13:53, 1 October, 2020
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Journalists of the French Le Monde newspaper came under Azerbaijani gunfire in the town of Martuni in Artsakh.
“Journalists of the French Le Monde newspaper have come under [Azeri] shelling in the town of Martuni in Artsakh, two are wounded, according to preliminary information both are French citizens,” Head of the PR and Information Center of the Prime Minister’s Office Hovhannes Movsisyan said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
13:17, 1 October, 2020
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory message to President Nicos Anastasiades of the Republic of Cyprus on the country’s Independence Day, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
The message says:
“On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and on my own behalf, I extend my most cordial congratulations to you and to the brotherly people of Cyprus on the Independence Day of the Republic of Cyprus. I wish you continuous progress, prosperity and peace.
The deeply rooted Armenian-Cypriot relations have had many manifestations of friendship, based on historical and cultural affinities, shared values and reciprocated sympathy.
Armenia highly appreciates the ongoing interstate cooperation and excellent political dialogue with friendly Cyprus, which as underpinned by mutual respect and trust keep strengthening and expanding every year and growing into ties of allied partnership.
We are confident that the fraternal relations and mutually beneficial partnership between our two countries will boast ever new achievements in the coming years.”
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President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian also congratulated the Cypriot counterpart on the Independence Day.
In his letter the Armenian President highlighted the centuries-old friendship with Cyprus, the close relations which are based on historical-cultural ties and common spiritual values.
“You know that on September 27 early morning Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack against the Republic of Artsakh, targeting also the civilian population. For decades Azerbaijan has been trying to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through military force, by violating all international and moral norms, refusing to find the key for the peaceful settlement of the conflict around the negotiation table. Artsakh and Armenia have jointly resisted this adventure and destructing policy of the Azerbaijani leadership, which is backed by Turkey, and will continue to giving an adequate response to the adversary. I am confident that the brotherly Cyprus stands by us at this difficult moment for Armenia and Artsakh”, the Armenian President said, wishing his Cypriot counterpart good health and all the best.
14:25, 1 October, 2020
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. A cameraman of the “Armenia TV” channel has been wounded in Artsakh from Azerbaijani artillery strikes, the Armenian Unified InfoCenter said.
“Armenia TV channel’s cameraman Aram Grigoryan has been wounded from Azerbaijani artillery shelling. Other reporters were also in the group,” they said.
The report comes right after two French reporters of Le Monde newspaper were wounded in the town of Martuni after Azeri forces bombarded the civilian settlement.
103 servicemen of the Artsakh military have been killed in the Azerbaijani attacks since September 27. Over 120 troops are wounded.
7 civilians were also killed in different cities of Artsakh since September 27 as Azeri forces bombarded towns.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
14:31, 1 October, 2020
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, made the following statement on October 1, warning of humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh.
“As the armed conflict around Nagorno Karabakh escalates with a growing number of civilian casualties, I mourn the deaths of the many people, including civilians, who are falling victim to the hostilities. No political considerations can justify the horror and suffering of these women, men and children. I implore all sides of the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and implement without delay the interim measures decided by the European Court of Human Rights. A peaceful solution must be found at the negotiating table to prevent a grave humanitarian crisis”, the statement says.
The Secretary General reiterated her support to the work of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to this end.
14:06, 1 October, 2020
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military again started bombarding the civilian population of Artsakh, the Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan said.
“Hadrut is being hit by artillery strikes,” he said.
103 servicemen of the Artsakh military have been killed in the Azerbaijani attacks since September 27. Over 120 troops are wounded. 7 civilians were also killed in different cities of Artsakh as Azeri forces bombarded towns.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
14:32, 1 October, 2020
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Air Defense units of the Artsakh Defense Army shot down 1 aircraft and 1 helicopter of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the southern and south-eastern directions on October 1, Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said.
She said the wreckage of the Azeri warplane crashed into territory under Artsakh’s control.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu discussed the fighting in Karabakh in a phone conversation on October 1, Russian news channel RIA Novosti reports.
The initial talk between the two took place on September 27.
Russia reports that both sides have stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in the region and return to stability on the entire Line of Contact between Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
Earlier today, the presidents of Russia, France, and US announced a joint statement urging Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to immediately commit to resuming negotiations without preconditions, in good faith, with their support. The three countries are co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, which is tasked with spearheading efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, however, said that Azerbaijan should continue military operations and “restore its territorial integrity.”
By Emilio Luciano Cricchio
Artur Tovmasyan, President of the National Assembly of Karabakh, has stated that the casualties on the Azerbaijani side consist mostly of various national minorities.
According to intelligence fathered by the Karabakh Defense Army, Azerbaijan is positioning soldiers from its minority groups in high-risk frontline positions, says Vahram Poghosyan, the Spokesman of the President of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Poghosyan added that roughly 148 Lezgin soldiers were killed in a single area along the Line of Contact between Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Lezgins are a Northeast Caucasian ethnic group native predominantly to southern Dagestan, Russia and northeastern Azerbaijan.
Karabakh authorities believe that Azerbaijan’s strategy regarding minority groups will lead to instability and demonstrations inside Azerbaijan.
In a conversation with CivilNet, publicist Zabil Mageramov, an Azerbaijani of Talysh background, confirmed that it’s mostly the members of national minorities that are being sent to the front lines in Azerbaijan. According to him, 50% of the Azerbaijani victims so far are Talysh.
Four journalists have been injured due to Azerbaijani shelling, including two French citizens.
The French President has announced plans to transport the injured journalists to France. Daily
Shelling also took place on the towns of Hadrut and Martuni.
And the Russian, French and American Presidents have called for an immediate return to the ceasefire without any preconditions.