13:10, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Uruguay’s ruling party, the National Party, has adopted a declaration condemning Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and expressing solidarity with the people of Artsakh.

In the declaration, the National Party said that Azerbaijan is violating human rights and disregarding international documents, such as the 9 November 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement and the International Court of Justice ruling ordering it to lift the blockade.

National Party stressed the need to put an end to the constant encroachments against the Armenians of Artsakh in conditions of an ongoing genocidal policy by Azerbaijan.  “Neither can the international community allow this situation, nor can it remain indifferent.”

“Together with the Armenian community of Uruguay, we express full solidarity with the people of Artsakh in its struggle. We unequivocally condemn the blockade of Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, which poses a threat to the existence of 120,000 people. We call on the legislative and executive authorities of our country, as well as the international community, to demand Azerbaijan to respect public international law and humanitarian law, and end this extremely grave situation,” reads an excerpt from the declaration.

 13:18, 7 September 2023

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan has called on the UN and world leaders to display political will and prevent the genocide of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh perpetrated by Azerbaijan.

In an interview with the French Ouest-France newspaper, Ghazaryan said the total blockade by Azerbaijan has led to a humanitarian disaster in Nagorno-Karabakh.

He said that farmers are unable to carry out harvest because they don’t have any fuel due to the blockade. Moreover, the Azerbaijani military is targeting on a daily basis the farmers to “obstruct any kind of economic activity in Artsakh and further deepen the famine.”

“Our reserves are depleted. We have reserves of bread and flour left only for a few more days. The cause of every third death in Artsakh is now starvation and malnutrition. Imagine what could happen if this blockade doesn’t end. Urgent measures are required, or else it will be too late,” Ghazaryan warned.

He said that Azerbaijan is deliberately subjecting Artsakh to starvation.

“Leading international experts are describing the situation as genocide. Azerbaijan is using starvation as a method to destroy Armenians,” the Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Minister said.

Asked how the genocide could be prevented, Ghazaryan said that world leaders and the UN should display political will and act.

“World leaders and the United Nations must display political will. The international community has an obligation and the capacity to prevent genocides. The relevant international organizations are properly informed on the ongoing situation in Artsakh. They must issue an objective assessment to that. The UN Security Council can adopt a relevant resolution and call on Azerbaijan to end the blockade. International organizations must impose sanctions against those responsible for the blockade and send humanitarian aid by all possible ways, including airlift. We are calling on the free and civilized world to protect human rights the rights of nations. Let’s not waste time, because, after all, this is about genocide prevention,” FM Ghazaryan said.

 15:38, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces on Thursday violated the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, targeting farming equipment, the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said in a statement.

The Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Ministry of Defense said the Azeri forces opened fire around 12:20, September 7, at a combine harvester working in the fields of Sarushen village.

No one was hurt in the shooting.

The incident has been reported to the Russian peacekeepers.

 15:44, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani media have reported the release of the three Nagorno-Karabakh students who were kidnapped by Azeri border guards while traveling to Armenia through Lachin Corridor in late August. 

The three men were kidnapped and subsequently jailed on August 28. Azeri authorities had announced that the men would be jailed for 10 days for allegedly “dishonoring” the Azeri flag.

The kidnapping was condemned by the Armenian Foreign Ministry as a gross violation by Azerbaijan of the “Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, legally binding Orders of the UN International Court of Justice and open contempt for the unequivocal and targeted calls of the international community, including voiced by members of the UN Security Council.”

 17:56, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service on Thursday confirmed that Azerbaijan has released the three students who were kidnapped by Azerbaijani border guards.

The three men, Alen Sargsyan (born 2001), Levon Grigoryan (born 2003) and Vahe Hovsepyan (born 2003) were transferred by Azerbaijani authorities to Armenian Border Guards on September 7. The transfer took place at Hakari Bridge.

The three students were kidnapped and subsequently jailed on August 28 by Azeri border guards while traveling to Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh to continue their studies. Azeri authorities had announced that the men would be jailed for 10 days for allegedly “dishonoring” the Azeri flag.

The kidnapping was condemned by the Armenian Foreign Ministry as a gross violation by Azerbaijan of the “Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, legally binding Orders of the UN International Court of Justice and open contempt for the unequivocal and targeted calls of the international community, including voiced by members of the UN Security Council.”

