15:15,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The number of displaced persons in Artsakh at the end of the 2020 war was more than 91,000, the Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan said in parliament in response to a question from the opposition Hayastan faction.
“More than 80% of them have returned to Artsakh, and the rest are still in Armenia. The government continues to be focused on issues related to them,” he said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Credits: Ruptly
15:25,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. According to the data updated in October 2021 of the Investigative Committee, the death toll in the 2020 war stands at 3788, which includes 3712 servicemen and 76 civilians, the Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan said in parliament in response to a question from Hayastan faction.
Another 222 servicemen are missing-in-action, and 21 civilians are also missing.
The total number of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan is 40, 37 of whom are servicemen and 3 are civilians, he said.
Mkrtchyan added that 114 servicemen and civilians were returned to Armenia from Azerbaijan during this period.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
15:28,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with President of Singapore Halimah Yacob, the Armenian President’s Office reports.
The two Presidents discussed the current agenda of the bilateral relations.
President Sarkissian presented information about the current situation following the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war, the humanitarian problems and Azerbaijan’s continuous aggressive actions, including the latest incursion into the sovereign territory of Armenia.
The meeting sides also discussed the development potential and opportunities of the Armenian-Singaporean partnership. President Armen Sarkissian said Singapore is a good example of rapidly developed successful state for many countries, including Armenia.
The President of Singapore said they are ready to assist Armenia with their experience in a number of fields.
The two presidents also praised the Armenian community of Singapore, highlighting its significant role during the history of Singapore, contribution to trade, economy, culture and other areas.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:15,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Armed Forces have returned military positions from Azerbaijan during countermeasures taken on November 16 amid the Azerbaijani attack at the eastern border, the ruling Civil Contract party lawmaker Armen Khachatryan told reporters during a briefing.
“Right now there’s a ceasefire. There are positions which we have taken back,” Khachatryan said, without specifying.
Asked whether or not Armenia has applied to the CSTO, the lawmaker said Armenia has indeed applied to the organization, but couldn’t say whether a written request has been submitted.
He underscored that there won’t be any corridor through the country, and that no one can solve that issue by force.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
16:18,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Tension persists at the contact line of the Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno Karabakh, despite measures that are being taken, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Stanislav Zas said at the ninth meeting of CIS security council chiefs in Moscow on November 17, reports TASS.
The trilateral agreement reached by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 9, 2020, made it possible to halt the bloodshed in Nagorno Karabakh, he said.
“However, despite the steps that are being taken, tension still persists at the contact line of the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides”, Zas said.
On November 16, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a major attack on Armenia from the eastern border. The Azerbaijani military deployed artillery, various caliber firearms and armored equipment in the attack. The fighting stopped through a Russian-mediated ceasefire later in the day.
16:58,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the process of launching the delimitation and demarcation hasn’t moved forward due to Azerbaijan not giving a concrete response, while Russia has made proposals three times.
During a Q&A in parliament, ruling Civil Contract party lawmaker Sargis Khandanyan asked the prime minister on what obstacles exist for starting the delimitation and demarcation.
Pashinyan reminded that back in May he had announced that he was ready to sign the proposal on starting the process which was on the table at that moment. “I’ve said during the campaigning period, before and after that, that I find the starting and completing of the process of demarcation and delimitation to be extremely important. And basically in May and after that Russia made a proposal three times, including the “uncovered document”. And basically we have given consent in all three occasions to move forward with this process. I have the impression that the process didn’t move forward because of Azerbaijan delaying or not giving a concrete response,” Pashinyan said.
The PM emphasized that a peaceful resolution to the border situation is extremely important.
“All our past statements are in force, including on the launch of delimitation and demarcation,” he said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
17:00,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The European Union is deeply concerned over the recent violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijani border, which has regrettably led to loss of life, Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano said in a statement.
“The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, discussed the evolving situation with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, over the phone and called for urgent de-escalation and full respect of the ceasefire.
The , disengage their military forces on the ground and respect the commitments undertaken in the framework of the two trilateral agreements. We call on both sides to resume negotiations to work towards a comprehensive settlement of outstanding issues, including border demarcation.
The EU supports the statement of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs of 15 November. The EU reiterates its commitment to work with Armenia and Azerbaijan to help overcome tensions and contribute to building a South Caucasus that is secure, stable, prosperous and at peace for the benefit of all people living in this region”, the statement says.
17:20,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The European Parliament’s Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, MEP Marina Kaljurand, the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP Andrey Kovatchev, and the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Azerbaijan, MEP Željana Zovko released a joint statement following the Azerbaijani attack on Armenia on November 16.
“We are seriously concerned by yesterday’s heavy fighting, which followed the recent increase in tension on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The military operation launched by Azerbaijan in response to alleged provocations amounts to the worst violation to-date of last year’s 9 November ceasefire agreement, leaving an as yet unconfirmed number of killed, wounded and captured soldiers. We urge the rapid de-escalation of the situation and welcome the engagement of European Council President and the reported Russian-mediated ceasefire. We reiterate that any possible disagreements about the border must be addressed through negotiations in a border delimitation and demarcation process, not through the use of force and unilateral actions. We condemn any attempts at “borderisation”, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May. We support and call for the opening of economic and transport connections as foreseen in the 9 November ceasefire agreement, which would be highly beneficial for the entire region. This includes the connection between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. To succeed, the parties should follow the text of the agreement and avoid a too extensive interpretation. Moreover, we are concerned by reports of hindered traffic on roads that connect Armenian towns and villages through Azerbaijani territory and believe that such behaviour contradicts the spirit of this agreement and unduly hampers the lives of local citizens. We also regret that despite numerous calls from the international community, including the European Parliament resolution of 20 May 2021, many Armenian detainees held in connection with the conflict have yet to be released, and we renew our appeal to the Azerbaijani authorities on this issue. We also reiterate our call to exchange all up-to-date maps of minefields to permit civilians to return to former conflict regions Once again, we recall the EU’s commitment to support confidence-building measures and to address any issues at the negotiating table, in particular through the resumption of negotiations on a lasting conflict settlement and the future status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the process led by Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” the MEPs said in the statement.
17:28,
YEREVAN, 17 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 17 November, USD exchange rate up by 0.67 drams to 475.99 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.48 drams to 538.44 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 6.54 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.62 drams to 639.21 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price up by 29.35 drams to 28452.14 drams. Silver price up by 1.46 drams to 386.72 drams. Platinum price up by 115.25 drams to 16741.95 drams.