriving the people of Artsakh of their own historical memory, given all the unprecedented destruction that has taken place in the city, including the recently renovated Ghazanchetsots Church.

From now on, it is our duty not to hide behind cautious neutrality, which means approving the Azerbaijani aggression. We must reaffirm our full support for the friendly people, supporting the return of the Armenian people to their ancestral lands, reads the statement.

The statement notes that since the declaration of independence in 1991, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) has always guaranteed institutional stability for its own people on never disputed democratic grounds, territorial integrity and defense, as well as economic-cultural prosperity.

”Bringing together all the components of a state in line with the international law – territory, population, sovereignty, Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) should be assesses as such – subject of law, endowed with sovereignty that legitimately embodies the people of Artsakh. The people united in the territory of the Artsakh state are radically connected with the land of their ancestors, with a common language, common history, inherited culture and religion. Given these crucial factors, the independence of Artsakh seems to us more than ever to be legally strong, legitimate and fair”, reads the statement, urging the Government of France and the international community to also recognize the independence of Artsakh as the only effective means to protect the people of Artsakh from ethnic cleansings that still threatens them.

The declaration has been signed by 

 Nicolas DARAGON, Mayor of Valence (Drôme)
 Laurence FAUTRA, Mayor of Décines (Rhône)
 Thierry KOVACS, Mayor of Vienne (Isère)
 Hervé REYNAUD, Mayor of Saint-Chamond (Loire)
 Philippe MARINI, Mayor of Compiègne (Oise)
 Richard MALLIE, Mayor of Bouc-Bel-Air (Bouches-du-Rhône)
 Michel AMIEL, Mayor of Pennes Mirabeau (Bouches-du-Rhône)
 Jean-Jacques GUILLET, Mayor of Chaville (Hauts de Seine)
 Luc CARVOUNAS, Mayor of d’Alfortville (Hauts de Seine)
 Maud TALLET, Mayor of Champs sur Marne (Seine et Marne)
 Marie-Hélène THORAVAL, Mayor of Romans-Sur-Isère (Drôme)
 Marlène MOURIER, Mayor of Bourg-lès-Valence (Drôme)
 Nathalie NIESON, Mayor of Bourg-de-Péage (Drôme)
 Christian GAUTHIER, Mayor of Chatuzange-le-Goubet (Drôme)
 Sylvie GAUCHER, Mayor of Guilherand-Granges (Ardèche)

Putin dismisses allegations about Russia’s changed attitude to Armenia under Pashinyan

Garnik Tadevosian
TASS, Russia
Nov 18 2020
Russian Politics & DiplomacyNovember 18, 2:06


NOVO-OGARYOVO, November 18. /TASS/. The fact that Nikol Pashinyan became Armenia’s prime minister on a wave of protests in 2018 did not affect Moscow’s relations with Yerevan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Russian media outlets, which was aired on Russia-1 and Russia-24.

“I haven’t noticed anything special about our relations with Armenia recently, particularly during Prime Minister Pashinyan’s term,” Putin pointed out. According to the Russian president, he has “rather trust-based and constructive” relations with Pashinyan. “This is why I don’t get these hints [at changes in Moscow’s attitude to Yerevan],” he added.

“There are centuries-long relations between Russia and the Armenian people, which date back to the distant past. Our relations are based on cultural and religious affinity, as well as on strong historical, and it is even more important than relations between individuals,” the Russian president emphasized.

Armenia’s parliament elected Pashinyan as the country’s prime minister in May 2018 after Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan had stepped down under opposition pressure.


Putin hails ceasefire between Armenia & Azerbaijan, but warns final status of disputed Nagorno-Karabakh still not decided

Karapet Navasardian
RT – Russia Today
Nov 18 2020
18 Nov, 2020 12:36


By Jonny Tickle

Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted, on Tuesday, that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is still yet to be ultimately determined, despite a recent armistice agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

After six weeks of heavy fighting, Moscow brokered a deal between the warring parties, which agreed that areas captured by Azerbaijani forces are to remain under the control of Baku. Three other regions are also to be given to them Azeris at a later date.
Despite the truce agreement, Putin maintains this is not the final chapter in deciding the destiny of the disputed region.

“The final status of Karabakh has not been settled,” he explained. “We agreed that we will maintain the status quo that exists today, what will happen next is to be resolved in the future.”

According to Putin, now that hostilities have stopped and communication lines have been restored, the agreement makes it possible to normalize the situation in the future.

“The most important thing that we managed to do is to stop the bloodshed,” he said. “This is not a movie, this is a tragedy that occurs in life with real people, real families, so the end of the bloodshed is the main result.”

On November 9, the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan adopted a trilateral agreement on the cessation of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh. As well as drawing up a new map, the parties also agreed on the deployment of Russian peacekeepers. At the time the truce was signed, Azerbaijan was at a clear advantage. In Putin’s opinion, Yerevan’s refusal to agree to stop the hostilities would have been “suicide.”

On September 27, the frozen Nagorno-Karabakh conflict suddenly erupted once again. The dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia is decades old, with both countries believing they have legitimate claims to the territory. The region is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but is primarily populated by ethnic Armenians. Baku considers the enclave to be illegally occupied by Yerevan.