Category: 2021

 16:51,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received on January 27 Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Welcoming the Iranian FM in the Armenian government, Pashinyan noted: “Dear Mr. Minister, dear colleague, welcome to Armenia. Today we have many issues to discuss – the issue of deepening and developing our bilateral relations, as well as our cooperation in different platforms. Of course, the current situation in the region is going to be one of the key topics of our discussions. I think that the stability, peace and sustainable development of the region are among our common interests. The relations of our countries are of course based on traditional friendship, and we are glad to host the representatives of Iran in our country and our government”.

In his turn the Iranian FM stated: “Dear Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for this occasion provided to me and my colleagues to meet with you. I want to convey the warm greetings of Mr. Rouhani [President of Iran] to you, he was wishing good health and all the best to you. Armenia is the good neighbor of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we have very warm relations with the Republic of Armenia. There is a great respect in Iran in particular to your personality, to the courage that you took that step towards peace.

We have common regional concerns with you. From the very first days of the conflict we have been in constant touch both with you and other countries of the region and want to keep that tie having cooperation prospects. We have opportunities for cooperation both at the bilateral and multilateral formats, and it would be better if today we have discussions on these matters.

Of course, you know the position of Iran over the current crisis – that is the maintenance of the international law, the protection of peoples, minorities, as well as the preservation of territorial integrity and the non-use of force. You are also aware of the claim by our Spiritual Leader which is the preservation of the security of Armenians, as well as ensuring their dignified life. You also know that we are hosting our Armenian compatriots in Iran and are always ready to serve them, have very good and warm relations with them. Let me once again thank you for the warm welcome, as well as for this meeting opportunity”.

The Armenian PM and the Iranian FM then continued exchanging views on the situation and developments in the region following the recent war in Nagorno Karabakh. Both attached importance to the works aimed at ensuring stability in the region. Nikol Pashinyan said the regional situation has created both challenges and opportunities, and establishment of stability and lasting peace in the region is possible only through joint constructive efforts and a respective environment.

Pashinyan stated that there are still many unresolved issues, including that of the status of Nagorno Karabakh, adding that Armenia is ready to continue the negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

The officials also discussed the ongoing humanitarian problems. In this context the Armenian PM said the return of the Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan is a priority, noting that the Armenian side believes that point 8th of the November 9 statement must be implemented without preconditions. Mr. Zarif said Iran understands Armenia’s concerns and is ready to support the humanitarian efforts.

Nikol Pashinyan and Mohammad Javad Zarif also touched upon the bilateral agenda and the development prospects of the economic partnership. They attached importance to the unblocking of regional transportation and economic communication which, they said, will contribute to the increase of utilization volumes of the existing economic potential. Both the ongoing and the potential projects were discussed during the meeting. The sides reaffirmed their readiness to continue the mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Armenian PM asked the FM to convey his greetings to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Spiritual Leader Ayatullah Haajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei, stating that he warmly remembers his communication with them.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 11:55,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan expects that the resumption of air communication between Armenia and Russia starting from February 1 will contribute to the development of cooperation between the two states in the field of tourism.

During today’s Cabinet meeting the PM expressed hope that the volume of bilateral regular flights will greatly increase already in late February.

Armenia and Russia are resuming air communication on the sidelines of “I am Traveling Without Covid-19” program, which will launch on February 1.

“This supposes that the flights to Russia will expand. This is a very important program, and I want to thank our partners of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Russian government for this active and productive cooperation. This has been the initiative of the Armenian government which has been supported by our partners and has been funded by the Eurasian Bank”, Pashinyan said.

He said the tourism sector is also waiting for the resumption of air communication between Armenia and Russia, which, according to him, will contribute to the increase in mutual visits and the restoration of the field.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:56,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The operational situation at the Armenia-Azerbaijan Line of Contact of the Armenian state border remained unchanged on January 26 and January 27, with no incidents taking place, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said.

“According to information received from the National Security Service of Armenia, no incidents took place also at the Vorotan-Davit Bek section of the Goris-Kapan interstate road, which is under the responsibility of the NSS border troops. The units of the Armed Forces and NSS of Armenia are controlling the border situation at the entire length of the borderline and are fulfilling their objectives,” the Defense Ministry said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:20,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet approved Armen Ghularyan as the new President of the Urban Development Committee.

Ghularyan was serving as First Vice President and was in charge of the agency since the former chief Vahagn Vermishyan was sacked in February 2020 pending an investigation into bribery.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wished good luck to Ghularyan in leading the Urban Development Committee.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:02,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan chaired a consultation today in the government dedicated to the draft Economic response program with the preliminary action plan, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The program relates to the points 9th and 10th of the roadmap published by Pashinyan on November 18, 2020. Point 9th is about the overcoming of the coronavirus pandemic and eliminating its consequences, whereas point 10th concerns restoring the economic activity environment.

Pashinyan told the consultation participants that the government in practice is adopting various decisions every week connected with the fulfillment of that roadmap. “Today as well during the Cabinet meeting we adopted another such decision. Today we must discuss the draft action plan which will enable to restore the economic activity environment and will allow us to set new economic tasks and solve them”, he said.

