12:58,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. There is no issue on Armenia’s agenda to join the Union State, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan told reporters.
“There is no such issue on Armenia’s agenda. If there is no such issue, my position is that Armenia is a sovereign country, a democratic state and should continue to be so”, he said.
13:01,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia comprehensively responded to President of Belarus Aleksander Lukashenko’s remarks on Armenia, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan told reporters.
“Members of Parliament responded to Lukashenko’s remarks, the foreign ministry responded, the Belarusian ambassador to Armenia was summoned to the foreign ministry. This was talked about in parliament on February 9 as well. I believe there was a comprehensive response, and I hope the Belarusian side will avoid such incidents, will avoid from giving any assessment on Armenia because these assessments don’t anyhow stem from the existing relations between Armenia and Belarus, especially between the Armenian and Belarusian peoples,” Grigoryan said.
In a recent interview, Belarusian leader Aleksander Lukashenko said the Union State between Russia and Belarus should expand and include most of the ex-Soviet republics. Particularly, speaking on Armenia, he said “Armenia has nowhere to run…..what, you think anyone needs them? They have already seen it, Nikol Vovayevich [Pashinyan] has already seen it.”
13:26,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has never put forward preconditions for the border delimitation and demarcation, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan told reporters at a briefing, commenting on the statement of Azerbaijani authorities according to which Armenia is putting forward preconditions before the start of the delimitation and demarcation process.
The Secretary of the Security Council said Armenia has just demanded to implement all the agreements which were reached during the trilateral meeting in Sochi on November 26.
“These agreements are mentioned in the statement, that is to take actions to raise security and then start the delimitation and demarcation processes. Armenia wants for these agreements to be fulfilled. Moreover, in situation when the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan are stationed very close to each other, any political process could affect that environment, and escalations could take place. Armenia proposes that the troops are withdrawn in a mirrored fashion and border troops are stationed there so that we can conduct the border delimitation and demarcation process calmly. There cannot even be a perception of any precondition here”, he said.
13:33,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement must take place within the format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, and the Co-Chairing countries, in case of being active, can prevent military action, the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan said at a news conference.
“We must find a peaceful resolution. Any process that could disrupt the peaceful settlement is concerning for us, and we believe that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries have all levers and possibilities to prevent any steps taken militarily,” he said.
Grigoryan said as long as the Nagorno Karabakh conflict isn’t resolved the Russian peacekeepers must be deployed there in order for there to be a chance for finding a long-term solution.
“As long as there is no solution, the activities of the peacekeepers there is a necessity. The Republic of Armenia will continue to work, in order for the peacekeepers to be deployed there and stay there for as long as we find a solution to the issue,” Grigoryan said.
14:19,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Government approved at the Cabinet meeting the bill on ratifying the Armenia-EU Common Aviation Area Agreement signed on November 15, 2021 in Brussels.
The new agreement will replace the EU Member States’ bilateral aviation agreements with Armenia and create a Common Aviation Area between Armenia and the EU. Armenia will progressively align its aviation legislation with EU rules in areas such as safety, security, air traffic management, economic regulation and the environment. The Agreement will also gradually enhance market access to the benefit of consumers, provide new business opportunities for European companies and ensure fair and transparent market conditions, based on a clear regulatory framework. It will provide more connections and better prices for passengers. Global connectivity is a driver of trade and tourism and directly contributes to economic growth and job creation.
Going far beyond traffic rights, the EU-Armenia agreement will provide a single set of rules, a level playing field with strong provisions for fair competition, and a platform for future cooperation on a wide range of aviation issues (safety, security, air traffic management (ATM), environment etc.).
The agreement ensures that new traffic rights will gradually be made available, provides new business opportunities for European companies, and ensures fair and transparent market conditions, based on a clear regulatory framework. Global connectivity is a driver of trade and tourism, and contributes directly to economic growth and job creation.
14:40,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. A researcher complied a photobook of the Armenian monuments of Artsakh containing historical facts and information which he says can debunk the Azerbaijani falsifications that want to appropriate the Armenian heritage and misrepresent their origin.
Zohrab Erkoyan, an education expert who was the editor-in-chief of the Meran newspaper and lived from 1996 to 2020 in Berdzor (Kashatagh region), says the information and photos he collected are evidence proving the Armenian origin of the Artsakh monuments.
