Category: 2022

 15:51,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Zbigniew Rau in Baku.

“This is a good opportunity to discuss the important issues on our agenda. Of course, as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, you and I will discuss the post-conflict situation in the region. At the same time, the bilateral agenda between Poland and Azerbaijan is very extensive. As you may know, we recently had a telephone conversation with President Andrzej Duda. I have very good memories of my meetings with the President in Warsaw, Baku and Davos. You are aware that we are in regular contact and the relations between our countries are a good demonstration of a strong partnership between us.

We are also grateful to Poland for its continuous support in matters of cooperation with the European Union. This process is now in full swing, and the European Union has already announced that a new meeting between the Armenian prime minister and myself will be organized by President Charles Michel. I do hope that this meeting will be productive, because there have already been several meetings and we must move towards peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and sign a peace agreement as soon as possible. In our view, Azerbaijan has laid out the main principles of this agreement,” the Azerbaijani AZERTAC State News Agency quoted President Aliyev as saying at the meeting.

President Aliyev again falsely claimed that “the conflict has already been resolved.”

“….and now is the time to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are receiving certain messages from Armenian officials. As I was recently informed that one of these messages is that they consider our proposal acceptable. This is very good news, and I hope that this issue will be clarified at the meeting in Brussels.

The five principles we have initiated reflect the norms of international law and good international conduct. We are not inventing a bicycle here, so to speak. All these principles are the fundamental principles of interstate relations between any countries. Reciprocal recognition of territorial integrity and inviolability of international borders, and then the delimitation of borders – I think that peace will come to the Caucasus on this basis. We want it. We are seeing the potential for active cooperation amongst the three countries of the South Caucasus, and I think that this will be important not only for these countries but also for the wider region. Of course, all these issues need to be addressed very carefully and in a timely manner,” Aliyev added.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier said that there is nothing unacceptable for Armenia in the 5-point proposals for peace talks handed over by Azerbaijan, and that Yerevan has responded to Baku.

 The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau is expected to arrive to Armenia on March 31.

 16:21,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Kristinne Grigoryan participated today in the online general assembly of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), her Office said in a news release.

The discussions focused on a number of issues relating to protection of human rights in different regions and sectors. Particularly, the situation of migrants in Europe and ensuring their rights, as well as the possible actions aimed at assisting national human rights institutions that appeared under danger, were discussed during the online meeting.

Welcoming her international colleagues, the Armenian Ombudswoman highlighted the ENNHRI role in promoting the protection of human rights in the region and strengthening the role of national institutions.

During the discussion of the topic titled “National Human Rights Institutions under Danger – Ukraine”, the Ombudsperson of Armenia said, in particular: “From the viewpoint of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, I can say that we know well from our experience what difficulties and challenges the conflicts could bring and their devastating consequences for the defense institutions. Therefore, I call on my colleagues from Ukraine and Russia to use at best the potential of this wonderful network and also the direct contacts, to fulfill their mandate at best in these difficult times”.

 16:40,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Hambardzum Matevosyan met with Jordan’s Minister of Investment Khairy Amr during the visit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the deputy PM’s Office said in a news release.

The officials discussed the peculiarities of the investment climate of Armenia and Jordan, as well as the broad circle of promotion mechanisms.

The Minister of Investment of Jordan said the Armenia-Jordan business forum 2020 in Yerevan created a great interest among Jordanian investors. He highly appreciated the role of the Armenian community in Jordan’s development.

Despite the COVID-19-related restrictions, the sides agreed to continue the active cooperation aimed at ensuring the desirable level of the partnership dynamics. Minister Khairy Amr informed about his plan to visit Armenia in the future together with the interested representatives of their business community.

 17:08,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Former Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan will soon be appointed Vice Mayor of Yerevan, moreover he will run for Mayor of Yerevan in the 2023 elections.

The Civil Contract party’s PR coordinator and Member of Parliament Vahagn Alexanyan told ARMENPRESS that Avinyan will head the Civil Contract list in the 2023 local self-government election of Yerevan.

“Indeed, the party’s board has made such decision, but it is very important to differentiate that right now Hrachya Sargsyan is the Mayor of Yerevan and the Civil Contract Party team is fully supporting Hrachya Sargsyan in this position,” Alexanyan said.

Alexanyan added that Avinyan will soon be appointed Vice Mayor of Yerevan.

 17:19,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Our cultural heritage in the territory of Karaglukh in Artsakh is under danger, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Artsakh Lernik Hovhannisyan said.

He said this territory is distinguished by rich historical-cultural values documenting the centuries-old history of Artsakh and the identity of the people of Artsakh.

“The territory needs further detailed research as just several months ago the State Service for Protection of Historical Environment SNCO carried out studies there and discovered more than 20 new cross-stones. This shows that Karaglukh probably has monuments that have not been discovered yet. Another painful blow is given to our cultural identity and historical-cultural heritage, the historical landscape is being disrupted, which is one of the evidences of our people’s identity”, the deputy minister said. “The policy of ethnocide by Azerbaijan has not changed. The impunity of Azerbaijani authorities leads to new crimes, which is taking place before our eyes every day under the silence of the international community. The rich historical-cultural heritage of Artsakh needs protection”, he added.

The Parukh-Karaglukh site is very important from the perspective of the historical-cultural heritage of Artsakh. Karaglukh is located 10 km north-west from the town of Askeran, near a rock called Shikakar. The Shikakar fortress of the village is an important historical site and played a significant role in the defense of Artsakh.

By the 2011 decision of the government of Artsakh, the historical-cultural monuments of Parukh were included into the state list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of Askeran region. Accordingly, there are more than 20 monuments, including 2 churches, the famous Shikakar-Karaglukh castle, cultural monuments, cemetaries, cross-stones, in the territory.

 18:04,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Nagorno Karabakh with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Kremlin.

“The development of the situation around Nagorno Karabakh was discussed, putting the emphasis on the solution of practical problems aimed at ensuring security and stability in the region. The importance of consistent implementation of all provisions of the trilateral declarations of November 9, 2020 and January 11 and November 26, 2021 was reaffirmed,” the statement said.

It’s mentioned that the leaders of the countries agreed on further contacts.

 18:26,

YEREVAN, 31 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 31 March, USD exchange rate is down by 1.86 drams to 485.91 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 3.53 drams to 539.21 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is up by 0.15 drams to 5.98 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 3.22 drams to 637.61 drams.

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

Gold price is up by 258.38 drams to 30211.32 drams. Silver price is up by 0.32 drams to 386.73 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 19:00,

YEREVAN, 31 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Giulio Centemero referred to the issue of depriving the population of Nagorno-Karabakh of gas, violation of the trilateral statement, called to restart peaceful negotiations of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, ARMENPRESS reports, the Embassy of Armenia in Italy informs.

Centemero informed that cases of violation of the ceasefire of November 9, 2020 took place, which resulted in victims and wounded.

“Currently we face a very serious humanitarian crisis, from which the population of Nagorno-Karabakh suffers because of the damage of the only pipeline transferring gas, who remained without gas for nearly a month. It is necessary to constructively restart peaceful negotiations and refuse the violent way”, member of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy emphasized.

He also called on to stop the violence, restart peaceful negotiations on his Twitter page.

The authorities of Artsakh said that the main pipeline supplying gas from Armenia to Artsakh was damaged on March 7 and the supply stopped. The Artsakh authorities had said the area where the damage occurred was in Azerbaijani-controlled territory. It was reported that the Azerbaijani military deliberately damaged the pipeline. The Azerbaijani authorities obstructed repair works for days. Only on March 16 the authorities in Artsakh announced that the Azerbaijani side itself began the repair work. However, days later, the gas supply was cut again. Authorities said they have reasons to believe that during the repairs the Azeri authorities installed a valve on the pipeline in order to shut it down whenever they want. On March 28 it was again restored.

 19:58,

YEREVAN, 31 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Russia, in response to the sanctions imposed on it, has included the top leadership of the European Union in the “black list”, ARMENPRESS reports the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

 “EU sanctions on Russia go beyond all bounds. Since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, Brussels massively and arbitrarily imposed unilateral restrictions on Russian citizens and domestic companies,” the statement said.

The Ministry said that in response to the EU massive sanctions, Russia had significantly expanded the list of representatives of EU member states and European institutions whose entry into Russia is prohibited.

“The restrictions apply to the EU’s top leadership, including the vast majority of European Commissioners, the heads of the EU military institutions, as well as members of the European Parliament, who advocate anti-Russian policies,” the statement said.

The Russian “black list” also includes high-ranking officials, including representatives of governments, parliaments of some EU member states, as well as public figures and media workers whom the Russian side accuses of promoting anti-Russian sanctions and inciting Russophobia.

 20:44,

YEREVAN, 31 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. A telephone conversation took place between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, ARMENPRESS wa sinformed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Pashinyan presented to the Russian President the situation after the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into the responsibility zone of the Russian peacekeeping force in Nagorno-Karabakh and noted with regret that the situation has not been resolved, moreover, according to some information, new provocations by Azerbaijani units are possible in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping force.

Prime Minister Pashinyan provided details on the actions of Azerbaijan to intimidate the residents of the villages of Nagorno Karabakh with loudspeakers and to exert psychological pressure.

Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that these actions and the incursion of Azerbaijani units into the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping force in Nagorno Karabakh in the presence of peacekeepers raise questions and thanked the Russian President for a positive attitude to the issue of carrying out investigation of the situation.

The Prime Minister presented to the Russian President the expectations of the Armenian side that the Russian peacekeeping contingent will take measures to withdraw the invading Azerbaijani units from the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

The leaders of the two countries agreed to take measures to urgently resolve the situation. They both highlighted the full implementation of the trilateral statements signed by the President of the Russian Federation, the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020 January 11 and November 26, 2021.