15:51,
YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited a military memorial on Monday during his trip to the Ararat Province.
In a video published by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Pashinyan is seen honoring fallen troops at the memorial.
Pashinyan visited Artashat city in Ararat on July 17 for a briefing by provincial authorities on the 2022 report and ongoing programs.
14:26,
YEREVAN, 17 JULY, ARMENPRESS: On July 10-17, Azerbaijan violated the Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire 4 times by opening fire at the farmers working in the fields, the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) police said in a statement on July 17.
The operational inspector of the Getavan department reported that on July 17 between 10:20 and 11:00 a.m., a resident of Charektar village heard gunshots in the direction of his house. Shootings continued in the direction of the village and as a result gardening work was stopped. On July 13, the Martuni regional police department was reported that at 5:40 p.m. Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire in the direction of the farmers working in 3 combine in "Amaras Valley", as a result of which the agricultural work was stopped. On July 14, at 7:20 p.m., Martuni regional department was reported that mortar fire was used from Azerbaijani military positions near the Machkalashen village in the direction of agricultural fields. On July 15, at around 09:50, a. m. Shosh department of the Askeran regional police department was reported that farmer working on his tractor in the village of Verin Sznek came under Azerbaijani small arms fire and was forced to stop the work.
16:30,
YEREVAN, 17 JULY, ARMENPRESS: On July 17, the Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan met with Paolo Spantigati, the outgoing (Asian Development Bank) ADB Director of the Armenian Resident Mission, and his successor Donald Lambert.
During the meeting, Tigran Khachatryan thanked Spantigati for his ‘active and productive’ activities in Armenia and spoke about the important achievements within the framework of cooperation with the ADB, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout posted on social media.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the newly appointed head of the ADB Armenian office noted that effective cooperation with ADB will continue.
During the meeting, ideas were exchanged regarding the implementation of the North-South Road Corridor Investment Program as well as issues related to the sustainable urban development and improving the seismic safety of schools.
The interlocutors also specifically referred to the need for the development of irrigation infrastructure and effective management of water resources, emphasizing the importance of expanding cooperation in this direction.
17:37,
YEREVAN, 17 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 17 July, USD exchange rate up by 0.13 drams to 386.14 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.57 drams to 433.67 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.27 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.18 drams to 504.92 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 45.82 drams to 24254.58 drams. Silver price up by 6.43 drams to 307.51 drams.
17:21,
YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan’s non-compliance with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) constitutes a violation of conventional obligations, Armenia’s Ambassador-at-large Edmon Marukyan said on July 17.
“Azerbaijan’s non-compliance is a violation of conventional obligations and undermines the Council of Europe's key principles of human rights and the rule of law,” Marukyan tweeted.
On July 12, the ECHR examined the Armenian Government’s request to indicate interim measures against Azerbaijan and issued a decision reaffirming its December 21, 2022 decision whereby it indicated to the Government of Azerbaijan, under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, to take all measures that are within their jurisdiction to ensure safe passage through the “Lachin Corridor” of seriously ill persons in need of medical treatment in Armenia and others who were stranded on the road without shelter or means of subsistence.
20:25,
YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. The Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of the Republic of Artsakh rejected the petition to remand Artsakh hero Vitaliy Balasanyan, Rafael Martirosyan, Vitaly Balasanyan's advocate, told ARMENPRESS.
The lawyer informed that at the moment Vitaly Balasanyan is in freedom.
Vitaly Balasanyan was arrested on July 14. He was suspected of using violence against the government or threatening to use violence. On July 17, a motion to remand Vitaly Balasanyan was submitted to the court.
20:38,
YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenia consistently demands the lifting of the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, and this can be seen in all our discussions with partners, Ani Badalyan, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, told ARMENPRESS.
Earlier, Ani Badalyan had made a post on "Twitter" about the topic.
