Category: 2020

 12:04, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Artsakh Arthur Tovmasyan has offered condolences to the people and government of Lebanon on the deadly explosion in Beirut.

“The pain of human loss as a consequence of the Beirut blast is immense and cruel. On behalf of the Parliament of Artsakh, I extend our condolences to Lebanon’s authorities and people, who include our compatriots; resilience and fortitude to you to mitigate the pain of this disaster”, Speaker Tovmasyan said in a statement published on social media.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:14, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Catholicos Karekin II of the Armenian Apostolic Church has addressed a telegram to Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun to express condolences over the deadly explosion in Beirut which claimed numerous lives and injured thousands.

Catholicos Karekin II offered his condolences to President Aoun, the families of the victims and the entire people of Lebanon and wished speedy recovery to those injured, the church’s press service said.

“Our wish is for the devout people of Lebanon to overcome the existing hardships and continue their peaceful and creative life,” the Catholicos said.

The leader of the Armenian Church held a telephone conversation also with Catholicos Aram I, the head of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, and offered solidarity to the Armenian community and the Catholicosate.

Karekin II extended condolences to Aram I on the deaths of Lebanese-Armenians and inquired about the damages that the blast inflicted upon the population of Beirut, the Armenian community and the Catholicosate itself.

The massive explosion in the port of Beirut on Tuesday was so powerful that it even damaged the Armenian Catholicosate several kilometers away in Antelias near the Lebanese capital, Cilicia TV reported earlier.

The Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia Cathedral, its museum and educational centers sustained damages to the windows and doors.

The blast erupted at a port warehouse in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. More than 100 people are dead and 4000 are injured.

The enormous blast was reportedly heard as far away as Cyprus, some 150 miles away from the port.

Beirut authorities have traced the blast to a massive stash of explosive ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the port. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:56, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Co-Founder of the British Augment Bionics George Dzavaryan has donated personal protective equipment to Armenia amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“30,000 face shields will be distributed among the country’s medical centers,” the Armenian Ministry of Healthcare said on social media.

The Armenia Embassy in UK and the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs under the Prime Minister’s Office of Armenia supported organizational matters of the donation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:15, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan has extended condolences and offered support to the people of Lebanon after the deadly explosion that hit Beirut on Tuesday, killing over 100 people and injuring more than 4000.

President Harutyunyan said he also phoned Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias to inquire on the Armenian community’s damages and losses.

“I asked the Catholicos to convey our deepest condolences to the families of our compatriots who died, the brotherly people of Lebanon and wish speedy recovery to all the injured. Expressing support to our Lebanese-Armenian brothers and sisters, at this difficult moment I expressed readiness to assist with all possible means. Artsakh stands with Lebanon,” Harutyunyan said in a statement published on social media.

The blast erupted at a port warehouse in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. More than 100 people are dead and 4000 are injured. Immense destruction occurred in many parts of Beirut.

The enormous blast was reportedly heard as far away as Cyprus, some 150 miles away from the port.

Beirut authorities have traced the blast to a massive stash of explosive ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the port. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:03, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spouse Anna Hakobyan has addressed a telegram to Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s spouse Nadia Al Chami to express condolences and support over the Beirut explosion.

“I am deeply shocked by this great tragedy in Lebanon,” Hakobyan said in the letter. “I share this heavy sorrow with you and I express my support to the families of the victims. I wish speedy recovery to those injured. The Armenian people stand by the brotherly Lebanon and pray for the speedy overcoming of the consequences of this tragedy and the country’s return to normal life. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during these difficult days. May God give patience, resilience and peace to the friendly people of Lebanon. I am convinced, that the Pearl of the Middle East will emerge even stronger and more united from this crisis”.

The blast erupted at a port warehouse in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. More than 100 people are dead and 4000 are injured.

The enormous blast was reportedly heard as far away as Cyprus, some 150 miles away from the port.

Beirut authorities have traced the blast to a massive stash of explosive ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the port. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:04, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenian community institutions in Lebanon are coordinating their work to assess the damages of the Beirut explosion on Tuesday.

“Our office suffered great damages, property, windows, doors”, Director of Armenian National Committee of the Middle East Office Vera Yacoubian told ARMENPRESS. “The blast was so powerful that if someone were to be inside our office at the moment of the explosion, we would definitely have a fatality,” she said, adding that the office is mostly closed due to the coronavirus. “Fortunately, we only have material damages,” Yacoubian said.

Yacoubian said all Lebanese-Armenian structures are currently working to understand and clarify the volume of the damage for considering the possibilities of assistance. Nevertheless, she said that even to the naked eye it is clear that the Armenian community has sustained huge damages. She said some families have been left homeless as the blast destroyed their homes.

“The situation is difficult, there is economic panic. Unfortunately, the Armenian community of Lebanon needs a lot right now,” she said.

According to Yacoubian, virtually everything has been destroyed in the blast area in Beirut.

She said the explosion has further worsened the already dire economic situation in the country, describing the blast as a “great blow from an economic perspective”,

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:50, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has submitted a recommendation to President Armen Sarkissian requesting him to dismiss Deputy Chief of Police of Armenia Hayk Mhryan, Sarkissian’s aide Hasmik Poghosyan told ARMENPRESS.

“The President hasn’t signed the motion yet,” she said.

According to unconfirmed media reports, another Deputy Chief of Police, Tigran Yesayan, is also sacked.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:46, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with President of Lebanon Michel Aoun over the Beirut blast consequences.

“By expressing support and condolences regarding yesterday’s explosion and the deaths, I offered the Republic of Armenia’s help to the brotherly people of Lebanon. The Lebanese government is currently conducting assessment of needs and as a result of the assessment the Armenian government will make decision according to necessity,” PM Pashinyan said on social media.

The Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout that President Aoun thanked the Armenian PM for the condolences and for the readiness to provide help. Aoun said that the Lebanese authorities are doing their utmost to overcome the consequences as soon as possible.

More than 2700 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded in the port of Beirut at a warehouse on Tuesday, sending massive shockwaves through the Lebanese capital. More than 100 people are dead and 4000 are wounded. Heavy damages occurred across the city.

The blast was so powerful that it was reportedly heard in Cyprus, some 150 miles away from the port.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:53, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian peacekeepers of UNIFIL were not in danger at the time when the devastating blast hit Beirut, the foreign ministry told ARMENPRESS.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan told ARMENPRESS that the Armenian Embassy maintains constant contact with the peacekeepers. “Ambassador Atabekyan contacted them this morning. He said that the peacekeepers are serving in the direction of the southern border, which is rather far away from the blast area,” she said, adding that the Armenian peacekeepers carry on with their service normally. 

UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force Lebanon) said earlier in a statement that one of its Maritime Task Force ships was damaged and some of UNIFIL naval peacekeepers were injured.

“As a result of a huge explosion that rocked Beirut Port this evening, one of the UNIFIL ships of the Maritime Task Force docked in the port was damaged, leaving some UNIFIL naval peacekeepers injured – some of them seriously. UNIFIL is transporting the injured peacekeepers to the nearest hospitals for medical treatment. UNIFIL is currently assessing the situation, including the scale of the impact on UNIFIL personnel” the mission said in a statement.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Del Col said: “We are with the people and the Government of Lebanon during this difficult time and stand ready to help and provide any assistance and support.”

More than 2700 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded in the port of Beirut at a warehouse on Tuesday, sending massive shockwaves through the Lebanese capital. More than 100 people are dead and 4000 are wounded. Heavy damages occurred across the city.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan