Category: 2023

 14:24,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS․ On July 14 at 1:40 p.m. Azerbaijan opened fire at factory under construction with foreign investment in Yeraskh village, Armenpress reports, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in a statement

No other details were reported.

 21:20,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS․ The American companies "VIRTUAL FUNDING" and "CSE GLOBAL INVESTMENTS" JSC, owners of the iron smelting plant under construction in Yeraskh, issued a statement regarding the shootings by Azerbaijan, noting that the companies did not violate any provisions of the international conventions pointed out by Azerbaijan and are ready to demand compensation for the investments, the loss incurred and profit not earned in international legal platforms. And in the case of firing again at unarmed workers, the companies will see it as a direct blow to American capital without any environmental motive, but a purely political decision.

ARMENPRESS reports, the statement reads as follows,

“Earlier this June, Azerbaijan announced that in the Yeraskh settlement of Armenia, a metallurgical plant is being constructed, which will generate environmental problems for their country. In its statement issued on June 08th, "GTB Steel" LLC, the Company we founded in Armenia, stated that the Company received a positive conclusion on the environmental impact with the relevant expertise requirements, which comply with all international standards.

Five days later, on June 13, Azerbaijan started shootings in the direction of the plant that we are constructing. The shootings continue to this day. During this time, our two employees suffered serious injuries. Тhe Company's tractor, crane, and truck had been damaged and are no longer operational. We have published the photo and video footage thereof. Ambassadors, diplomatic representatives, international observers, and journalists from different countries have also documented the foregoing facts.

We believe it is relevant to point out the following essential points:

1. The claims that the plant being constructed in Yeraskh will create ecological problems for Azerbaijan are false. Our plant is not a metallurgical, where metal is extracted from ore, but rather a metal smelter, where through casting the finished metals we will get rebar. In this case, there are no harmful emissions to the atmosphere or the environment and tailings. No waste either. A similar plant, i.e. "Baku Steel Company", is now operating in the capital of Azerbaijan. That company casts 4 times more iron per year than is planned to be cast in our plant, and is located 400 meters away from residential houses.
2. The residential houses in the Yeraskh community are located about 300 meters away from our plant, and the nearest Azerbaijani village Hyderabad is 1,8 km away. Therefore, there can be no intention to generate an environmental problem for Azerbaijan. A similar plant is located in Charentsavan city of Armenia, which covers the entire city and surrounding villages with tens of thousands of citizens within a radius of 1.8 km.
3. The plant will operate with a water cooling system, assuming that used water is in closed circulation and will not discharge the plant area. It's like the coolant used in vehicle engine that never discharges from the vehicle. Azerbaijan also emphasizes the possible pollution/contamination of the river Araks, which, is 6 km away from the plant. Even if we intend to pollute the river, it would be impossible for us.
4. The furnace chimney of our plant will be of 33 meters height and equipped with a three-stage filtration system, thus the air rising through the chimney will have no negative impact on the environment. This was confirmed during the EIA examination, which lasted more than 6 months.

Thus, we have not violated any provisions of the international conventions that Azerbaijan points out, as the type of plant and productivity of the plant we are constructing will not cause any cross- border impact. To prove these claims, we are ready to discuss them with international experts both in person and remotely. The foregoing will be followed by our actions in international legal authorities. We will spare no efforts and will claim for investments made, the loss incurred, and profit not earned. Let us mention that we have all grounds, including those documented by the diplomatic representatives of about 40 countries.

In case our statement is ignored, and shootings in the direction of our unarmed workers continue, we will consider this as a direct attack on American capital without any environmental motive, but rather upon a political decision”

 14:28,

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS. The participants of the rally of the “Popular movement” in Artsakh marched to the military station of the Russian peacekeeping troops, where they will present their demand to take measures to stop the blockade of Artsakh and the humanitarian disaster.

The correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports that Artsakh’s State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan said that he, together with some others, will have a meeting with the commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in Artsakh, after which he will return and present the results of the meeting.

"Our next step is now we are setting up tents here, and everyone in the tents is expecting for our demand to be fulfilled," Nersisyan stated.

He emphasized that they want to tell the Russian peacekeepers that the people of Artsakh are the main beneficiaries of the trilateral declaration of November 9, and when one of the parties to the declaration does not fulfill its responsibilities, it does not mean that the people of Artsakh should bear the heaviest consequences caused by it. "We are here to convey the word of the people of Artsakh to the peacekeepers that it is not friendly at all when Artsakh is under a complete blockade, but we see helicopter flights every day," Nersisyan announced.

After the meeting with the Russian peacekeepers, some of the participants of the gathering, the residents of Askeran, will stay in tents near the military station of the peacekeepers, and the rest will return to Stepanakert's Renaissance Square, where the rally that started in the morning will continue.

Van Novikov

 16:17,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS: On July 14 at 2:00 p.m. Azerbaijan violated ceasefire in Shushi by using a 60 mm mortar.

As ARMENPRESS was infomred from the Defense Ministry of Artsakh, the Armenian side has suffered no casualties.  

The ceasefire violation was reported to the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops.

Earlier today, at around 11:00 a.m. the Ministry of Defense of Artsakh reported that Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire in Shushi, in addition to firearms, using 82 mm mortar and RPG-7.

 20:10,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS․ On July 14, around 7:20 p.m., the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire in the Martuni region of Artsakh by using 82 mm mortar, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Artsakh.

The Armenian side has suffered no casualties.

The incident was reported to the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops.

 17:44,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS․ Artsakh Republic State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan presented details of the meeting with the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in Artsakh.

ARMENPRESS reports, Gurgen Nersisyan said that they agreed with Alexander Lentsov, the commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops, that the peacekeepers will report the situation in Artsakh to the relevant Russian structures on a daily basis.

According to the Minister of State, the command of the peacekeeping mission admits that the provisions of the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020 have been violated. "They admitted that they have work to do to eliminate the humanitarian crisis," added Gurgen Nersisyan.

The Minister of State added that the residents of Askeran region will stay in the tents placed near the permanent location of the peacekeeping troops until clear solutions are given to the problem.

The other participants of the popular movement returned to Stepanakert, where tents will also be set up, according to the Minister of State, to keep the red light of the situation in Artsakh burning.

Van Novikov

 17:28,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS: President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, has sent letters to heads of all UN Security Council member states, the UN Secretary General, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the President of the European Council, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, as well as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, urging them to fulfill their international obligations and promptly implement effective measures to halt the illegal and complete blockade imposed on Artsakh by Azerbaijan, and to put an end to the systematic mass crimes and acts of terrorism against the people of Artsakh.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the President of Artsakh, the letter not only conveyed the expectations of the Republic of Artsakh from each recipient but also provided an overview of the current situation. The main part of the letter reads as follows:

"As the President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), I urgently appeal to the international community on behalf of the government and people of Artsakh. I wish to draw your attention to the escalating security and humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, which is rapidly evolving into a full-blown disaster. This dire situation is a direct result of the following criminal actions committed by Azerbaijan:

– On December 12, 2022, as a result of Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin (Kashatagh) Corridor, which connects Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world, approximately 120,000 residents of Artsakh found themselves under siege. Furthermore, about 30,000 citizens of the Republic of Artsakh were deprived of the opportunity to exercise their right to return to their homeland;

– Since then, humanitarian movement of people and cargo through the Lachin Corridor has been exclusively carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeeping forces, with very limited capacity and certain periodic disruptions, while the movement of vehicles belonging to the residents of Artsakh has been completely prohibited;

– Since January 9, 2023, Azerbaijan has disrupted the supply of electricity through the sole high-voltage line between Armenia and Artsakh, which has caused significant energy and humanitarian problems in Artsakh over the past 185 days. There have been daily six-hour power outages, a 48% decrease in electricity consumption, and depletion of local electricity production and supply systems. Starting from December 13, 2023, Azerbaijan periodically, and since March 21, almost continuously, has been interrupting the only gas supply from Armenia to Artsakh (for a total of 148 days), thereby deepening the energy and humanitarian crisis;

– On April 23, Azerbaijan established an illegal checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor at the border between Artsakh and Armenia, officially and openly imposing strict and arbitrary military control over all movements;

– Since June 15, Azerbaijan has imposed a complete blockade on the Lachin Corridor, prohibiting the transportation of any individuals or goods (including food, medicine, hygiene items, and fuel) in both directions even by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers;

– From June 25 to July 10, the transportation of patients with urgent medical needs to medical centers in Armenia, along with the import of some medicines into Artsakh, were resumed in a very limited capacity only through the Red Cross. However, starting from July 10, the movement of the Red Cross has been blocked again;

– Throughout this entire period, Azerbaijan has been using force and the threat of force against the people of Artsakh, with clear manifestations of ethnic hatred and terrorism, and with the evident goal of ethnic cleansing;

– By using force and the threat of force, Azerbaijan continues to obstruct agricultural activities on approximately 10,000 hectares of land adjacent to the contact line, which constitutes a significant portion of the total cultivated land;

– The suspension of all humanitarian supplies since June 15, coupled with the utilization of limited domestic stocks, has resulted in a worsening humanitarian situation, in particular:

• The food shortage is worsening, especially considering that prior to the blockade, around 90% of all consumed food was imported from Armenia;
• Due to the diminishing availability of fuel and other essential resources, approximately 70% of planned agricultural work has been halted, while the impact on other sectors of the economy is even more significant;
• Due to the same reason, internal public transportation has been reduced by approximately 50%, while private transportation has nearly come to a standstill;
• The growing shortage of medications, medical supplies and hygiene items, coupled with the ban on transporting medical patients to Armenia, poses an increasing threat to people's lives and well-being;
• Daily power outages and fuel shortages have severely impacted the operation of medical equipment, leading to a decrease in the volume and quality of healthcare services;
• Due to the lack of essential food and vitamins, approximately 2,000 pregnant women and around 30,000 children are struggling to survive under conditions of malnutrition.

The daily power outages, fuel shortages, and lack of other essential items are causing significant disruptions in water supply and telecommunication infrastructure in many populated areas.

The blockade and disruptions in the supply of electricity and gas have rendered over 12,000 people unemployed and deprived of their livelihoods, which represents over 60% of the private sector workforce.

The complete blockade of the Republic of Artsakh and its isolation from the outside world, pursued with the intermediate goal of forcibly subjugating the people of Artsakh, deepens the humanitarian crisis and sets the stage for the transformation of Azerbaijan's ongoing crimes against humanity into the crime of genocide. Through these actions, Azerbaijan deliberately creates unbearable conditions for the people of Artsakh, with the clear intention of depopulating the region and annihilating its people.

The aforementioned and many other security and humanitarian issues pose an increasing threat to the survival of the people of Artsakh. The current situation is highly volatile and has the potential to rapidly transform into a full-fledged catastrophe, not only for the people of Artsakh but for the entire region.

Regrettably, Azerbaijan continues to demonstrate a willful disregard for its international obligations, repeatedly violating the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, the ruling of December 21, 2023, from the European Court of Human Rights, the orders issued by International Court of Justice on February 22 and July 6, 2023. Azerbaijan's actions persist despite the demands and appeals of numerous international organizations and states. Furthermore, Azerbaijan's aggressive and criminal activities have been fueled by the prevailing sense of impunity within the international community".

 17:59,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 14 July, USD exchange rate down by 1.09 drams to 386.01 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.71 drams to 433.10 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 4.28 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.20 drams to 506.10 drams.

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

Gold price down by 9.50 drams to 24300.40 drams. Silver price up by 12.84 drams to 301.08 drams.

 19:36,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS․ On July 14, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Augusto Santos Silva, the President of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic. The meeting took place within the framework of the minister's official visit, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

Issues on the development of the political dialogue between Armenia and Portugal and the expansion of bilateral relations were discussed. Views were exchanged on the Armenia-EU partnership agenda.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of strengthening inter-parliamentary ties to foster the development of Armenian-Portuguese cooperation in various spheres.

Regional security and stability issues were on the agenda of the meeting. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan presented the vision of the Armenian side for establishing peace in the region and highlighted the existing challenges in that direction.

Minister Mirzoyan drew the attention of the President of the Assembly of Portugal to the humanitarian crisis resulting from the 7-month long illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. He emphasized the inadmissibility of Azerbaijan's policy, aimed at creating conditions incompatible with life for the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and subjecting them to ethnic cleansing. In this context, the importance of voicing the mentioned issues by the parliamentary circles and achieving clear actions was also emphasized.

In the context of efforts aimed at lasting peace, the Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed the need to address the issues of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

 18:07,

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan received Christine Weigand, Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to Armenia, ARMENPRESS was infomred from the Government of Armenia. 

Welcoming those present, Deputy Prime Minister Khachatryan highly appreciated the role of the Foundation in solving problems related to the protection of children's rights in Armenia, improvement of their health, education and living conditions.

Referring to the need for continuous improvement of the educational environment, the Deputy Prime Minister presented the ongoing and planned works of construction and repair of preschools and schools, as well as the re-equipment of existing educational institutions, emphasizing the cooperation with the Foundation in the direction of continuous improvement of the quality of educational services. The interlocutors also exchanged thoughts on the current legislative initiatives related to children's rights, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in their development.

Deputy Prime Minister Khachatryan informed the guests about the humanitarian crisis resulted by the ongoing blockade of Nagorno Karabakh by Azerbaijan, specifically referring to the severe consequences for the 30,000 children living there. In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the organization's more active involvement in Nagorno-Karabakh in order to protect the rights of all children in accordance with its mandate and mission and to provide special protection for children in the most vulnerable situations.

Christine Weigand highly appreciated the effective cooperation with the Armenian government aimed at strengthening children's rights, expressing confidence in its continuation in accordance with the priorities of bilateral cooperation.