Category: 2023

 20:30,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS. On August 11, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence of the Republic of Ireland Micheál Martin.

Minister Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor highlighting that the situation is close to turning into a real humanitarian catastrophe, the foreign ministry said in a readout. 

The Foreign Minister of Armenia emphasized that since June 15, Nagorno-Karabakh has been under a total blockade, under the conditions of which the fundamental rights of 120,000 people of Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, are being grossly violated. Particularly the acute shortage of food and medicine was mentioned. Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that by such actions, Azerbaijan continuously demonstrates its real intention: to implement ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Touching upon the principled positions of partners, including Ireland, voiced on international platforms so far, Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the importance of immediately lifting the blockade of the Lachin corridor in accordance with the legally binding Orders of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6, as well as the need for consistent steps aimed at preventing the implementation of Azerbaijan's intentions.

During the telephone conversation, the interlocutors also touched upon the issues of the Armenia-EU partnership, including the activities of the EU Civilian Monitoring Mission in Armenia.

Commenting on the call, Micheál Martin then posted a statement on social media platform X, stressing that he had an important call with the Armenian foreign minister regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, during which he reiterated the EU’s call for an immediate reopening of the Lachin Corridor and ensuring access of ICRC aid. Martin added that Ireland calls on everyone to participate in the comprehensive, sustainable peace talks.

 11:17,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Aurora Prize co-founder Noubar Afeyan has reacted to the report by a former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warning that Azerbaijan is preparing genocide against the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Moderna co-founder Afeyan took to X social media platform and condemned the Azeri blockade as ‘horrifying and inhumane’ after the ICC ex-prosecutor issued the report.

"As a descendant of the Armenian Genocide that occurred a century ago, I find the unfolding situation in #artsakh horrifying and inhumane,” Afeyan posted on X and shared an Associated Press article on the Azeri blockade and the genocide warning issued by former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo.

Ocampo has warned that Azerbaijan is preparing genocide against the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh and called for a U.S. Security Council intervention.

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.

 11:52,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Human rights advocate, lawyer Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab has reacted to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh after a former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned that Azerbaijan’s blockade of Lachin Corridor constitutes genocide.

Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab is a programme lawyer with the IBA's Human Rights Institute and co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response. Dr Ochab works on the topic of genocide, with specific focus on the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities around the world.

In an article titled ‘Lachin Corridor Blockade Starves Nagorno-Karabakh’ the lawyer said that the reports of the ‘dire situation in Nagorno-Karabakh must be taken seriously at last and acted upon.’

“As Nagorno-Karabakh is being starved, the international community cannot continue looking away as it has done for the last eight months. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh require urgent assistance without any further excuses,” she added, noting the first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo’s expert opinion which determined that Azerbaijan is committing genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ochab cited the August 7, 2023 statement by a group of United Nations experts who raised the alarming situation in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.

 12:10,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. The free and objective coverage of the inhumane blockade of Lachin Corridor and the real goal of Azerbaijan plays a critical role against Azerbaijan’s continuous propaganda, Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan has said.

Badalyan posted the international media coverage on the report by Luis Moreno Ocampo, the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court who warned that Azerbaijan’s blockade of Lachin Corridor constitutes genocide.

“Int’l media writing about worsening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh, also with reference to conclusions by former ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo. Free & objective coverage of inhuman blockade of Lachin Corridor & of Azerbaijan’s real goal play critical role against AZ continuous propaganda,” Badalyan said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

 14:10,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan has met with the new Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Sobhani.

Minister Sanosyan welcomed the newly appointed ambassador and wished him success during his mission in Armenia, the ministry said in a readout. Both sides attached importance to the warm, friendly Armenian-Iranian relations and the need to develop it.

“I am happy to note that our relations are developing with good pace, but there is great potential to develop and enhance the relations in other directions as well,” Sanosyan said, highlighting the importance of the existing cooperation in the energy sector.

The course of joint projects was discussed during the meeting. Sanosyan attached importance to the need for completing the projects in the defined timeframes. The need for a speedy completion of the construction of the third power transmission line between Iran and Armenia was underscored. The Iranian Ambassador said he will make sure that the work implemented in Armenia gets completed within the defined timeframes.

Both sides attached importance to the involvement of Iranian construction companies in construction processes taking place in Armenia. Issues related to road construction and mining were also discussed.

 16:39,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Iran have extended the Gas for Electrical Energy agreement until 2030.

The extension was signed on August 10 at the Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures in Yerevan, between Aram Ghazaryan, the CEO of the Yerevan TPP, and Majid Chegeni, the Iranian Deputy Minister of Oil and Director of the National Gas Company, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures said in a press release.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan praised the agreement as one of the best manifestations of the friendly Armenian-Iranian relations.

“The extension of the agreement is a beneficial deal for the two countries. The extension enables to increase the volumes of gas imports and electrical energy exports, which will definitely have a positive impact on the economic development of the two countries,” Sanosyan said.

Chegeni also attached importance to the extension, adding that it will boost the development of Armenian-Iranian ties.

 17:08,

YEREVAN, 10 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 10 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 386.05 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.99 drams to 425.74 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 3.96 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.36 drams to 493.06 drams.

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

Gold price down by 46.54 drams to 23864.78 drams. Silver price down by 4.17 drams to 281.81 drams.

 17:34,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan has met with the new French Ambassador Olivier Decottignies.

During the meeting on August 10, Grigoryan congratulated Decottignies on assuming office and expressed confidence that the ambassador will contribute to the deepening and strengthening of bilateral cooperation in all sectors between Armenia and France, Secretary Grigoryan’s office said in a readout.

Secretary Grigoryan attached importance to the further development of the special relationship with France. In this context, the sides discussed prospects for intensifying and enhancing Armenian-French cooperation in a number of areas of bilateral interest.

Grigoryan and Decottignies also discussed the ongoing, deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and underscored the need for eliminating the blockade of the Lachin Corridor.

 18:02,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Idram and IDBank summed up the results of the next program of The Power of One Dram initiative. The companies report that 3.480.466 AMD was donated to the Children of Armenia Charitable Foundation for payments made through their platforms during July.

The companies also announced the name of next month's beneficiary. During August, 1 AMD will be transferred to SOS Children's Villages Armenian charitable foundation for each client's payment through the Idram&IDBank application, IDBanking.am platform and Idram.am website.

The SOS Children's Villages Foundation is a child-oriented organization whose mission is to help children in difficult life situations. The Foundation operates in two areas: alternative care services, as well as family strengthening services for families with minor children in a difficult social situation. The programs implemented by the Foundation are aimed at improving the child protection system in the Republic of Armenia, ensuring the right of the child to live in a family.

Spartak Sargsyan, National Director of SOS Children's Villages Armenian Charitable Foundation, notes that their cooperation with Idram and IDBank is extremely important for the foundation's mission. “Together we support children, youth and their families who are in a difficult life situation, contributing to the development of communities,” says Spartak Sargsyan.

According to Tatevik Vardevanyan, Head of Communications unit at IDBank, companies appreciate the support to the charitable foundation, as it is one of the key areas of corporate social responsibility.

You can also become a goodwill ambassador by simply making all your payments through Idram&IDBank app, IDBanking.am and Idram.am website without spending any extra AMD.

After all, it all starts with one dram …

COMPANIES ARE CONTROLLED BY THE CBA

 18:41,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. On August 10, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta Ian Borg.

Minister Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the developments in the region since his official visit to Malta in March, in particular on the daily deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan's illegal total blockade of the Lachin corridor, the foreign ministry said in a readout.  

Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the irreversible consequences for the 120,000 population of Nagorno-Karabakh, noting the regular disruptions of electricity and gas supplies by Azerbaijan and the acute shortage of medicine, food and other essential supplies, especially for the most vulnerable groups.

Minister Mirzoyan noted that Azerbaijan continues its actions despite all international calls and efforts to achieve positive change on the ground. The urgency of the immediate lifting of the blockade of the Lachin corridor and full restoration of movement in accordance with the Orders of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6 was emphasized.

During the phone call, the sides also touched upon the issues of cooperation in the EU and multilateral platforms.