Category: 2021

 17:33,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. The return of prisoners of war is a humanitarian issue which has to be settled under full respect of international humanitarian law, Ambassador of Germany to Armenia Michael Johannes Banzhaf said in an exclusive interview to ARMENPRESS, commenting on the observation according to which Azerbaijan is artificially delaying the process of the return of Armenian POWs.

– In the aftermath of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, which lasted from September 27 to November 10, the issue of the status of Artsakh is not clarified yet. How does Germany consider the settlement of the issue of the status of Artsakh? What’s Germany’s comment on the statements claiming that Nagorno Karabakh conflict is solved?

– Germany fully shares the view that the cessation of hostilities is only a first step to end the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Efforts must be renewed for a negotiated, peaceful, comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the conflict, including on the status of NK. Germany fully supports the OSCE Minsk Group led by its Co-Chairs to find a long-lasting solution.

– The statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on the cessation of hostilities referred to the issue of the return of prisoners of war and captured civilians as well. Both conflicting sides have stated that the exchange will be carried out on the “all for all” principle, however, Azerbaijan is artificially delaying the return of prisoners of war. What kind of steps can the international community undertake to urgently resolve this issue?

– The international community should recall that the return of prisoners of war is a humanitarian issue which has to be settled under full respect of international humanitarian law. I do hope that further progress will be made in the next future. My sympathy is with all families waiting with growing impatience to embrace their beloved ones.

– As a result of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan, the people of Artsakh encountered serious humanitarian issues, many civilian infrastructures were destroyed, and prohibited weapons were used, putting the region on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. What kind of steps should the international community undertake, including Germany, to relieve the humanitarian issues of the civilians of Artsakh?

– Providing humanitarian aid to all those who suffered from the recent military hostilities is high on the agenda of the international donor community. Germany for its part is supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross. Germany is also supporting the cooperation of the German Red Cross with the Armenian Red Cross in this regard. The problem of access to Nagorno Karabakh is still unsolved and so humanitarian aid prevented from unfolding its full effect. A speedy settlement of this issue is urgently needed.

 17:21,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. UK FCDO Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas Wendy Morton has arrived in Armenia where she is expected to inaugurate the new office of the British Embassy in Yerevan.

“Good day, Armenia!”, she tweeted in Armenian. 

“Wonderful to be visiting Armenia for the first time and I’m enjoying the beautiful scenery on my way to Yerevan. Armenia is an important and valued partner of the UK, and I’m looking forward to forging even closer ties between our countries during this visit.”

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:18,

YEREVAN, 16 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.32 drams to 524.92 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.49 drams to 638.09 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.16 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.18 drams to 731.27 drams.

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

Gold price up by 34.72 drams to 30669.79 drams. Silver price up by 8.72 drams to 465.29 drams. Platinum price down by 1,143.29 drams to 21737.02 drams.

 16:39,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian signed a decree on appointing Areg Hovhannnisyan Ambassador of Armenia to Japan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

According to another presidential decree, Hrant Poghosyan has been relieved from the position of Armenia’s Ambassador to Japan and South Korea.

The President signed the respective decrees based on the Prime Minister’s proposal.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:14,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan met with Ambassador of the Netherlands to Armenia Nico Schermers, the ministry told Armenpress.

The minister congratulated the Ambassador on appointment and thanked for the support provided to Armenia in fighting COVID-19. Analyzing the statistics of the pandemic in Armenia, the Ambassador was interested in Armenia’s secret of making the COVID-19 situation controllable and stable. “I am aware of the situation in Armenia in autumn 2020 caused by both the pandemic and the war. Congratulations on achieving success in the fight against the pandemic. Taking into account the growing rates of the virus globally even during the lockdowns, Armenia managed to achieve the stabilization of the situation”, he said, highly valuing the policy adopted by the Armenian government and ministry of healthcare, the transparency of the work, especially in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases.

“We attach importance to public awareness and transparency of data in the fight against COVID-19. The government and our agency do the utmost to avoid the 3rd wave of the pandemic. We understand that otherwise one more wave can cause a very serious crisis for the economy and the healthcare system”, Minister Avanesyan said.

At the end of the meeting the sides discussed the work of the Armenian Diaspora in the Netherlands, the expected visit of a medical team to Armenia in April and other issues.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:00,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on science, education, culture, Diaspora, youth and sports affairs, head of the Armenia-Iran friendship group Mkhitar Hayrapetyan held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, head of the Iran-Armenia friendship group Seyyed Mehdi Farshadan, Mr. Hayrapetyan’s Office told Armenpress.

Congratulating on the 42nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan addressed his best wishes to the good people of Iran.

During the phone talk the officials discussed issues on further developing and expanding the bilateral cooperation.

They both highlighted the high level of mutual trust and support between Armenia and Iran, the firm historical and cultural relationships.

Mr. Farshadan informed that he is planning to visit Armenia soon with a delegation aimed at discussing in more details the prospects of deepening the bilateral partnership.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:29,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. More than 110 aftershocks were recorded so far after the February 13 magnitude 4,7 earthquake in Yerevan, the Armenian seismic protection service said.

“Right now there is an aftershock seismic activity, but it is gradually decreasing,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations Seismic Protection Service director Sos Margaryan told a news conference. “There’ve been magnitude 0,1 and less aftershocks. Overall, only two or three of these aftershocks were felt in Yerevan.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:19,

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Construction of a new residential settlement has launched in the territory located between Astghashen and Patara villages of Artsakh’s Askeran region, spokesperson of the Urban Development Ministry of Artsakh Marta Danielyan told Armenpress.

“The new settlement, which is for our citizens displaced from Jraghatsner, Moshkhmhat, Madatashen and Sghnakh villages of Askeran, will have a total area of over 644,000 square meters. The first of the planned 116 private houses will be ready within next few months: the construction of the settlement will be completed by December 2022. The houses will have 2-4 rooms. Each private house will be provided with 1500 square meters of land. A market will also be built near the main road”, she said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:04,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s top seismologist is ruling out the possibility that the February 13 earthquake that hit Yerevan and the subsequent aftershocks were triggered by a biological weapon – a hypotheses which was put forward on social media.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations Seismic Protection Service chief Sos Margaryan said at a news conference that the earthquakes are tectonic tremors conditioned by Armenia’s geographic location on a seismic active zone.

“The given case was a magnitude 4,7 earthquake, which is a moderate intensity one,” he said, referring to the earthquake that rattled the Armenian capital on February 13. 

“It’s close to the Yerevan Fault. I assure you, there can’t even be any talk about biological or any other kind of weapons, because this [fault] is a known source to us. It is even reflected in the seismic resistance construction requirement maps as a hazard zone. The 1937 Parakar earthquake was also close to this fault. What happened was a completely natural phenomenon,” he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan