Category: 2022

 20:43,

YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS. Shahriar Heydari, deputy head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, made a statement regarding the Armenian-Iranian border, stressing that Iran and Armenia do not need the advice of any third party, including Turkey, in this regard, ARMENPRESS reports the Iranian IRIB television and radio company reports.

Shahriar Heydari said this in the context of the words of the Supreme Spiritual leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei, addressed to the President of Turkey.

"As stated by the spiritual leader, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow the border between Iran and Armenia to be blocked," Heydari emphasized.

Pointing to the strategic position of the Republic of Armenia, the Iranian parliamentarian said that it created many problems for Armenia, one of which was the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh. However, according to Shahriar Heydari, the problem should be solved seriously and through diplomacy.

"Iran has always believed that the two countries should settle the issue politically. Some extra-regional forces want to create a corridor leading to Nakhijevan through the territory of Armenia in order to push Iran to the margin, but Armenia and Iran emphasize that the territorial integrity of the countries of the region must be preserved. We have a shared border of 47 km with Armenia, part of which is the border of the Aras River, and we will not allow any damage to those borders. The border of Iran and Armenia has always been safe, both countries strive for its security and prevent any illegal traffic and border encroachment, and we do not need the advice of any third party, including Turkey," Shahriar Heydari stated.

On July 19, Iran's Spiritual Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who arrived in Tehran for a tripartite meeting with the presidents of Iran and Russia, stressing that the Islamic Republic of Iran will oppose the policy of blocking the border between Iran and Armenia. In the meeting with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, Iran's Supreme Spiritual Leader also emphasized that Iran will not tolerate the policies and programs that lead to the closing of the border between Iran and Armenia.

 20:57,

YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS. Lasting peace in the South Caucasus region can only be established as a result of comprehensive solutions, which requires real and sincere efforts from both sides, ARMENPRESS reports after the meetings held in the National Assembly of Armenia, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament David McAlister said, whose delegation is in Yerevan on a regional visit.

"Discussions with our Armenian partners were very useful to better understand the concerns that Armenia has in the current situation regarding security and humanitarian issues. It is very clear that lasting peace can be achieved through comprehensive solutions. This requires real and sincere efforts from both sides. These efforts should be based on the political will and commitment to implement the agreements reached to date. Our visit is a very clear indication of the importance that we, as the European Union, attach to the entire South Caucasus," McAlister stated.

In this context, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament emphasized the active mediation efforts of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in the negotiations between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"Within the framework of this initiative, Prime Minister Pashinyan met with the President of Azerbaijan Aliyev in Brussels in April and May," McAlister reminded, adding: "We hope that the contribution of the European Union will be useful in solving long-standing problems and paving the way for the establishment of lasting peace."

David McAllister reminded that the European Parliament has expressed its view on the issue with several resolutions adopted. In particular, in May, 2021 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Armenian prisoners of war, demanding Azerbaijan to release Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians without any preconditions. And on March 10, 2022, adopted a resolution condemning the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, under the title "Destruction of the cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh".

The delegation led by the Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister, came to Armenia on a regional visit. In Yerevan, the 6 members of the delegation had meetings with the Prime Minister, the President and Vice President of the Parliament, and the Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee, as well as the representatives of all three political parties represented in the National Assembly. Before that, the delegation was in Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Representatives of Iran's Spiritual Leader repeated Khamenei's statements regarding the Armenian-Iranian border

 21:07,

YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS. The representatives of the Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran in different regions of the country repeated the statements of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei regarding the Armenian-Iranian border, ARMENPRESS reports, citing Iranian media.

In particular, according to "IRNA" news agency, Tehran's Friday prayer Imam Mohammad Hossein Abdutorabifard said: "At the meeting with the President of Turkey, the Spiritual Leader also touched on the communication path between Armenia and Iran. Iran is very sensitive to regional changes and will not allow damage to the road that is thousands of years old and is one of the factors of strength, security and peace of the peoples of the region."

Mohammad Ali Ale Hashem, the representative of the Spiritual Leader in Eastern Atropatene and Friday Prayer Imam of Tabriz, said: "Iran will never tolerate any step that will lead to the blocking of the border between Iran and Armenia. Iran will resist it because it is a thousand-year-old communication route."

Allahnur Kyarimitabar, the representative of the spiritual leader in Ilam province and the Friday Prayer Imam in the city of Ilam, said: "During the visit of the presidents of Turkey and Russia, the issue of the Armenian-Iranian border was also emphasized. They should never think that they can threaten the thousand-year global highway and create an obstacle for Iran."

The Imams of Friday Prayers in other regions of Iran also repeated or mentioned Khamenei's statement in the same way.

On July 19, Iran's Spiritual Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who arrived in Tehran for a tripartite meeting with the presidents of Iran and Russia, stressing that the Islamic Republic of Iran will oppose the policy of blocking the border between Iran and Armenia. In the meeting with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, Iran's Supreme Spiritual Leader also emphasized that Iran will not tolerate the policies and programs that lead to the closing of the border between Iran and Armenia.

 11:56,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. More than 1000 families in the Republic of Artsakh received apartments from the government in between 2021 and July of 2022.

377 of the 1000 apartments are newly built ones, mostly in Stepanakert City, which were built with funds from the Artsakh state budget, the state budget of Armenia and the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, the government said in a video posted by President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan on social media.

The apartments are being built as part of large-scale construction projects after the 2020 war.

Apartments and houses were given to families of fallen troops, displaced persons, military veterans with disabilities, active and reserve military servicemembers of the Defense Army, families with five or more children, families with status of refugees and families who lost parents.

Around 600 apartments and houses, mostly in regions of Artsakh, will be commissioned in 2022.

Around 1300 apartments are now under construction in Stepanakert.

1500 apartments are under construction in the regions.

The construction of another 1000 apartments will begin soon.

8500 families are registered on the waiting list, and the local authorities are hopeful to resolve the housing issue entirely in the coming years.

 12:10,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. During the Cabinet meeting today Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan commented on the criticism made over judicial reforms.

Pashinyan said that he as well is not satisfied and has raised this issue, but stated that major work has been done in a number of directions and it has been recorded by Armenia’s international partners.

“When we talk about the carried out reforms, we are criticized over the reforms in the judiciary. They say that works have not had enough success and intensity. I have also recorded this, yes, I am not satisfied, but let me make a record. Recently I was reading the report of the EU’s Eastern Partnership program, and I recorded that Armenia is in leading positions in a number of directions among the Eastern Partnership countries. This list also includes the subtitle independent judiciary. What I want to say is that, of course, on the one hand, it’s good that we demand more from ourselves, but on the other hand let’s notice that the international partners have recorded a very major progress. Among Eastern Partnership countries, we are leading in a number of directions, including credibility of elections, fight against corruption and freedom of speech”, the PM said.

Pashinyan stated that a large part of the judicial reforms is directly linked with the digital agenda. He says a separate digitization in the field cannot happen, a systematic work is needed. The key principle is the mutual partnership, according to the PM. In other words, if there is a digital platform in a state system, that platform should exist in the other state systems as well.

“During the discussions we recorded that there are numerous digital platforms in Armenia, but these electronic files are not functional. The information needed for the structures of other agencies is not available in digital version. It’s very important for the digital formulas to be functional and be available by law to the respective structures”, the PM said.

He said that major digital reforms are expected also in the notary services and judicial processes. At the beginning, the cases, notifications and document circulation will be carried out in a digital way, later it is necessary to achieve the point that trials must take place in written procedures, there should be no need to go to court.

 12:28,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Olympic bronze-winning gymnast Artur Davtyan’s pommel horse performance during the World Cup in Egypt gained him a namesake pommel horse element.

The International Gymnastics Federation officially registered the “Davtyan” element.

 12:46,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. 4 Armenian school-children participated in the 54^th International Chemistry Olympiad which was held online from July 10 to 18, the Armenian ministry of education, science, culture and sport said.

Leonid Asatryan captured a silver medal, and Hayk Aghekyan, Sona Sagheyan and Tigran Harutyunyan won bronze medals.

326 students from 84 countries participated in the 2022 International Chemistry Olympiad.

 12:55,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. The government of Armenia approved a program on specialized training and ensuring employment for military veterans of the 2016 and 2020 wars unleashed by Azerbaijan.

The first component of the program is a training course of up to 5 months. The third component is a 3-months internship, and the third is employment.

Beneficiaries will receive stipends during their training course.

Employers will also receive incentives.

 13:00,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. The government approved redistributions in the state budget to allocate over 3,1 billion drams for acquisition of 175 SUVs for the new police force which will soon be launched in the provinces of Aragatsotn, Gegharkunik, Kotayk and Tavush.

The police cruisers will be Toyota Fortuner SUVs.

Out of all car companies represented in Armenia, only Toyota Yerevan was able to supply the vehicles in line with the required characteristics.

Apart from the SUVs, new sedans will also be bought for the police force as highway patrol vehicles.