Category: 2022

 17:37,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. (Press Release, Aznavour Foundation) On March 26, 2022, the Forum of Arts Charles Aznavour was officially inaugurated in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France. The inauguration ceremony brought together Nicolas Aznavour, co-founder of the Aznavour Foundation; Kristina Aznavour, President of the Foundation; senior officials from the Île-de-France region and the Yvelines department; Lorrain Merckaert, the Mayor of the city, as well as many other guests. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held in the presence of the Senator of Yvelines Michel Laugier, the Mayor Lorrain Merckaert and Nicolas and Kristina Aznavours.

Forum of Arts Charles Aznavour is dedicated to theoretical knowledge, practice and cultural _expression_ by pooling spaces and activities in order to encourage synergies between the 5 artistic disciplines which will now coexist in this center: dance, theater, music, rehearsals, recordings. This new cultural place embodies in itself the ambition to enrich the quality of learning as well as creativity. 

This extraordinary and modern space is also equipped with innovative technologies and special systems that will make the learning process much more attractive and effective. The center will offer a large auditorium, a recording studio, as well as studios dedicated to dance, music and theater, several classrooms and rehearsal rooms, and a forecourt designed to host shows “outside the walls”. The number of registered students is 1800, and 40 teachers will work with them.

The creation of the Forum of Arts was carried out thanks to the financing of the regional, departmental and municipal councils. The design of this ambitious 3500 m2 building was entrusted to the French architect Dominique Coulon.

The Center was named after Charles Aznavour following a consultation of the residents of the city and the vote of the City Council. The Aznavour family agreed to the naming after a guided tour of the construction site and a presentation of the project by the mayor of Montigny-le-Bretonneux, Lorrain Merckaert.

The Aznavour Foundation, in collaboration with the town hall of Montigny-le-Bretonneux and the “Agence NC – Nathalie Crinière” (specialized in exhibition scenography and interior architecture), worked on the creation of unique installations within this building in order to ensure the presence of the art of Charles Aznavour as motivation for students and visitors of the center. With the same objective, the Aznavour Foundation donated the Double Diamond Disc which had been awarded to Charles Aznavour for more than 2,000,000 copies of albums sold.

“My father would be proud and honored to see this iconic place that bears his vision and his name today. We hope that his “presence” will motivate and inspire generations to come. On behalf of the Aznavour family and on behalf of the Aznavour Foundation, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have contributed to the realization of this project. The Aznavour Foundation will of course continue its cooperation with the Forum of Arts in future, organizing different events together”, mentioned Nicolas Aznavour during his speech.

 17:42,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received today Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovaev, the foreign ministry said in a news release.

The sides discussed the current situation caused by the latest Azerbaijani violation of the Nagorno Karabakh line of contact and their incursion into the section of Parukh village, an area under the responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

Other actions of the Azerbaijani side aimed at creating a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, targeting the civilian population and conducting ethnic cleansing were also discussed. The necessity of the return of Azerbaijani troops into their initial positions was emphasized.

FM Mirzoyan presented the position of the Armenian side over the start of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan around a peace agreement within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

The importance of full activities of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship was reaffirmed.

 17:46,

YEREVAN, 28 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 28 March, USD exchange rate up by 0.07 drams to 490.37 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.15 drams to 538.92 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 5.23 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.58 drams to 645.13 drams.

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

Gold price down by 175.31 drams to 30803.14 drams. Silver price up by 4.87 drams to 403.92 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 19:00,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin on March 28.

As ARMENPRESS was infomred from the press service of the MFA Armenia, during the meeting Ararat Mirzoyan and Sergey Kopirkin discussed the situation in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in the part of Parukh village of Nagorno Karabakh, resulted by the Azerbaijani invasion which started on March 24.

Minister Mirzoyan highlighted the assessment made by the relevant Russian departments on the invasion of Azerbaijan. The Minister stressed the need for taking concrete measures by the Russian peacekeeping contingent to stop the intrusion of Azerbaijani units into the area of responsibility of the peacekeepers and the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces.

 19:06,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received Ambassador of France to Armenia Anne Louyot on March 28.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the meeting focused on the situation in Nagorno Karabakh following the invasion of the Azerbaijani armed forces. Ararat Mirzoyan considered inadmissible the continuous provocations by Azerbaijan against the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh, aggressive actions, attempts to deliberately disrupt the normal operation of vital infrastructure.

Minister Mirzoyan highlighted the appropriate and targeted response of the international community to the situation, aimed at the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the territory of Nagorno Karabakh and the de-escalation of the situation.

 19:43,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Gas supply in Artsakh has been restored, ARMENPRESS was informed from its sources in Artsakh.

The gas supply to the Republic of Artsakh was stopped on the night of March 7-8 due to damage to the gas pipeline entering to Artsakh from the Republic of Artsakh. A few days later, the gas supply was restored, but on the evening of March 21, the Azerbaijani authorities again disrupted the gas supply to Artsakh, depriving the population of Artsakh of the heating resource in very cold weather conditions. The Artsakh authorities issued a statement stating that talks with the Azerbaijani side are underway to restore gas supplies with the support of Russian peacekeepers.

 20:09,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy.

As ARMENPRESS was inmformed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the meeting focused on the situation over the incursion of Azerbaijani armed forces into the village of Parukh in Nagorno Karabakh, as well as the ongoing provocations against the civilian population of Artsakh and the deliberate disruption of the normal operation of vital infrastructure.

Appreciating the assessment of the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan by the United States, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the need to take active steps to de-escalate the situation, highlighted the need for the international community to consistently address the problem.

 20:12,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. UN Secretary General António Guterres said that he has instructed his deputy Martin Griffiths to study with stakeholders the possibility of concluding a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine, ARMENPRESS reports TASS agency informed.

“I have instructed Martin Griffiths to immediately study the possibility of a humanitarian ceasefire agreement in Ukraine and preparations with the parties,” Guterres told reporters.

Guterres expressed hope that the parties will show good will to reach an agreement on a humanitarian ceasefire. The Secretary-General stated that he does not believe in the possibility of the conflict over Ukraine turning into a nuclear conflict.

 21:45,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. No ceasefire violations were reported in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh during the day, ARMENPRESS reports the Russian Defense Ministry informed.

“The Russian peacekeepers are conducting round-the-clock monitoring at 27 observation posts, monitoring the observance of the ceasefire regime. No violations have been reported in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent,” the statement said.

Azerbaijan paving the way for new provocations and attacks in the direction of Nagorno Karabakh – Security Council

 22:26,

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. The security situation around Nagorno Karabakh was discussed at today’s sitting of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, assessing it as extremely tense.

The analysis of the situation shows that the Republic of Azerbaijan, trying to find imaginary justifications, is paving the way for new provocations and attacks in the direction of Nagorno Karabakh, including accusing the Republic of Armenia of un-constructive actions in the issue of the peace treaty.

In the current situation, the Security Council considers it necessary to reaffirm the earlier position of the Republic of Armenia and offers the Republic of Azerbaijan to immediately start negotiations on a comprehensive peace treaty.

The Security Council, drawing the attention of the international community on the chances for armed clashes in Nagorno Karabakh and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, considers it necessary to launch international containment mechanisms to prevent further military escalation and ethnic cleansing in the region.