Category: 2021

 15:38, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Governor of Armenia’s Gegharkunik province Gnel Sanosyan informed today that the Sotk gold mine doesn’t operate at the moment for security purposes.

“The employees and some of the equipment of the Sotk mine have been removed for security purposes. The mine is not operating at the moment. It will probably resume operation when there is no security issue”, he told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The Governor added that the section of the village of Kut is closed for reporters for the same security purposes. “The Azerbaijani side has somewhat advanced in the territory near the village of Kut since May 13-14. Such decision was made because of yesterday’s incident on border”, Gnel Sanosyan said.

On July 28, at around 03:40, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a provocation and violated the ceasefire in the northern-eastern section of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Three Armenian servicemen have been killed, four others have been wounded in action. The Azerbaijani attacking forces have been repelled to their initial positions, suffering losses. The sides have reached an agreement on ceasefire at the mediation of the Russian side.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:32, 29 July, 2021

STEPANAKERT, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Foreign Ministry has issued a statement on the illegal visit of Parliament Chairmen of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan to the occupied territories of Artsakh.

Armenpress presents the full text of the statement:

“We reiterate the inadmissibility of Azerbaijan’s attempts to consolidate the illegal occupation of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh, which were seized as a result of the 44-day aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan with the direct participation of Turkey and international terrorists in September 2020. Any actions aimed at making legitimate the results of the violations of international law and the illegal use of armed forces should be strongly condemned.

One of such blatant examples of Baku’s policy of creating the basis for recognizing its illegal actions as an acceptable norm is the visit of the chairmen of the parliaments of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan to the town of Shoushi, which is under temporary Azerbaijani occupation.

We consider it necessary to note the unacceptability and provocative nature of such visits by officials of Azerbaijan and other countries to the occupied territories of the Republic of Artsakh, as they are a gross violation of international law, a challenge to the civilized world and aim to exclude the possibility of creating prerequisites for a comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict.

We reiterate the inviolability of the position of the Republic of Artsakh that the restoration of the territorial integrity and acquisition of international legal personality by Artsakh are indispensable conditions for achieving a comprehensive settlement of the conflict and establishing lasting peace in the region”.

 16:39, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh voiced Tehran’s readiness to help restore peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, IRNA reports.

Khatibzadeh expressed concern about continuation of border conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, calling on both sides to exercise restraint.

The Iranian spokesman stressed the need to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict.

Urging both sides to respect the internationally recognized borders, Khatibzadeh said Iran is ready to provide any assistance to establish sustainable peace in the region.

 16:47, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. A court in Baku has completed the sham trial of 13 more Armenian prisoners of war, the Azerbaijani media report.

The Armenian POWs have been sentenced to 6 years in prison for “sabotage operations”.

They are the followings: Yeghishe Astanyan, Karen Aramyan, Tigran Avagyan, Grigor Gevorgyan, Hovsep Manukyan, Gevorg Martirosyan, Robert Gevorgyan, Vagharshak Avetisyan, Volodya Hakobyan, Andranik Sukiasyan, Andranik Manukyan, Grigor Saghatelyan and Eduard Kirakosyan.

Azerbaijan continues violating the provisions of the 2020 November 9 trilateral statement on the ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh, in particular the point relating to the return of prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:20, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, 29 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 July, USD exchange rate up by 2.04 drams to 484.36 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 5.07 drams to 575.08 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.06 drams to 6.62 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 6.36 drams to 675.63 drams.

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

Gold price up by 59.68 drams to 27977.61 drams. Silver price down by 3.34 drams to 386.12 drams. Platinum price down by 194.88 drams to 16320.02 drams.

 17:32, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Director for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia at the German Foreign Ministry Matthias Lüttenberg has commented on the recent escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

“The renewed violent escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan is deeply concerning. Germany calls on both sides to reinstate the ceasefire and to do everything in their power to protect human lives”, he said on Twitter.

On July 28, at around 03:40, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a provocation and violated the ceasefire in the northern-eastern section of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Three Armenian servicemen have been killed, four others have been wounded in action. The Azerbaijani attacking forces have been repelled to their initial positions, suffering losses. The sides have reached an agreement on ceasefire at the mediation of the Russian side.

On July 29, at around 03:00, the Azerbaijani armed forces, violating yesterday’s agreement on the ceasefire, again launched a provocation in the Gegharkunik section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, in the direction of Karvachar, by opening fire at the Armenian positions from firearms. A serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces has been wounded from the Azerbaijani fire.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:52, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. The health condition of one of the Armenian servicemen wounded as a result of the Azerbaijani provocation in the border section of Gegharkunik remains extremely serious, ARMENPRESS reports acting Healthcare Minister Anahit Avanesyan told the reporters following the Cabinet meeting.

”The soldiers injured as a result of the Azerbaijani provocation are in hospital now. There are no changes in the health condition of the one that was in extremely serious situation’’, Avanesyan said.  

4 Armenian servicemen had been injured during the Azerbaijani provocation overnight July 28. 3 were killed.

 18:17, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Secretary-General of the CSTO Stanislav Zas commented on the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. ARMENPRESS reports, citing the official website of the CSTO, Stanislav Zas offered deep condolences to the families of the 3 Armenian servicemen killed during the military clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on July 28 and wished speedy recovery to the injured.

”The risk of further escalation of the regional situation is of great concern, which can have a negative impact on the implementation of the trilateral agreements enshrined in the declaration of November 10, 2020 by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. We consider use of force inadmissible. Only political-diplomatic methods should be used to resolve contradictions. I salute the efforts of Russia aimed at the stabilization of the situation in the region’’, Stanislav Zas said.

On July 28, at around 03:40, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a provocation and violated the ceasefire in the northern-eastern section of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Three Armenian servicemen have been killed, four others have been wounded in action. The Azerbaijani attacking forces have been repelled to their initial positions, suffering losses. The sides have reached an agreement on ceasefire at the mediation of the Russian side.

On July 29, at around 03:00, the Azerbaijani armed forces, violating yesterday’s agreement on the ceasefire, again launched a provocation in the Gegharkunik section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, in the direction of Karvachar, by opening fire at the Armenian positions from firearms. The adversary was silenced as a result of the retaliation of the Armenian side.

 20:12, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Stephane Visconti of France, Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, and Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation) issued a statement. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the OSCE, the statement runs as follows,

”The Co-Chairs view with concern recent incidents along the Armenia – Azerbaijan border, including reports of casualties and the loss of life. The Co-Chairs call upon Armenia and Azerbaijan to de-escalate the situation immediately, refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions, and implement fully their commitments under the November 9 statement and other jointly agreed ceasefire arrangements.  

The Co-Chairs reiterate the need for a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement of all remaining core substantive issues of the conflict and urge the parties to return to negotiations under the auspices of the Co-Chairs as soon as possible. They reiterate their proposal to organize direct bilateral consultations under their auspices, in order for the sides to review and agree jointly upon a structured agenda, reflecting their priorities, without preconditions.  

The Co-Chairs reconfirm their strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and his team”.

 21:16, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Armen Grigoryan held a phone conversation with Philip Reeker, Acting US Assistant Secretary of Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs on July 29.  

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, Armen Grigoryan condemned the Azerbaijani attack on the Armenian positions in Gegharkunik Province on July 28, which he assessed an overt encroachment on the sovereignity and territorial integrity of Armenia.

It was emphasized that a tense situation has been created as a result of the infiltration into Armenian sovereign territories of the Azerbaijani forces starting from May 12 and the continues provocative measures, which can be overcome after the Azerbaijani forces withdraw to their initial positions. In this context Philip Reeker emphasized the importance of the normalization and de-escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

During the conversation the resumption of Nagorno Karabakh peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format was highlighted, which will be aimed at the sustainable solution of Karabakh issue and establishment of peace in the region.

The interlocutors referred to the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. In this context, Armen Grigoryan condemned the criminal prosecution of the Armenian POWs and civilian detainees in Azerbaijan based on trumped up charges, assessing that act as a gross violation of the committments assumes by Azerbaijan and the international humanitarian law.  

Armen Grigoryan and Philip Reeker also discussed the prospects of further cooperation within the framework of the Armenia-US strategic dialogue, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts to fight the coronavirus.