Category: 2023

 16:10,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said on July 25 that the government of Nagorno Karabakh ought to do its part in managing the humanitarian crisis there. His comments came shortly after the Nagorno Karabakh President declared the entire Nagorno Karabakh to be a disaster zone amid the total blockade.

“I’d like to draw attention on an issue. Yes, we can say that Russia ought to do this, the US ought to do that, the EU ought to do this, and Armenia ought to do that, and Azerbaijan ought to do this. But we must also outline what the Nagorno Karabakh authorities ought to do. You can declare a disaster zone, but don’t the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh have something to do in managing the crisis? I think, in any case, by virtue of being the authorities they do. I think they ought to do their part, and we are ready to support them in the direction of doing that,” Pashinyan said at a press conference. 

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 and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients.

 17:07,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense of Armenia Suren Papikyan has met with the Ambassador of Georgia Giorgi Sharvashidze.

The defense attaché of the Georgian embassy Lieutenant Colonel Jaba Toroshelidze also participated in the meeting.

“Issues related to the course and prospects of expansion of the Armenian-Georgian cooperation in the defense sector were discussed,” the defense ministry said in a readout.

 16:38,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has accused Azerbaijan of trying to use Armenian prisoners of war as a bargaining chip.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Pashinyan said that Azerbaijan refuses to release Armenian prisoners of war because it tries to use them as a tool to pressure Armenia.

“Azerbaijan is trying to use the captives as a political bargaining chip, moreover not in specificity but as a tool to pressure Armenia generally ,” Pashinyan said.

He also explained why Armenia agreed to provide Azerbaijan with the minefield maps of the territories that went under Azeri control after the 2020 war.

“The international community was urging us to take steps to increase trust. And we made this step as a humanitarian step, to show our sincerity in the peace efforts,” Pashinyan said.

 18:01,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. The trilateral meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has started in Moscow.

ARMENPRESS reports, the trilateral meeting was preceded by the meeting of Russian FM Sergey Lavrov with Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov.

 17:24,

YEREVAN, 25 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 25 July, USD exchange rate down by 0.35 drams to 386.74 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.21 drams to 427.15 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 4.30 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.22 drams to 496.57 drams.

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

Gold price down by 29.52 drams to 24370.60 drams. Silver price down by 2.02 drams to 305.75 drams.

 18:59,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, ARMENPRESS reports, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ani Badalyan, wrote in her "Twitter" microblog.

"The security situation in the South Caucasus, the aggravation of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan's illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor, the lack of food and medicine, the need to take concrete steps were touched upon," wrote Badalyan.

 20:16,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. On July 25, in Moscow, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

The interlocutors focused on issues of regional security and stability, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and existing humanitarian problems.

Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is deepening with every passing hour as a result of the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan and the imperative to immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor in accordance with the provisions of the Trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 and the Orders of the International Court of Justice. The need to take concrete steps by the signatories of the Trilateral statement and the possibility to use the existing international tools was emphasized.

During the meeting, the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan was touched upon. In the context of delimitation and border security between the two countries, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the commitment to take the 1975 map as the basis for ensuring maximum clarity in the process of further border delimitation. In the context of unblocking all economic and transport communications in the region, the absence of an alternative to the functioning of the relevant communications under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries was once again emphasized. Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the importance of addressing the issues of rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh under an international mechanism.

In order to reach mutual agreement on the above-mentioned issues, Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the need for the constructive approach from the Azerbaijani side.

During the meeting issues of bilateral agenda between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation were also touched upon.

 19:18,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno Karabakh complicates the negotiation process, ARMENPRESS reports, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan stated on July 25 at the trilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, which took place in Moscow.

Mirzoyan emphasized that the meetings and negotiations are quite intense. On some issues there are concrete results, on some issues perspectives are visible where the parties can reach a mutual agreement, but there are also problematic issues on which the positions of the two sides are very far from each other.

"We are constructive and conduct negotiations on all platforms and in all directions. Alas, the situation in the world, in particular, Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh complicates the negotiation process," the Armenian FM said.

He emphasized that there is now a serious humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the situation is close to a real humanitarian disaster. "The situation is getting more serious hour by hour. Neither food nor medicine enters Nagorno-Karabakh, the supply of gas and electricity is stopped, and if we do not manage to find a solution and Azerbaijan does not stop the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, the humanitarian disaster will have a negative impact on the overall negotiation process. However, I repeat that the Armenian side is constructive. We will continue the negotiations," the Armenian FM concluded.

Sergey Lavrov emphasized that Russia is interested in peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

"Our efforts are aimed at stabilizing the situation both on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, as well as solving humanitarian problems, unblocking economic and transport links, developing communication between people, civil societies, experts-political scientists," he said.

 20:36,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh issued a statement, considered the blockade of Artsakh and the use of starvation by Azerbaijan to achieve political goals unacceptable.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh, the statement reads as follows,

“We strongly condemn Azerbaijan's deliberate and systematic attempts to induce hunger in the Republic of Artsakh to achieve its military and political objectives. We reiterate that intentionally obstructing the delivery of humanitarian cargo for the physical survival of the besieged people of Artsakh, as well as taking deliberate actions to cause hunger, suffering and deprivation to the civilian population, constitutes a grave violation of international law and qualifies as a war crime. 

The combination of these criminal actions by Azerbaijan, carried out within the context of the ongoing eight-month inhumane blockade and attempts to forcibly subjugate the people of Artsakh to the jurisdiction of Baku, creates extremely dangerous conditions for the escalation of Azerbaijan's ongoing crimes against humanity into the crime of genocide. 

Against this backdrop, we consider as irresponsible any attempts to legitimise Azerbaijan's internationally wrongful acts, including through direct or indirect endorsement of proposals that are part of Baku's policy of non-compliance with its international obligations regarding the Lachin Corridor and the tightening of the blockade of Artsakh. Any support for the criminal agenda of Azerbaijan, which has deliberately created and systematically exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, not only intensifies the suffering of innocent people but also violates fundamental principles enshrined in international law, including the dignity and human rights of individuals. The civilised international community has long rejected justifications based on the supposed right to commit mass violations of human rights under the pretext of a state's internal affairs. Moreover, it has held perpetrators of such crimes accountable before military tribunals and established legal frameworks to prevent such crimes in the future. 

Any actions and proposals from Azerbaijan that undermine the dignity of the people of Artsakh must be categorically rejected. Human dignity is at the core of human rights and serves as a guarantee of their respect. Undermining the dignity of the people of Artsakh signifies a denial of their fundamental rights and paves the way for even more inhumane crimes by Azerbaijan. 

We strongly urge key international actors genuinely interested in establishing a durable and just peace in Artsakh and the region as a whole to take decisive individual and collective actions to put an end to the blockade and criminal policies pursued by Azerbaijan. We once again insist that the United Nations Security Council fulfils its role entrusted by the nations of the world to maintain international peace and security and puts an end to the criminal and inhumane blockade of Artsakh. As a first step towards addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Artsakh, we expect the UN Security Council to urgently demand the full and unconditional implementation of the ICJ Order issued on 22 February 2023, which was subsequently reaffirmed on 6 July 2023, to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to Artsakh, and authorise the opening of a humanitarian air corridor. 

We consider it absolutely unacceptable to passively and indifferently observe the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Artsakh, where the situation can sharply deteriorate at any moment. The international community must realise that the time for fruitless discussions is long over, and it is now time for concrete and urgent actions that prioritise the interests of people living under an existential threat”.

 21:15,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. With the national anthem of the Republic of Artsakh, a popular rally was launched on July 25 in Stepanakert Renaissance Square and parallel in Yerevan's Freedom Squares with the demand to lift the blockade of Artsakh and respect the right of its people to self-determination.

The correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports, Bishop Ter Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church addressed the participants of the rally from Yerevan's Freedom Square. "Today's reality comes to remind us once again that the Artsakh movement is not over and is still going on. It should become for us like daily bread, it should become a way of life, a mission, an idea and a struggle. During the Artsakh movement, thousands of Armenians became heroes and immortalized. We must make no mistakes under their spiritual look, but by becoming a united fist with the whole nation, we should bring that movement to its good end, a free, independent Artsakh," said the Bishop, conveying to the people of Artsakh the fatherly love and prayers of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

Then the video message of Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I was presented.

Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan, National Assembly Speaker Artur Tovmasyan, State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan, and other officials are also participating in the rally in Stepanakert's Renaissance Square.