It was reported that the program envisages targeted, significant and visible actions aimed at boosting the economic activity. The program has been developed taking into account the current challenges and problems.

Different proposals and recommendations were made over the action plan during the meeting.

Summing up the consultation, PM Pashinyan tasked the responsible officials to amend the draft based on the proposals made and submit it for the government’s approval.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:24,

YEREVAN, JANAURY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia extended for another 6 months the ban on cement imports from non-Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries, aimed at protecting the domestic market and production of the material deemed of strategic importance.

The temporary ban had expired on January 1, 2021.

The move is expected to ensure the further development of Armenian cement production.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:38,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. A wanted fugitive was apprehended and taken into police custody after a hostage situation was successfully resolved with the national police chief personally negotiating with the gunman.

Police officers were dispatched to a residence at Ghapantsyan Street in Yerevan on Wednesday morning to locate and apprehend a fugitive. When the man saw police approaching, he fired shots from a handgun and then took his own 3-year-old son hostage and threatened to harm him if officers were to attempt arresting him.

Police Chief of Armenia Vahe Ghazaryan, his deputy Aram Hovhannisyan, the Chief of the General Department of Criminal Police Vardan Vardanyan, Yerevan Police Commissioner Sevan Kocharyan and other high ranking officers personally arrived at the scene to defuse the situation.

“Vahe Ghazaryan negotiated for around two hours with the gunman, as a result of which he surrendered his firearm and released the child. The fugtive was taken into custody on charges of crimes under three articles of the Criminal Code,” police said.

No one was physically hurt in the incident.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:51,

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Staff of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh published a report on vandalism against the Armenian cultural heritage in the occupied territories of the Republic of Artsakh and the threat of destruction of Armenian monuments, the Ombudsman’s Office told Armenpress.

As a result of military aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, at least 1456 overwhelmingly Armenian historical and cultural prominent immovable monuments, including 161 monasteries and churches, 591 khachkars (cross-stones), the ancient sites of Tigranakert, Azokh, Nor Karmiravan, Mirik, Keren, fortresses and castles, sanctuaries and other monuments remained under the control of Azerbaijan. 8 state museums also came under the control of Azerbaijan with 19 311 exhibits, as well as private museums of Armenian Carpet and Armenian dram of Shushi.

The report presents a number of cases of destruction and acts of vandalism against the Armenian cultural heritage during the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression and after the ceasefire, including deliberate targeting and vandalism against St. Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral and St. Hovhannes Mkrtich (Kanach Zham) Church of Shushi.

The report also refers to Azerbaijan’s policy of deliberately spreading disinformation on Armenian cultural heritage and “albanizing” the Armenian cultural monuments which is also a threat of extinction of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territory of Artsakh.

The analysis of the identified cases and the context of Armeniaphobia shows that the destruction and distortion of the Armenian cultural heritage are systematic and widespread. The actions and statements of the Azerbaijani state bodies and public figures show that this is a specific state policy based on the criminal policy of inciting hatred against the Armenian nation.

Given the many precedents and the real threats of deliberate destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan by the Azerbaijani authorities, the Staff of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh considers it urgent for the relevant international organizations and especially UNESCO to take effective and immediate steps to preserve the Armenian cultural heritage in the territory of Artsakh.

The English content of the report can be found , the Armenian and Russian versions will be published later.

 12:58,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has called on to implement the provisions of the trilateral statement signed by Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh.

“With regard to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Assembly calls on all parties involved to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric hindering political dialogue, Armenia and Azerbaijan to implement as soon as possible the provisions of the trilateral statement related to humanitarian issues, all parties involved to immediately put in action the exchange of prisoners of war and bodies, to respect cultural heritage; it invites the Monitoring Committee to explore avenues to contribute at parliamentary level to an atmosphere conducive to the peace process”, stated in the report released by the PACE Monitoring Committee.

In the report the PACE expressed its serious concern about reports and allegations of violations of humanitarian and human rights law during the conflict and allegations of degradations to some religious sites and monuments, as well as destruction of private property.

 13:47,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan chaired a consultation today at the Ministry of Justice during which he emphasized that the attempts of politicizing the judiciary are unacceptable.

“The Ministry of Justice, of course, has a very broad activity framework, but usually it is first of all associated with the judicial policy and legislation, and I am happy that in the recent period we have given a great impetus to the judicial reforms. Of course, the results of these activities and reforms are not visible immediately, but I am sure that we will be able to achieve the fulfillment of the goal we have through consistent steps – that is to establish an independent and fair judiciary”, the PM said, adding that in the recent period they witnessed attempts of politicizing the judiciary, which, according to him, is impermissible and distorts the idea of judiciary and justice.

Pashinyan noted that here not only ongoing but also long-term mechanisms are needed for eradicating and not allowing in general such phenomena.

The PM and the ministry staff discussed also other issues concerning the ministry.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan