Category: 2022

 16:58,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian side has prepared a package of measures aimed at de-escalating the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone, reducing the tension and increasing the level of security and stability and conveyed it both to the Russian side and at Russia’s mediation to Azerbaijan and partners, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said during the Q&A session in the Parliament.

In her question lawmaker from the ruling Civil Contract faction Hripsime Grigoryan reminded that on January 14 Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference that during his phone talk with the Armenian FM the Armenian side presented new proposals which have already been sent to Azerbaijan. The MP was interested in what proposals the talk is about and whether there is already a reaction from Baku.

FM Mirzoyan confirmed the statement of his Russian counterpart about the proposal of the Armenian side.

“Yes, the Armenian side has prepared a package of measures aimed at the de-escalation of the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone, the reduction of tension and the increase of the level of security and stability and transferred it both to the Russian side, and to Azerbaijan and other partners at the mediation of the Russian side. We are currently waiting for a reaction”, he said, adding that he cannot release further details. “I can only say that they are deriving from the concept constantly voiced by the government and the prime minister on the withdrawal of troops in mirrored fashion and the creation of additional security mechanisms”, he said.

Mirzoyan also informed that the aforementioned package has also been presented to the Security Council.

 17:06,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are planning a regional visit, the Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan told lawmakers in parliament.

When asked whether or not a meeting with his Azeri counterpart is planned in mediation of the OSCE MG Co-Chairs, FM Mirzoyan said such meeting is not planned with a specific date and location as of now.

 17:35,

YEREVAN, 19 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 19 January, USD exchange rate up by 0.13 drams to 481.65 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.60 drams to 546.14 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 6.30 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.35 drams to 655.67 drams.

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

Gold price down by 1.70 drams to 28140.85 drams. Silver price down by 1.45 drams to 354.85 drams. Platinum price up by 112.47 drams to 15206.67 drams.

 17:37,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. No government of Armenia has ever and will ever attempt to doubt the fact that the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in parliament in response to opposition MP Anna Mkrtchyan’s (Pativ Unem) question.

Mirzoyan cited the government program, which was approved by parliament.

“There it is written in black and white the Armenian government’s position over the Armenian Genocide. No government has ever attempted, and I hope in the future no government will ever even attempt to doubt the fact that the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact,” Mirzoyan said.

 17:48,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Investigative Committee continues the investigation into the case of unleashing an aggressive war by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh, the use of military mercenaries, the use of prohibited methods of war, targeting the civilian population, violation of international humanitarian law.

ARMENPRESS reports the Investigative Committee informs that within the framework of the criminal case, it was determined that as a result of the aggressive war unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia, 3809 people died. As of , the whereabouts of 199 servicemen and 21 civilians are unknown.

To date, 141 captured servicemen and civilians have been transferred by Azerbaijan to the Republic of Armenia.

 18:20,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Stanislav Zas informed the leaders of the CSTO member states about the end of the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces from the territory of Kazakhstan, ARMENPRES reports the press secretary of the organization Vladimir Zainetdinov told TASS.

The message sent to the leaders of the CSTO member states informed that there were no losses of peacekeeping forces, as well as military equipment and ammunition.

 18:28,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Greece Tigran Mkrtchyan presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Greece Katerina Sakellaropoulou on January 19, ARMENPRESS reports the Embassy of Armenia in Greece informed.

During the meeting following the official ceremony, the Greek President congratulated the Armenian Ambassador and wished him success, expressing confidence that he will invest his efforts in the further development of bilateral relations.

Emphasizing the traditional friendly relations between Armenia and Greece and the historical close ties, Ambassador Tigran Mkrtchyan noted that the two countries have a great potential for deepening cooperation and hoped that as a result of his activities the agenda of the Armenian-Greek cooperation will further expand. The Ambassador emphasized that the Armenian-Greek relations are based on common values, principles, fraternal ties, which are above all other types of contacts. At the same time, the Ambassador noted that the focus of his activity will be not only the deepening of political and economic relations, but also the use of the great potential existing in the cultural, scientific and educational spheres.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on cooperation within international organizations.

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou wished success to Ambassador Mkrtchyan in carrying out his diplomatic mission in Greece and expressed support for that mission. The President of Greece also congratulated on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Greece on January 20.

We will continue to fight for justice – 15th anniversary of Dink's assassination commemorated in Istanbul

 19:00,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. A commemoration event was held on January 19 near the former editorial office of the Armenian newspaper Agos in Turkey, right where Hrant Dink, the late editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Istanbul-Armenian intellectual, was assassinated 15 years ago.

ARMENPRESS reports like every year, this year the intellectual's wife, Rakel Dink, made a speech, saying, "It has been 15 years since the shots fired from behind took you away from us. I can still hear you. Every time you told what they did to your people, you were accused of betrayal, of hitting from behind… You always said: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, do good to those who curse you, pray for those who offend you." I pray.”

In her speech, Rakel Dink referred to the human rights violations that have intensified in Turkey in recent years, the attempts to silence non-governmental opposition figures, and their arrests.

"When you were buried, the voice of rebellion and rejection rising from here was not silenced, it will not be silenced. Workers, women, students, peasants are struggling again. One day they will unite again and become a torrent," the intellectual's wife said.

The ceremony was attended by Armenian MP Garo Paylan, Dink's friends and ideologues, intellectuals and activists. "We are here and we will continue to fight for justice," Dink's friends said.

Hrant Dink, an Armenian intellectual from Istanbul, was shot dead on January 19, 2007, in front of the editorial office of his own Agos newspaper. The shooter was Turkish nationalist Ogun Samast, who was only 17 years old at the time of the crime. The court sentenced him to 22 years in prison. The organizer of the murder, Yasin Hayal, was sentenced to life in prison on January 17, 2012. The real motives and those standing behind the crime are still unknown.

 19:12,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan presented details of the informal meeting with Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Stockholm. ARMENPRESS reports in a parliament-Cabinet Q&A session, answering the question of MP from “I have honor” faction Hayk Mamijanyan about that meeting, Mirzoyan said that he can literally represent his meeting with Çavuşoğlu.

“We did not have an official meeting, just walking from one room to another, where the official meeting was to take place, we walked side by side, greeted each other, got acquainted, expressed readiness to normalize relations, talked about appointing special representatives, agreed to appoint representatives as soon as we return to our countries and start the process. I think this is a good conversation, it is not an official meeting, but it is a meeting, and the signals are positive," Mirzoyan said, ruling out the possibilities of a secret meeting, and as it was not an official meeting, there was no corresponding press release.

Commission on delimitation and demarcation not formed yet, the conditions are being discussed – Armenian FM

 19:45,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. A bilateral commission on the delimitation and demarcation of Armenia – Azerbaijan border has not been formed yet, the conditions are being discussed, there are certain circumstances to be clarified, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said in a parliament-Cabinet Q&A session, answering the question of MP Taguhi Ghazaryan from “Civil Contract” party if there are any concrete agreements on setting the commission.

"A delimitation and demarcation commission has not been formed yet, the conditions under which that commission can start working are being discussed. We are convinced that unless concrete mechanisms are put in place, concrete steps are taken to increase border stability and security, mechanisms to help prevent further collisions, intentional or sometimes accidental, for technical reasons, this commission will have difficulty to be formed and to work”, Mirzoyan said.

There is no clarity on the specific dates of the establishment of the commission, but, according to the Minister, there is a perception that the process will start in the near future. There are certain circumstances to clarify and agree on. After that, the commission can be formed and work.

Last year, based on the results of the trilateral meeting in Sochi, an agreement was reached on the establishment of a bilateral commission with the consultative participation of the Russian Federation.