Erkoyan studied and researched the monuments for over 25 years.
Even hunters, schoolchildren, foresters and others – when seeing a cross-stone or monuments somewhere – would immediately notify Erkoyan to survey the area, Erkoyan tells ARMENPRESS.
“The Azerbaijanis and Turks have always wanted to misrepresent the Armenian monuments to the world as Caucasian Albanian monuments. There was even a historian in Soviet times who falsely described the Armenian churches Gandzasar, Dadivank, Tsitsernavank and others as Caucasian-Albanian monuments. He had said that the cross-stones with Armenian writings are Caucasian-Albanian. Their goal was always to misrepresent the entire area as a part of Azerbaijan,” Erkoyan said.
He says that unfortunately even international organizations believe this falsification sometimes. He said that the only way to fight the falsification is to speak with facts.
“I’ve prepared a photobook with the monuments that I have photographed and historical information on them. I have researched and wrote the information from historians. I want to publishe the book in 6 languages, in English, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French and Armenian. This is how we will be able to show the world that this is Armenian territory,” he said.
Erkoyan says the Armenian version of the book is ready, but requires 5 million drams for printing. He hopes to get government support for this, because in his words the book can become a “document or important tool” for the country. The initial version was printed 10 years ago, and Erkoyan even gifted copies to the then-Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group when they’d visited Berdzor.
Last updated: 17:39
14:51,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan and his staffers visited Geghamabak, Jaghatsadzor, Kut, Norabak and a number of other villages in Gegharkunik province, his Office said in a news release.
During the visit additional facts about the incursions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the problems caused by criminal acts to the people will be collected.
15:31,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan defended the smoking ban and noted that many countries around the world have implemented the measure and the result has been positive.
Starting March 15, smoking and the use of all other tobacco products, including substitutes, will be banned in all public food facilities in Armenia.
The smoking ban will be enforced in both indoor and outdoor restaurants, cafes, bars and other similar venues, the Ministry of Healthcare said earlier.
“Practice shows that turnover in public eateries declines in one-two months but then swiftly recovers because if one part of the society views smoking as an advantage, the other significant part views smoking in restaurants as a disadvantage. People who don’t smoke, or even smokers themselves find it unpleasant to enter eateries where smoking is allowed,” Kerobyan told reporters.
He said he himself was a smoker and quit 4 years ago.
“Before quitting I used to smoke three packs a day, but when I was on business trips to countries where smoking bans were in force I’d smoke only one pack a day. The environment was forcing smokers to smoke less. Yes, inconveniences would happen during the day but eventually, at the end of the day, when you’ve smoked less than usually you feel much better,” he said.
He advised smokers to takeaway their coffee and smoke in the street if they want a cigarette with their coffee.
15:36,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. At the initiative of Members of Parliament from the Civil Contract party, a commission was set up in parliament to investigate the circumstances of the 2020 war.
The commission’s powers are vested in the parliamentary commission for Defense and Security Affairs, the parliament’s press service said in a statement.
15:56,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Ambassador of Syria Mohammed Haj Ibrahim on the occasion of completion of his diplomatic mission in Armenia, the PM’s Office said.
Pashinyan highly appreciated the Ambassador’s contribution to the strengthening of the Armenian-Syrian relations, stating that Armenia follows the developments and wishes the friendly Syria to overcome the crisis as soon as possible.
The PM touched upon the humanitarian mission sent by Armenia to Syria in 2019 aimed at conducting humanitarian demining works and providing medical services to the locals. According to Pashinyan, this mission is a tribute to the people of Syria who provided shelter to the 1915 Armenian Genocide survivors, and with whom the Armenian people are connected by close historic ties.
The Syrian Ambassador in his turn praised the productive cooperation with the Armenian government and said that during his tenure he has made the best efforts for the development of the bilateral relations. He expressed gratitude to the government of Armenia for the support provided during crisis and said the Syrian government highly values the humanitarian mission of Armenia. According to him, this shows the firm friendship between the two countries. Mohammed Haj Ibrahim wished success and lasting development to Armenia and the Armenian people.
The officials then discussed the ongoing developments and the humanitarian situation in Syria.