"After the International Court of Justice reaffirmed its decision on the opening of the Lachin Corridor, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the decision of December 21, 2022 remains in force, and Azerbaijan is obliged to take all measures within its jurisdiction to ensure safe movement through the corridor.
Other international actors should follow this line," Badalyan stressed.
21:25,
YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. On July 17, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko and Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Russian Federation Polad Bulbuloglu met and discussed the situation in the South Caucasus, the process of reconciliation between Baku and Yerevan.
ARMENPRESS reports, the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry informs that the Russian side has confirmed the need for the complete and immediate unblocking of the Lachin Corridor, the restoration of transport links in both directions along it, in accordance with the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, as well as the need to create conditions for normal life in Nagorno Karabakh.
The message also says: "The Russian side has confirmed its readiness to organize a tripartite meeting of foreign ministers in Moscow in the near future to discuss the ways of implementing the top level agreements, including the issue of agreement on the peace treaty, which will be followed by a summit of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Moscow in order to sign the said document."
Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles, Sinan Kuzum, in June, disseminated a letter to California lawmakers in an attempt to highlight “positive developments in the Turkish and Armenian relationship,” referring to the ongoing negotiations between Armenia and Turkey, and the participation of Armenia’s Prime Minister in the inauguration of Turkey’s President.
In his inflammatory letter, Kuzum accused the Armenian Diaspora in Los Angeles of attempting to hamper the goodwill and spirit of peaceful negotiations between Armenia and Turkey, urging lawmakers to be mindful of the ongoing negotiations before they speak on matters concerning Armenian-Turkish relations.
The Turkish Consul General’s letter is just the latest example of the Turkish government’s efforts to silence the Armenian diaspora’s voice and effectiveness in advocating for a just US foreign policy in the region. Furthermore, the consul general’s letter is indicative of a larger problem that should be of grave concern to Americans and policymakers alike–a foreign principal actively engaged in efforts to bend local, state, and federal policymakers to the will of a foreign country, in direct conflict with their constituents’ interests and needs.
The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region responded to the Turkish Consul General’s letter, condemning their deception and distortion of facts. The Turkish government has a long history of denying the Armenian Genocide and, more recently, supplied Azerbaijan with weaponry and personnel during the 2020 Artsakh War.
“The Turkish Consul General’s letter is a desperate attempt to deflect attention away from the Turkish government’s own obstructionism on the path to normalization of relations,” said ANCA – Western Region Board Chair Nora Hovsepian Esq.
“Whitewashing its history of genocide and human rights violations is nothing new for Turkey. We will continue to hold the Turkish government accountable until it fulfills its historical obligations to the Armenian people. The Armenian diaspora will not be silenced, and we will continue to fight for justice for the Armenian Genocide and the crimes Turkey has been actively committing against Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora as a whole. We trust that our elected officials will continue to prioritize the concerns of their own Armenian-American constituents over the shameless lobbying of a foreign government trying to dismiss those legitimate concerns,” added Hovsepian.
The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
The European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights has joined the International Court of Justice in reaffirming its order compelling Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor and end the Artsakh blockade.
The ECHR said on Monday that after reviewing a request from Armenia to apply interim measures against Azerbaijan regarding unblocking of the Lachin Corridor, the court decided to reaffirm its ruling of December 21 that calls on Baku to open the road.
The December 21 ruling ordered Azerbaijan to ‘take all measures’ to ensure safe passage through the “Lachin Corridor” of seriously ill persons in need of medical treatment in Armenia and others who were stranded on the road without shelter or means of subsistence.
With Monday’s decision, the European Court of Human Rights reaffirmed the need of implementing the decision made of December 21, 2022 in the current situation, and it must be implemented by Azerbaijan.
Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice, the United Nations highest judicial body, also reaffirmed its ruling of February 21, ordering Baku to take all steps to ensure the “unimpeded movement” along the Lachin Corridor.
Despite international calls, Baku has refused to comply by these orders.