Category: 2022

 16:02,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan met today with Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Rostam Qasemi during his working visit in Iran, the Armenian ministry said in a news release.

During the extended-format meeting general issues on the exchange of information, the possibilities of operation of Iranian companies in Armenia, as well as issues relating to professional work were discussed.

Issues relating to cargo transportation were also discussed. Both sides outlined the existing problems and agreed to eliminate the barriers in order to increase the trade turnover between Armenia and Iran.

The minister said that Armenia is taking active steps on this direction.

“In this context we attach great importance to the roads that are under construction in Syunik, especially the north-south’s Syunik section, which will soon become more convenient for the Iranian cargo trucks and will cut the length of the road. When these works end, travelling by these roads would be more beneficial economically”, Gnel Sanosyan said.

After the meeting the Armenian and Iranian ministers answered the questions of reporters.

 15:42,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The fourth meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council will take place in Brussels on May 18 and will touch on bilateral relations and political matters, the Council of the EU said in a statement.

“EU member states and Armenia will exchange views on the state of implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, and of the Economic and Investment Plan.

They will also discuss political dialogue and reform, democracy, rule of law and human rights, economic, and trade and sectoral cooperation, as well as the prospects of launching a Visa Liberalization Dialogue. 

Participants will have an exchange on regional issues (Russia/Ukraine, Turkey, Iran), and Nagorno Karabakh”, the statement says.

 16:34,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed granting the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) an observer status in the CSTO, the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

“It is necessary to expand cooperation with our colleagues at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States. In our opinion it is appropriate and correct, and we will discuss this, to give the CIS a status of observer in the CSTO,” Putin said at the CSTO summit.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is also participating in the summit.

Unfortunately, CSTO’s reaction wasn’t what we expected: Pashinyan on Azeri incursion into Armenia’s sovereign territory

 16:59,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. During today’s summit of the leaders of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan raised issues relating to the mutual partnership of the CSTO states and the rapid response in crisis situations.

In his remarks the Armenian PM firstly thanked President of Russia Vladimir Putin for organizing the summit, which is dedicated to the 30^th anniversary of the CSTO, and for the warm welcome.

“Of course, our jubilee meeting is a very good opportunity to draw some conclusions and discuss the further development prospects of our organization. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko raised very important issues relating to the mutual partnership between the CSTO member states. It can be said that the President of Belarus addressed quite problematic issues. In general, it can be said that there is a lot of positive in the CSTO history because CSTO has been, is and will be the most important factor on ensuring security in the region. But, as we see, during today’s jubilee summit we do not discuss jubilee issues only because the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone is quite tense”, the Armenian PM said.

Pashinyan touched upon the issue on the voting of the CSTO states, stating that this voting sometimes is not simultaneous.

“I want to note that this is not a new problem, it accompanies us for a long time. Armenia has raised this issue for many times. We have discussed this issue in a working procedure for many times. It’s obvious that this issue needs further discussion”, the PM said.

As for the mutual partnership and rapid response mechanisms, Pashinyan said this issue is very important for Armenia.

“As you know, last year on these days the Azerbaijani troops infiltrated into Armenia’s sovereign territory. Armenia applied to the CSTO to implement the mechanisms envisaged by the Crisis situations response procedures approved on December 10, 2010. Unfortunately, we cannot say that the organization reacted in a way the Republic of Armenia expected. For a long time we have been raising the issue of arms sale by CSTO member states to a non-friendly country. That weapon was used against Armenia and the Armenian people. This is a problem as well.

Frankly, the response of the CSTO member states during the 44-day war in 2020 and after that didn’t make Armenia and the Armenian people very happy, but I want to highlight the important role of the Russian Federation and President of Russia Vladimir Putin in the stop of the war in Nagorno Karabakh. I want to once again affirm that Armenia remains committed to the 2020 November 9, 2021 January 11 trilateral statements. I think that drawing conclusions is really important and good, but Armenia, as a founding member of the organization, is committed to the organization’s further development and views the organization a key factor on ensuring stability and security for the Eurasian region and Armenia. We are in a positive mood to fully assist the organization and its further development”, the Armenian PM said.

 17:14,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The Acting Chief of General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Lt. General Kamo Kochunts will lead a command-staff military exercise from May 17 to May 21 under the scenario of “preparing and engaging in defensive operations with existing forces and means in conditions of simulated threat of enemy aggression.”

Live fire brigade-level tactical exercises will be held as part of the drills, the ministry of defense said.

The army corps personnel will be deployed to the designated areas.

 17:21,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The leaders of the CSTO adopted a joint statement after the summit in Moscow, addressing the need to ensure the security of borders in the organization’s area of responsibility.

The statement says that the CSTO is ready to ensure the security of its borders, including on the backdrop on the concerning situation in Afghanistan and other foreign borders of the organization’s members.

“The situation in Afghanistan and on other foreign borders of CSTO member states is concerning. In this context we express readiness to ensure the security of borders in the CSTO area of responsibility,” reads the statement.

The statement also mentions that the CSTO member states are ready to establish practical cooperation with NATO.

“Realizing our responsibility in ensuring sustainable peace in the Eurasian region, we emphasize the need for de-escalation in the continent and we affirm readiness to establish practical cooperation with NATO.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was also  in the CSTO summit.

 17:36,

YEREVAN, 16 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.95 drams to 454.99 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.10 drams to 474.78 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.14 drams to 7.21 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.89 drams to 558.18 drams.

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

Gold price down by 429.13 drams to 26499.84 drams. Silver price down by 2.77 drams to 304.85 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 18:13,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the meeting of the leaders of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin met the CSTO leaders: Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov. Following the ceremonial photo-video session, the meeting took place at the St Alexander’s Hall of the Kremlin, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

In his speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan congratulated the attendees on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty signed on May 15, 1992, and on the 20th anniversary of the decision of May 14, 2002 to establish the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

In particular, the Prime Minister welcomed the CSTO leaders and thanked them for the warm reception. “Of course, the anniversary of our Organization is also a very good opportunity to summarize certain results and discuss the prospects of further development of the Organization.

Alexander Grigoryevich, of course, raised many important issues related to the cooperation between the CSTO member states, and the President of Belarus, to be honest, touched upon quite problematic issues. In general, it should be noted that there is a lot of positive in the history of the CSTO, as it has been, is and will be a key factor in ensuring security and stability in the region. As we can see, today, at the jubilee summit we are discussing not only jubilee issues, given today’s quite tense situation in the CSTO area of responsibility. And I would like to address some of the issues that the President of Belarus talked about.

As for the voting of the member states of our Organization, of course, we have some problems here. Often our votes are not in harmony, and it should be noted that this is not a new problem, it accompanies our Organization for a long time. Armenia has raised this issue many times, it has been discussed many times in the working process. Obviously, it needs further discussion.

As for the partnership and rapid reaction mechanisms, this is also a very important issue for Armenia, because as you know, just during these days last year, the Azerbaijani troops invaded the sovereign territory of Armenia and Armenia applied to the CSTO for launching the mechanisms envisaged by the CSTO Crisis situations response procedures of December 10, 2010. That document has been approved by the Collective Security Council, but, unfortunately, we cannot say that the Organization reacted in the way the Republic of Armenia would expect.

Also, for a long time, we have been raising the issue of selling arms by CSTO member states to countries not friendly to Armenia. As a result, those weapons were used against Armenia and the Armenian people. This is also a problem, to be honest, the reaction of the CSTO member states during the 44-day war in 2020, and also after the war, was not so encouraging for the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people.

But I would like to emphasize the special role of the Russian Federation and personally President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in ending the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. And I want to once again affirm that Armenia remains committed to the trilateral statements by the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan and Prime Minister of Armenia of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021.

I think it is very good and important to summarize the results. Armenia, as a founding member of the CSTO, is committed to the further development of the Organization. We consider the Organization a key factor in ensuring security and stability in the Eurasian region and the Republic of Armenia, and in general, we are positive about fully supporting the organization and its further development.”

Then, the CSTO leaders signed documents summarizing the results of today’s CSTO session.

 19:50,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will be expanded with new members, partners and observers, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said. Summing up the results of the meeting of the leaders of the CSTO member states, Stanislav Zas noted that the prospects for the development of the Organization were generally discussed at the event.

“I am sure in one thing. All the attempts to drive a wedge between our countries, to cause some disruption, will not lead anywhere. Our organization will be preserved and strengthened,” said Stanislav Zas.

The meeting of the leaders of the CSTO member states took place in Moscow, in which the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan took part.

 21:24,

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Foreign Ministry responded to Sweden’s announcement about accession to the NATO membership, ARMENPRESS reports, Ria Novosti informs.

“Sweden’s accession to the NATO will significantly damage the security of Northern Europe, the continent of Europe as a whole,” the Ministry said.

On May 15, Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats announced their intention to apply for NATO membership. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said that joining NATO will have a positive impact on the security of Sweden and the Swedish people.