Category: 2023

 12:20,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on the Belgian National Day.

“I cordially congratulate you and the friendly people of Belgium on the National Day of the Kingdom of Belgium,” Pashinyan said in a letter addressed to De Croo, which was published by the Prime Minister's Office. 

“I highly value the achievements of Armenia and Belgium in various areas of cooperation. I am sure that the relations between Armenia and Belgium will develop and expand in bilateral and multilateral formats through joint efforts, including within the framework of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. Taking this occasion, I commend the Belgian government’s decision on opening a resident embassy in Yerevan. I am sure that it will intensify the Armenian-Belgian interstate relations based on traditional friendship. I wish robust health and all the best to you and prosperity and progress to your country,” the Armenian Prime Minister added.

 13:34,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Residents on the south-western outskirts of Berlin are being urged to stay indoors after overnight sightings of a “loose, dangerous animal”, suspected to be an escaped lioness, the Guardian reports. 

Brandenburg police advised people living in the districts of Kleinmachnow, Stahnsdorf and Teltow on the borders of the German capital to refrain from walking in the woods and to keep pets or farm animals indoors on Thursday. Nurseries were allowed to open but were urged to avoid letting children play outdoors.

Authorities are using helicopters, drones and thermal imaging cameras to track down the big cat, which police believed was resting in a wooded area. 

Police said at a midday press conference that two officers had seen the animal in two separate instances overnight, but that there been no further sightings since. Reports of a sighting in the Zehlendorf district, inside Berlin’s borders, had turned out to be a false lead.

Fire services in Brandenburg said the large animal was “presumably a lioness”. However, the director of a circus in the Teltow area told local media he was not aware of any lions being held in circuses or private zoos in the area and said the animal could be a misidentified Caucasian shepherd dog.

 15:17,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Tigran Avinyan has met with U.S. Embassy staffers to discuss the idea of launching a municipal police in the Armenian capital.

“We discussed issues related to city reforms with representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia. The focus of the discussions was the launch of municipal police in Yerevan, as a continuation of the patrol police reforms,” Avinyan said in a statement on Friday.

He said that there are many areas in the city that require regulation through municipal police, such as street trade, littering, illegal construction and advertisement, parking and public order.

Alexis Haftvani, the Head of the U.S. Embassy’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, attached importance to the ongoing reforms carried out by the Yerevan City Hall, emphasizing that the U.S. Embassy is ready to support the municipality in policy development and launching an effective system.

An agreement was reached on developing an action plan that would include specific sectors, functions of departments, a charter and also proposed legislative amendments if required.

 15:52,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan on Friday met with the Russian Foreign Minister’s Special Envoy for Supporting the Normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan Igor Khovaev.

Grigoryan and the Russian official discussed “the situation around Nagorno Karabakh and underscored that the rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh are a priority and must be protected,” Grigoryan’s office said in a readout.

Speaking about the Azerbaijani blockade of Lachin Corridor, which constitutes a violation of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, Grigoryan stressed the need for Azerbaijan to implement its obligations.

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.

 11:28,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot has called for a political solution to end the violations of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement and guarantee the rights and security of the residents of Nagorno Karabakh, while France will continue to do what’s possible to ensure progress, in coordination with the EU and the United States.

Ambassador Louyot, who is completing her diplomatic mission in Armenia in a few days, told ARMENPRESS in an interview that she will never forget Armenia, whose people impressed her with their resilience and ability to plan the future despite the difficult situation resulting from the 2020 war.

ARMENPRESS: Mrs. Ambassador, what do you consider to be your most significant work and achievement in Armenia during these two years in terms of strengthening and developing the Armenian-French relations?

Ambassador Louyot: As you know, France is fully committed to the peace process, and I have actively supported our special envoy to the South Caucasus, Brice Roquefeuil’s work, which he carried out at the instructions of President Macron and Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, who visited Armenia in April this year. There’s been significant progress in our bilateral relations in the past two years, thanks to the commitment of the two governments. I am especially glad that we opened the defense mission in the embassy, aimed at deepening defense cooperation. In the economy, the roadmap signed by ministers Mirzoyan and Lemoyne in December 2021 allowed the French side to assume additional commitments, especially through supporting exports and imports in Armenia, particularly in the sector of solar energy. The French Development Agency has allocated a major state policy loan in the size of € 100 million and opened a representation in Yerevan, under the roof of the embassy, which allows diversifying and intensifying its activities in the areas of irrigation, energy, agriculture and elsewhere.

Together with the EU, we supported the strengthening of the rule of law through cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.

There is significant progress in our cooperation in culture and education as well. The French Institute of Armenia, officially launched in 2022, is already preparing a major cultural program and will open its doors for all audiences for French language courses in the beginning of the academic year.  The ambitious France-Armenia Heritage program, which the embassy is carrying out jointly with the National Heritage Institute and the Louvre Museum, has enabled to train Armenian heritage experts and launch museum studies and restoration projects with the Erebuni Museum and the Mets Anapat of Tatev (Great Hermitage of Tatev).  As a result of intensive contacts with the Armenian education ministry, we will launch an ambitious project in the beginning of the academic year aimed at strengthening the  French language education in Armenia. I welcome the involvement of new provinces in the de-centralized cooperation, particularly Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with Syunik and Hauts-de-France with Vayots Dzor, in addition to the thirty active partnerships which have allowed to develop effective partnerships in vocational education, for example with CEPFA. After all, I have to mention the embassy’s support to Armenia’s civil society as well.

ARMENPRESS: What legacy are you leaving behind for the new ambassador, what are some of the unfinished initiatives that your successor must complete?

Ambassador Louyot: New ambassadors always continue their predecessor’s work, based on the instructions by their ministry, but they also bring their own ideas and energy.  I am sure that my successor Olivier Decottignies will continue the projects we started and will launch new ones.

In addition to cooperation areas that need to be strengthened, I would mention the economy, where we need additional efforts from both sides in order to involve many French enterprises who want to start activities in Armenia. Huge work has been done, particularly thanks to the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to improve Armenia’s business environment, which is commendable. I’ve maintained regular contact with French companies that are working here, whose example should encourage other enterprises to benefit from the opportunities that Armenia’s healthy economic environment has to offer. In this sense, targeted and sectoral promotion actions could be useful.

The French University of Armenia must also be strengthened, whose significant commitment jointly with the universities of Lyon and Toulouse gives the chance to provide high quality education to 2000 Armenian students. I hope that the project to relocate the university will be successful with support of the two governments. And finally, the EU programs aimed at Armenia’s development can serve to encourage the activities of French organizations in Armenia based on clear, jointly approved strategies. A stronger Armenia is a developed Armenia.

ARMENPRESS: Mrs. Ambassador, you have visited border regions, who have visited the families affected by the Azerbaijani shelling in Syunik, you’ve personally witnessed the consequences of Azerbaijan’s aggression. What is your assessment about Azerbaijan’s conduct, and what kind of a response should the international community give, and are you satisfied with the reaction thus far?

Ambassador Louyot:  I have indeed visited the villages affected by Azerbaijan’s attacks in September 2022, in Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik I was able to witness the sufferings of the peaceful population, whom I wanted to express my solidarity with.  France supports the consistent efforts of the EU and the United States in this direction. The EU civilian mission, launched on 23 January, 2023, is contributing to the peace process in border regions through monitoring works. The result of this monitoring contributes to the EU’s mediation efforts, but we must further strengthen efforts in order for the territorial sovereignty and human rights to be respected.

The close and permanent consultations between our two governments and President Macron and Prime Minister Pashinyan reflects our commitment and desire to expand the international community’s support for a fair and lasting peace. We are working in this direction.

ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijan has completely blocked the Lachin Corridor and the Armenians of Artsakh are facing a humanitarian crisis for a long time now. Although the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship is factually not functioning today, given the fact that France is a co-chair of this structure, what role could it have for resolving the issue? How do you personally envision the solution to the issue?

Ambassador Louyot: We’ve condemned the blockade of Lachin Corridor, which is seriously harming the population of Nagorno Karabakh, since December, and we have called for the implementation of the International Court of Justice ruling on restoring traffic along the corridor. We welcome the ICRC efforts aimed at mitigating the consequences of the humanitarian crisis resulting from the blockade, but a political solution must be found to end the violations of the 9 November 2020 statement and to guarantee the rights and security of the residents of Nagorno Karabakh. The global instability resulting from the aggression unleashed by Russia against Ukraine doesn’t ease the work, but we continue to be mobilized.  That’s why France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, initiated UNSC sessions in September and December of 2022 on Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. France, in coordination with the EU and US, will continue to do what’s possible to ensure progress in the negotiations process.

ARMENPRESS: Mrs. Ambassador, summing up your diplomatic mission in Armenia, what has impressed you the most in Armenia during your tenure?

Ambassador Louyot: Being assigned to Armenia has special importance for a French diplomat, due to the ancient ties uniting our two peoples, which, as Anatole France said, belong to the same family. The pantheonization of Missak and Melinee Manouchian, ethnic Armenians who were French by conviction, symbolizes the closeness of our two nations. I was especially impressed by the resilience of the Armenian people, ability to make future plans despite the difficult situation resulting from the 2020 war. I highly appreciate the unique hospitality of Armenians, their ties to their history and wonderful heritage, as well as openness for other cultures and faiths. The Armenian people can be a link even between countries which sometimes have contradicting interests. This is an important ability, which I hope it will remain committed to.

ARMENPRESS: And finally, Mrs. Ambassador, you are completing your diplomatic mission in Armenia sooner than planned, and France has already named a new ambassador. The embassy had explained that your early departure has to do with personal reasons, but since there are various rumors on this issue claiming that you have been recalled, please clarify the reason of your early departure and whether this has been exclusively your personal decision.

Ambassador Louyot: In the atmosphere of instability caused by the aggression unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, disinformation is one of the weapons which is widely used against democratic countries. France’s commitment in Armenia is probably causing discontent, which can explain the generated fake news about our activities, my persona, and representatives of French enterprises in Armenia. The rumors about me are simply defamation, which is criminally liable in conditions of the rule of law. Therefore I have filed a complaint, expecting that justice will be served and a verdict will be issued. I am sad that I have to leave Armenia due to personal and family reasons after very rich and full two years. I am leaving many friends here and I am departing with the best memories. Be sure, I will never forget your country.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Photos by Mkhitar Khachatryan

 11:42,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. On a daily basis Azerbaijan is proving that it is not even capable of ensuring the narratives it's been formulating in front of the eyes of the international community, Armenia’s Ambassador-at-Large Edmon Marukyan said in a tweet on Wednesday.

“On a daily basis Azerbaijan is proving that it is not even capable of ensuring the narratives it's been formulating in front of the eyes of the international community. For instance, Azerbaijan claimed that they want to integrate the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and that they are their citizens. The international community demanded Azerbaijan to take confidence building measures and start direct talks with the representatives of Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh by introducing an international mechanism with guarantees of rights and securities for Nagorno Karabakh Armenians. In response to this, prior to integrating Christian Armenians, Azerbaijan kills them by organizing various sabotage activities, then destroys Christian churches and monuments of Christian heritage, consequently, Azerbaijan has no plan to integrate Christian Armenians. Moreover, for about 7 months, it cuts off the gas and electricity supply, keeps the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh under siege, and cases of children dying of starvation have already been recorded. Naturally, with these steps, Azerbaijan is resorting to an international criminal offense, making clear to everyone that it is not taking measures to build confidence. In the contrary, it shows that the implemented policy is not meant to integrate Armenian people but to subject Nagorno Karabakh to ethnic cleansing, eventually assuming a piece of land without a people. Under the pressure of these overt evidence, already proven by the circumstances, the institutions of liberal democracy of the international community must either accept that they are the shareholders of the starvation, killings and ethnic cleansing of 120,000 and 30,000 children of Nagorno Karabakh Armenians, or take clear steps in the form of international intervention to stop these crimes against humanity. Otherwise, the 21st century will be marked by yet another massive violation of human rights, more specifically an international criminal offense, which may be still prevented by the international community,” Marukyan tweeted.

 11:55,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Edward Asryan held meetings on July 18 with United States Navy Admiral,  Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Christopher W. Grady and United States Air Force General,  Chief of staff of the Air Force Charles Q. Brown Jr. in Washington.

The current course of the Armenian-American defense partnership, upcoming programs, joint events, introduction of a professional sergeant system and the Mission Command concept, as well as possibilities for broader cooperation in the air force sector and a number of issues related to regional security were discussed, the ministry of defense said in a readout.

 13:39,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Speaker of Parliament of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Artur Tovmasyan has called on the international community to launch a special criminal tribunal for the leadership of Azerbaijan regarding their unprecedented violence and crimes against humanity in Nagorno Karabakh.

“By creating the most sophisticated concentration camp in a territory of nearly 3000 square kilometers, Azerbaijan has been testing the latest achievements of science on the citizens of the Artsakh (NKR) Republic since 12 December 2022, aimed at dehumanizing an entire nation, the population of the Republic of Artsakh,” Tovmasyan said in a statement.

“The population of 120+30 (forcefully displaced) thousand of a freedom-loving country is being subjected to humiliation, famine and threats of physical extermination every day for eight months, living without electricity, gas, fuel and medication. After WWII, when the international community condemned and stipulated provisions in international law ruling out the Nazi Germany’s crimes in the future, it was difficult to imagine that our people would face the threat of physical extermination in the 21st century with new methods, and that it wouldn’t even receive an intervention by the international community to prevent a great human tragedy,” reads the statement addressed to the international community.

“At the same time, taking into account the provisions of international law related to violence and aggression by an aggressor country against self-proclaimed independent countries, we call on responsible and relevant international intergovernmental institutions to launch the process of international recognition of the Artsakh Republic, as the most practical way to prevent genocide and the forced displacement of our people from our homeland,” he added.

Tovmasyan called on international intergovernmental institutions to launch a special criminal tribunal to try the Azerbaijani leadership for creating a modern concentration camp in the territory of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and regularly destroying the indigenous people of Nagorno Karabakh.

The Speaker expressed hope that his statement will receive a response and that the international community and intergovernmental organizations will not surrender to aggressors and murderers, but will support the people of Nagorno Karabakh. The only way to avoid the abovementioned dangers is through the recognition of Artsakh’s independence based on the principle of Remedial Secession, Tovmasyan said.