12:21, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Arman Khachatryan has been appointed as Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe.
The respective decree has been signed by President Armen Sarkissian based on the Prime Minister’s proposal.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
12:30, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Representative to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Yeghishe Kirakosyan will depart for the Netherlands to take part in the delivery of order by the International Court of Justice relating to Armenia’s application against Azerbaijan.
Kirakosyan will depart for the Netherlands on December 6.
The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will deliver its order over Armenia’s request to apply provisional measures against Azerbaijan on December 7.
The International Court of Justice held public hearings over Armenia’s request to indicate provisional measures against Azerbaijan on October 14-15.
On September 16, 2021, Armenia instituted proceedings against the Republic of Azerbaijan before the International Court of Justice with regard to alleged violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
Armenia also requested the Court to indicate certain provisional measures “as a matter of extreme urgency”, including the return of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives from Azerbaijan, as well as the closure of the so-called “Military Trophies Park” in Baku.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
12:47, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. On December 3, 2021, Switzerland launches a long-term development project to assist Armenia in its efforts of modernizing its Vocational Education System in agriculture. The Swiss Development Cooperation approved in principle a support program to Armenia with a total amount of CHF 7’130’000.The project is carried by a unique alliance of international and local development actors, as well as public and private sectors, which will also mobilize additional funds. The reform will be implemented by the Swiss NGO HEKS, the Armenian NGO SDA as well as the German Corporation for International Cooperation GIZ, under the overall coordination of the Government of Armenia, the Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia said in a press release.
The intervention will assist the Government of Armenia to reform the vocational education in agriculture and to make it better matched with the market demand, leading to more economic development and more decent jobs. The project aims to improve employment opportunities of youth living in rural areas bythe means of combining theoretical knowledge with practical training in a selected number of professions. Part of the reform is that along with receiving theoretical knowledge at vocational education collages, the students shall get an opportunity to improve their skills in local companies and farms. Their training paths will conclude with a state diploma.
The project starts on December 3, 2021, with a preparatory phase of 9 months. After that, the phase of implementation will last at least for 8 years, with Swiss funds amounting in total to CHF 7’130’000.
To increase the project’s impact and effectiveness, Switzerland cooperates with a wide range of partners: the Government of Armenia, international organizations, the public and private sectors, and academic institutions. Other funding partners, who add significant funds to the Swiss contribution, include the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ, the Austrian Development Agency ADA, the Armenian Izmirilian Foundation and some private companies in Armenia. Some of these contributions are subject to a final approval.
The project will be executed in the Southern Syunik and Vayots Dzor and several Northern regions. Implementing organizations are the Swiss NGO HEKS, the Armenian NGO SDA as well as the German Corporation for International Cooperation GIZ.
The project translates principles and objectives of Switzerland’s foreign policy and development cooperation into action. Switzerland supports the transition of Armenia towards a market economy and contributes to ensuring that the country’s population benefits from inclusive economic development. The project will benefit from the Swiss technical expertise on economic development in rural areas and its dual education system.
13:05, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian received Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin, the Presidential Office reports.
The meeting touched upon the agenda of the bilateral relations, as well as the regional security and stability-related issues.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
15:37, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Canada has expressed its solidarity with the Armenian people.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly met with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on the sidelines of the 28th OSCE Ministerial Council.
“Met with my Armenian counterpart at OSCE. I expressed Canada’s solidarity with Armenian people, reiterated Canada is deeply concerned by the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan border clash, which resulted in the deaths of Armenian troops”, the Canadian FM said on Twitter.
Editing by Aneta Harutyunyan
15:42, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. An elderly citizen from Artsakh is detained by Azerbaijani authorities after getting lost and accidentally crossing into Azerbaijani-controlled territories, the National Security Service of Artsakh said.
The 65 year old citizen is a resident of the town of Tchartar of Martuni region. He went missing around 13:00, December 3.
“The Russian peacekeepers were immediately notified on the incident,” the NSS said, adding that negotiations are taking place to return the citizen.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
18:56, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. On December 3, 2021, Seyran Smbat Sargsyan, born in 1956, a resident of Chartar settlement of the Martuni district of the Republic of Artsakh, was grazing his cattle and as a result of being lost was captured and killed by Azerbaijani military units, ARMENPRESS reports the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh said in a statement.
“Such a terrorist and barbaric act is a manifestation of the state level genocidal and anti-Armenian policy in Azerbaijan, which was carried out at the instructions of the highest authorities of Azerbaijan. One of the evidences of it is the false statement spread by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, which justifies the terrorist act of the Azerbaijani military.
This behavior of official Baku is a gross violation of international law, international humanitarian law, disrespect for all the agreements reached and is aimed at intimidating the people of Artsakh and forcing them to leave their homeland.
Such a policy is also a severe blow to Russia’s peacekeeping mission.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh strongly condemns the terrorist policy of Azerbaijan, calls on the international community to give an adequate assessment to the unbridled actions of Azerbaijan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges the people of Artsakh not to give in to provocations. The Foreign Ministry declares once again that Artsakh was, is and will remain Armenian. Nothing can undermine our will and determination to live in our homeland”, reads the statement.
16:43, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The House of Representatives (parliament) of Cyprus unanimously adopted a resolution on the “Continuous aggression of Azerbaijan against Armenians and the current situation in Nagorno Karabakh”, the Armenian Embassy in Cyprus reports.
“The resolution condemns Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia and Artsakh, urges to implement the provisions of the 2020 November 9 statement on the ceasefire, including the release of the captives. At the same time it calls on the international community to act in a way which will stop Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenia, as well as urges the international organizations to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Artsakh.
The resolution also condemned Turkey’s involvement in the war unleashed against Nagorno Karabakh”, the Embassy said in a statement.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
17:53, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan presented details on expected salary increase of science workers from January 1, 2022.
ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page that laboratory assistant’s salary will increase from 67 thousand to 102 thousand drams, an increase of 52%.
The salary of a senior laboratory assistant will increase from 76 thousand to 110 thousand drams, an increase of 44%.
The salary of a junior researcher will increase from 85,800 to 120,000 drams, an increase of 40%.
The salary of a senior researcher will increase from 99 thousand to 200 thousand drams, an increase of 102%.
The salary of a leading researcher will increase from 114,300 to 250,000 drams, an increase of 118%.
The salary of the chief researcher will increase from 138,100 to 367,100 drams, an increase of 165%.
The salary of the head of the scientific group will increase from 129,100 to 230,000 drams, an increase of 78%.
The salary of the head of the scientific department will increase from 141,400 to 350,000 drams, an increase of 147%.
18:00, 3 December, 2021
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the 28th OSCE Ministerial Conference, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid on December 2, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.
Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the effective cooperation of Armenia with the OSCE and its executive structures and the implementation of projects in the three OSCE dimensions, aimed at strengthening the concept of comprehensive and cooperative security.
The parties also touched upon the prospects of further development of the Armenia Cooperation Program (ACP).
Ararat Mirzoyan presented the situation resulted by the aggression carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.
The Armenian Foreign Minister reaffirmed the position of the Armenian side on the de-escalation of the situation in the region and the establishment of lasting peace, at the same time emphasizing that the continuous provocative actions of the Azerbaijani side, the Azerbaijani leadership’s anti-Armenianism and belligerent rhetoric undermine those efforts.
Touching upon the humanitarian issues created by the 44-day war, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the need for unconditional repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees held in Azerbaijan.
He also attached importance to the preservation the Armenian historical and cultural heritage in the territories of Artsakh, which came under Azerbaijani control.
Ararat Mirzoyan noted that the situation in Nagorno Karabakh resulted by use of force cannot serve as basis for the settlement of the conflict.
The need for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through peaceful negotiations under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs was stressed.