Category: 2020

 16:33,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The specialists of the International Mine Action Centre of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation continue demining works in Nagorno Karabakh, the Russian defense ministry reports.

In total, during the peacekeeping operation in Nagorno Karabakh, engineering units cleared more than 238 hectares of terrain and about 93 kilometers of roads, 423 residential buildings. More than 8.3 thousand explosive objects were found and neutralized.

In the course of demining and clearing the territory of explosive objects in Nagorno Karabakh, Russian peacekeepers use modern robotic systems that allow them to maintain a high rate of demining in mountainous terrain and deteriorating weather.

Discovered explosive objects and unexploded ammunition are removed and destroyed at a specially equipped landfill. Ammunition that cannot be evacuated is destroyed on the spot with the necessary security measures in place.

 19:59,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan, visited on December 21 6 Defense Army conscripts, who returned to Armenia on December 20 after being considered missing in action for 70 days.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh President’s Office, Arayik Harutyunyan inquired about their health situation, talked with them and assured that in case of necessity the state will organize their treatment in leading international healthcare institutions. The doctors assured that the lives of the servicemen are not under risk but they have to remain under the supervision of specialists for a while.

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 20:51,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Vagharshak Harutyunyan visited Yerablur Military Pantheon on December 21.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry, the Defense Minister paid tribute to the memory of the soldiers martyred as a result of the war unleashed on September 27.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan also laid flowers to the tombs of Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan, Commander Andranik Ozanyan and other military officers who have made a great contribution to the creation of the army.

 21:52,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Two citizens of Artsakh, father and son Mikayel and Gegham Petrosyans have been discovered as a result of searching works after being deemed as missing for 61 days  and were taken to Stepanakert accompanied by the Russian peacekeepers and the ICRC, ARMENPRESS was informed from State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh.

Mikayel and Gegham Petrosyans have been taken to the Republican Medical Center where they will receive treatment.

Head of the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh Major-General Karen Sargsyan thanked the Russian peacekeeping units at the head of Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov and all those participating in the searching works.  

On December 20, 6 Defense Army conscripts were discovered in the territories that have passed under Azerbaijani control. They had been deemed as missing for 71 days.

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 21:41,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Only the response of Azerbaijan is still awaited for UNESCO to proceed with the sending of a mission to the field. The authorities of Azerbaijan have been approached several times without success so far, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the UNESCO.

‘’In its press release of 20 November, UNESCO reiterated countries’ obligation to protect cultural heritage in terms of the 1954 Convention for the Protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict to which both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties. The Organization proposed to carry out an independent mission of experts to draw a preliminary inventory of significant cultural properties as a first step towards the effective safeguarding of the region’s heritage.

The proposal received the full support of the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group and the agreement in principle of the representatives of both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Meeting at UNESCO on 10 and 11 December 2020, the members of the intergovernmental Committee of The Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol (1999), welcomed this initiative and confirmed the need for a mission to take stock of the situation regarding cultural properties in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. The Committee requested each of the parties to render the mission possible.

Since 20 November, UNESCO made proposals and led in-depth consultations with a view to organizing the mission which, in the terms of the Convention, requires the agreement of both parties.

Ernesto Ottone, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Cultural, said: “Only the response of Azerbaijan is still awaited for UNESCO to proceed with the sending of a mission to the field. The authorities of Azerbaijan have been approached several times without success so far. Every passing week makes the assessment of the situation concerning cultural property more difficult, not least due to the weather which is expected to become harsher in the coming weeks. The window of opportunity that was opened by the cease fire must not be closed again. The safeguarding of heritage is an important condition for the establishment of lasting peace. We are therefore expecting Baku to respond without delay so that the constructive discussions held over recent weeks can be turned into action.” Reads the statement issued by the UNESCO.

 13:29, 15 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The original December 14 statement released by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) did not contain two paragraphs that were added some time after the initial version was disseminated shortly before midnight Yerevan time. 

The statement was amended with the Co-Chairs’ calls, among others, on completing as soon as possible the exchange of all detainees and accelerating the identification and repatriation of remain, as well as reducing inflammatory rhetoric in order to create a more positive environment. 

Below is the full statement of the Co-Chairs. (The amended part is highlighted).

 “The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) released the following statement today:

French Co-Chair Stephane Visconti and U.S. Co-Chair Andrew Schofer traveled to Baku 12 and 13 December and Yerevan 13 and 14 December. In Baku, they were received by President Aliyev and met with Foreign Minister Bayramov. In Yerevan, they were received by Prime Minister Pashinyan and met with Foreign Minister Aivazian. Due to Russian Co-Chair Igor Popov’s inability to travel, the Russian Federation was represented in Baku by Russian Ambassador Mikhail Bocharnikov and in Yerevan by Russian chargé d’affaires Alexei Sinegubov.  The Co-Chairs also met with representatives of the ICRC and UN agencies active in the region.  The Personal Representative of the Chairperson in Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in all meetings.

In both capitals, the sides provided their assessment of the situation on the ground and expressed their expectations on engagement with the Co-Chairs for the coming year.  Taking into account the new realities, the Co-Chairs affirmed their continuing commitment to engage constructively with the sides to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and to resolve outstanding issues.  The Co-Chairs also committed to providing concrete proposals on issues raised during the meetings for future discussions between the sides. 

Noting recent reports of incidents resulting in casualties, the Co-Chairs called on the sides to take additional measures to stabilize the situation in accordance with their commitments.  The Co-Chairs urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to complete as soon as possible the exchange of all detainees and accelerate the identification and repatriation of remains in coordination with the ICRC.  

Recalling the 3 December OSCE ministerial statement in Tirana by the Minsk Group Co-Chair country heads of delegation, the Co-Chairs reiterate their united position in favor of comprehensive and sustainable settlement of all remaining core substantive issues.  The Co-Chairs and the sides stressed the importance of reducing inflammatory rhetoric in order to create a more positive environment.  The Co-Chairs and the sides emphasized the importance of engaging with international organizations to promote humanitarian assistance to populations affected by the conflict, as well as the protection of cultural and religious heritage.”

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:54, 15 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with representative of the ARF Bureau Hakob Ter-Khachatryan and representative of the ARF Armenia Supreme Council Ishkhan Saghatelyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The situation in the country was discussed during the meeting.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan