15:51, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Authorities received a bomb threat call targeting the Metronome Shopping Center in downtown Yerevan.
The National Center of Crisis Management said they received the call at 14:13, April 8.
Multiple first responders, rescue squads, K9 units and firefighting teams were dispatched to the shopping mall.
Nearly 500 people were evacuated from the shopping center by police and rescuers.
Authorities are now searching the area.
16:06, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. A monument of Armenian-Russian friendship is expected to be installed in Yerevan this year, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov said during a joint press conference with Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Moscow.
FM Lavrov reminded that April 3 marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of a treaty on cooperation and mutual support. “This is a significant year for our alliance, strategic partnership”, the Russian FM said, adding that the works dedicated to the jubilee are consistently being implemented.
Lavrov also highlighted the reliable, regular political dialogue existing between the Russian President and the Prime Minister of Armenia.
During the meeting the Armenian and Russian FMs also highlighted the good, complex and effective operation of the inter-governmental commission on economic issues. Lavrov said the ties are actively developing both at ministerial and parliamentary levels. The 34th session of the inter-parliamentary committee will take place late this month.
“Russia remains Armenia’s leading trading partner. Our share in external trade passes 30%”, the Russian FM said.
After the decline because of the COVID-19 it was managed to return the trade turnover to a stable growth. Last year it was over 2 billion 600 million dollars.
The two foreign ministers also agreed to boost the direct ties between the business circles. According to Lavrov, the two countries will deepen the cooperation also in culture, education, tourism, sport and other areas.
“We are planning to erect a monument of Armenian-Russian friendship in Yerevan this year”, the Russian FM said.
The agenda also includes holding Armenia Culture Days in Russia, and Russia Spiritual Culture Days in Armenia. Russia is also assisting in increasing the number of Russian schools in Armenia, he said.
16:14, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Less than an hour after receiving a bomb threat targeting the Metronome Shopping Center, authorities received another bomb threat targeting another shopping mall in Yerevan, the Rossia Mall.
Authorities said they received the call at 14:56.
Rescuers, firefighters, first responders and K9 units were dispatched to the shopping center.
Nearly 1000 people were evacuated from the building as police and K9 units started to search the area.
16:16, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. United States Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy met with Members of Parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction, the United States Embassy said in a press release.
“Ambassador Tracy met with parliamentarians from the Civil Contract faction yesterday to underscore the U.S. commitment to partnering with the Armenian government to strengthen our bilateral partnership, based on shared democratic values.
The Ambassador also reiterated our concerns regarding recent provocative actions and underscored our support for negotiations toward a peaceful, long-term settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the embassy said.
16:25, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Authorities are reporting a third bomb threat call targeting a shopping center in Yerevan.
This time the caller made the bomb threat at 15:32 targeting the Megamall shopping center in Yerevan’s suburbs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.
Police and rescuers are currently evacuating the shopping mall to start search operations.
K9 units and multiple first responders are at the scene.
Within an hour authorities earlier received two separate bomb threats targeting the Metronome and Rossia Mall shopping centers in Yerevan.
16:41, 8 April, 2022
STEPANAKERT, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. On April 8, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan chaired a regular sitting of the Security Council, his Office said.
Issues related to the military-political situation in the republic, recent developments taking place in the region and their potential impact on Artsakh were on the discussion agenda.
Ad initium, Minister of Defense Kamo Vardanyan delivered a report on the situation on the line of contact, emphasizing that in recent days the operative-tactical situation has been relatively stable following certain tension.
The Head of State noted that active efforts are being exerted to maintain peace and stability in Artsakh, and in this regard the tendencies are quite positive.
“Of course, we continue our efforts with the Russian party to withdraw the Azeri troops to their starting positions from the village of Parukh and the Karaglukh height of the Askeran region. At the same time, I would like to state that the Russian Federation has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to guaranteeing the security of the people of Artsakh through peacekeeping contingent and other military-political mechanisms. The provisions of the trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020 continue to apply and based on this logic, we will keep building a peaceful life in our homeland, at the same time constantly improving the effectiveness of our own security mechanisms”, said President Harutyunyan.
Arayik Harutyunyan also highlighted that considering the new realities and challenges in the region, the implementation of various programs aimed at the defense of the country and civil defense will be in the spotlight of the government.
The need to create an open social-political platform in the National Assembly with the involvement of parliamentary forces was also discussed at the sitting, the aim of which is to organize regular interaction and discussions with various public circles on the military-political developments in the country. Anyone can join the platform in the near future, addressing to the NA staff.
The President gave concrete instructions on a number of issues discussed during the sitting.
16:46, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of Armenia in Israel strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv.
“The Embassy of Armenia in Israel in strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv and is expressing deep condolences to the families of the victims of this barbaric act. We wish speedy recovery to those injured,” the embassy said in a statement.
16:47, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan discussed with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov the development of cooperation in defense, military-political and military-technical field, as well as the situation in the South Caucasus, in and around Nagorno Karabakh.
During the joint press conference with FM Lavrov in Moscow, the Armenian FM said the Armenian-Russian cooperation in defense, military-political and military-technical field has a special place in the bilateral relations.
“For that reason we paid a proper attention to the implementation process of the high-level agreements in that field. Ideas were exchanged about those issues, the implementation of which will serve for the protection of the interests of our countries. From positive terms we have observed the activity of existing mechanisms for the further development of our strategic partnership. The talk is about the inter-governmental commission on military-technical, economic issues, as well as the inter-parliamentary commission”, the FM said.
The Armenian FM said the high-level meetings and contacts contributed to the respective development course of the relations. “As you know, the official visit of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Russia is expected in the nearest future, and it is necessary to be properly prepared for that”, he said.
He reminded that his visit is taking place in conditions when the main topic of the discussion is the situation in the South Caucasus, in Nagorno Karabakh. The Armenian FM said the steps of Azerbaijan are directed to causing a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, and recalled the recent case of the “damage” of the gas pipeline in the territory under the control of Azerbaijan. Moreover, FM Mirzoyan also reminded the regular ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan, particularly the March 24 incursion of the Azerbaijani armed forces into the Parukh village located in the responsibility zone of the Russian peacekeepers.
“Of course, the most important part of the discussion was dedicated to these issues”, he said.
The Armenian FM once again highlighted Russia’s mediating role in the cessation of fire and military operations in Nagorno Karabakh.
“We also highly value the efforts of the Russian Federation aimed at the implementation of the trilateral agreements”, Ararat Mirzoyan said.
He emphasized Armenia’s commitment to the implementation of these agreements, of which the return of prisoners of war and other persons held, the preservation of the historical-cultural heritage in the territories under Azerbaijan’s control are extremely urgent.
“We believe that it is possible to achieve the solution of the issue exclusively through peaceful negotiations that will lead to peace and stability in the South Caucasus”, Mirzoyan said.
He also said that he has presented to Lavrov the position of the Armenian side on starting negotiations with Azerbaijan around a peace treaty.
“In this regard, I once again highlighted the importance of the complete work of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship”, the Armenian FM said.
17:00, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. President Vahagn Khachaturyan received today Ambassador of Romania to Armenia Cornel Ionescu, the Presidential Office said.
During the meeting the sides exchanged ideas about the ongoing works aimed at further developing and deepening the Armenian-Romanian relations which, they said, are based on mutual respect and centuries-old friendship.
Regional security and challenges were also touched upon.
The Armenian President and the Romanian Ambassador also discussed the activity of the inter-governmental commission, calling it an important platform for developing the new opportunities of the bilateral ties in a number of areas.
Both sides highlighted the role of the Armenian community in Romania’s public-political life and its bridging role in the relations between the two countries.
17:03, 8 April, 2022
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Russia is ready to support the creation of conditions for the signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Moscow.
Lavrov said that during the meeting with Mirzoyan they discussed in detail the situation in South Caucasus, emphasized the importance of strictly adhering to the 2020 November 9, 2021 January 11 and November 26 trilateral agreements and the clear implementation of the Russian peacekeeping mission’s mandate.
“We discussed issues that have been discussed at the level of our leaders, including in terms of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and future steps to strengthen trust and stability on the borderline,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov expressed hope that the commission for delimitation will be created as soon as possible, and noted that Moscow doesn’t see any obstacles for this. He further added that the work for solving humanitarian issues must continue.
The working group for unblocking of transport and economic links will convene its next meeting this month.
“Russia is ready to provide support to the work between Yerevan and Baku for creating conditions for the signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” FM Lavrov said.
He said there’ve been substantive discussions on how they can support the launch of this process.
Lavrov also spoke about the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey. “We welcome the process of normalization of relations between Yerevan and Ankara. This must contribute to the improvement of the situation in the overall region,” he said.
The Russian FM added that they’ve also talked about the 3+3 regional advisory platform. He said there is a common opinion that this platform opens additional opportunities for all countries in the South Caucasus.
“We reiterated our interest for our Georgian partners to join this promising format,” Lavrov added.