Category: 2023

 14:47,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno-Karabakh presidency has denied media reports claiming that President Arayik Harutyunyan has decided to accept Azerbaijan’s proposal to use the Aghdam road for commercial transit.

According to Hraparak newspaper, Harutyunyan convened on August 22 a Security Council meeting and told the officials that a decision has been made to start trade of fuel, medications and other goods through the Aghdam road while food will be supplied through the Lachin Corridor by the Russian peacekeepers.

President Harutyunyan’s spokesperson Lusine Avanesyan told ARMENPRESS that Harutyunyan indeed held closed meetings with officials on August 22 but no such decision was made.

She said that Harutyunyan held meetings on August 22 and 23 with various politicians and public figures to discuss the humanitarian and security issues resulting from the Azerbaijani blockade, the Nagorno-Karabakh government’s upcoming actions and the proposals received from various mediators aimed at resolving the situation.

“No decision was made, and the discussions continue, and soon President Harutyunyan will personally present the information on the situation and the approaches of the authorities,” Avanesyan added.

Van Novikov

 16:14,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Armenia on August 24-25 to participate in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council session, the Russian government announced Wednesday.

The session will take place in Tsaghkadzor.

 15:26,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian town of Tsaghkadzor will host an extraordinary session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on August 24, the Armenian government said Wednesday.

A number of relevant issues related to Eurasian integration and cooperation will be discussed during the meeting.

 17:27,

YEREVAN, 23 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 23 August, USD exchange rate up by 1.01 drams to 386.80 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.07 drams to 417.94 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 4.10 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 4.08 drams to 488.34 drams.

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

Gold price up by 97.43 drams to 23538.06 drams. Silver price up by 7.09 drams to 290.88 drams.

 17:05,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The UK is not aware of plans for a UN Security Council resolution or statement regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the UK Embassy in Armenia told ARMENPRESS in written comments in response to an inquiry.

ARMENPRESS: Does your country plan to submit a draft resolution following the UN Security Council urgent meeting of August 16 regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh?

United Kingdom Embassy: The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned at the ongoing disruptions to the Lachin corridor, which threatens the supply of life-saving medication, health care, and other essential goods and services – resulting in humanitarian consequences for the local population.

It is therefore crucial that the ICJ order of February 2023 is respected to ensure unimpeded movement along the Lachin corridor in both directions.

The UK is not aware of plans for a UN Security Council resolution or statement.

 19:12,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. On August 23, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The interlocutors touched upon the deepening humanitarian crisis and the most serious challenges unfolded in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

Ararat Mirzoyan noted that by subjecting 120,000 people of Nagorno-Karabakh to starvation and creating conditions incompatible with a decent life, Azerbaijan is implementing a policy of ethnic cleansing.

The urgency of supplying food, medicine and other essential goods to Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the need to ensure the full and uninterrupted functioning of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the only international humanitarian organization with access to Nagorno-Karabakh was emphasized. Minister Mirzoyan also touched upon the case of abduction by the border guard service of Azerbaijan of Vagif Khachatryan, who was being transported from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for medical treatment on July 29, accompanied by the ICRC. He emphasized the absolute inadmissibility of such behavior of Azerbaijan.

Appreciating the targeted calls of international partners, Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of effective steps to immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor and ensure humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh in accordance with the Orders of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6.

 19:50,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. On August 23, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Tobias Billström, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia briefed his counterpart on the details of the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor and the total blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh since June 15, drawing attention to the unfolded humanitarian crisis for especially vulnerable groups – children, women, the elderly and people with chronic diseases. severe conditions, acute shortage of food and medicine. Ararat Mirzoyan also noted that resulting from the lack of fuel and Azerbaijan’s shelling, almost all agricultural works were stopped, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

Touching upon the discussion of the UN Security Council on August 16, the urgency of eliminating the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, in accordance with the Orders of the International Court of Justice, was emphasized.

The importance of the effective use of all mechanisms in this direction, including by the EU and its member States, was emphasized, given that the ongoing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh could also seriously jeopardize efforts aimed at establishing stability in the region.

 11:23,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has said that she will visit Armenia in September to attend the opening of the Canadian embassy in Yerevan, the Armenian National Committee (ANC) International reported. 

Joly made the announcement during a meeting with members of the Armenian National Committee of Canada in Montreal.

The humanitarian situation in blockaded Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) was discussed during the meeting. 

In turn, ANC Canada said in a statement, "the situation in Artsakh is dire and therefore, decisive action must be taken to ensure the safety, security and self-determination of the population. These were the topics we discussed with Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Mélanie Joly yesterday in Montreal, where we presented several policy recommendations that Canada can put into action and help break the disastrous Artsakh Blockade."

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.

On July 26, Armenia sent a humanitarian convoy carrying emergency food and medication for Nagorno-Karabakh, but Azerbaijan blocked the trucks at the entrance of Lachin Corridor.

 11:21,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions Hadja Lahbib has arrived in Armenia on an official visit.

Minister Lahbib, accompanied by her Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, visited on August 22 the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

She laid a wreath at the memorial and flowers at the Eternal Flame.

The Belgian Foreign Minister also visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Director Harutyun Marutyan gifted a book about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the Belgian Foreign Minister.

 11:42,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has met with Belgium’s Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Yerevan, the foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said Tuesday.

She said that the one-on-one meeting will be followed by an enlarged meeting.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium Hadja Lahbib arrived at the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, where she was greeted by Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. The tête-à-tête meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Belgium commenced, which will be followed by the enlarged meeting,” Badalyan said.