 15:44, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. On September 7, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Saqr Ghobash, the President of the Federal National Council of the UAE.

The meeting took place during the Minister’s official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

During the meeting, issues on the expansion of political dialogue between Armenia and the UAE and bilateral relations in various fields were discussed, the foreign ministry said in a readout. 

Both parties noted the willingness to further develop the 25-year diplomatic relations between Armenia and the UAE and foster friendly ties between the two peoples, including through high-level visits and active participation in events organized by both countries.

The interlocutors also emphasized the role of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting the bilateral agenda. In this context, the importance of activating the work between the friendship groups operating in the two parliaments was stressed.

Touching upon the security situation in the South Caucasus, Minister Mirzoyan briefed the President of the Federal National Council of UAE on the vision of the Armenian side on the establishment of stability and lasting peace in the region and the existing challenges, especially since the 2020 war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of addressing the issues of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of an international mechanism.

Minister Mirzoyan thoroughly touched upon the humanitarian crisis that has been deteriorating as a result of Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor since December 2022 and the actual siege of 120,000 people of Nagorno-Karabakh since June this year. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the imperative of continuously addressing the issue by the international community, including the UN Security Council, which has primary responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security, as well as expressing a targeted position by all partners.

 16:05, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan on Thursday met with the Ambassador of France Olivier Decottignies to discuss the regional security, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“On September 7, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Armenia Olivier Decottignies. Issues related to regional security were discussed during the meeting.
The Ambassador was briefed by the Minister on the current situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” the ministry said.

 17:03, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament Sargis Khandanyan representing the ruling Civil Contract party has said that parliament ought to ratify the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Khandanyan, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that the Rome Statute has been sent to parliament and it must pass through discussions in the faction and the relevant committee within defined timeframes. “As of this moment, there are no reservations in the version sent to parliament. I believe that,indeed, it must be ratified,” Khandanyan told reporters.

He dismissed Moscow’s concerns and request to clarify the move.

“I don’t know what kind of questions they’ve asked Armenia and I don’t know whether or not they’ve already received the answers. Nonetheless, I reiterate that joining such treaties is the sovereign right of Armenia and there’s no need to make clarifications. If you read the Statute, you’d see it addressing a number of war crimes, such as the ones taking place during the Azerbaijani aggressions in the territory of Armenia during the past two years. Besides, the Statute addresses genocide as a crime, and I think that Armenia, as a country of descendants of genocide, is morally bound to join this mechanism,” Khandanyan said.

The Armenian government on September 1 sent the Rome Statute to parliament for ratification.

In 2022, the Pashinyan Administration explained that it seeks to join the Rome Statute because it would allow to hold the government of Azerbaijan to account for its aggressions against Armenia.

On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, after an investigation of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Ukraine.

The ICC arrest warrant for Putin accuses the Russian leader of unlawfully deporting thousands of Ukrainian children, a war crime.

This has been denied by the Russian government.

Countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute would have to enforce the arrest warrant once Putin travels into their territory.

 16:28, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The first Armenian indigenous CubeSat satellite will be sent into orbit in November.

The CubeSat, named Hayasat-1, is being developed by Bazoomq, a non-profit space research lab based in Yerevan, Armenia.

Bazoomq Space Research Lab’s mission is to establish and continuously develop capabilities and skills for cutting-edge space research, education and startups in and for Armenia.

Bazoomq Co-founder, board member & CTO Hayk Martirosyan told ARMENPRESS tech correspondent Karine Terteryan that Hayasat-1’s testing will be completed in September and the satellite will be launched into space on board the Space X Falcon 9 in late November.

Hayasat-1 is being developed jointly with the CSIE – Center for Scientific Innovation and Education. The satellite has educational purposes. “After the launch we will gain huge knowledge, experience that we can use in the future in sending more sophisticated satellites into space,” Martirosyan said.

Hayasat-1, weighing around a kilo, will orbit Earth every 90 minutes.

“Our objective is to pass through all the processes, the assembly, the testing, paperwork and cooperation with the agencies. In terms of application, the satellite won’t give us much, it doesn’t have optical or communication systems. We consider it to be an educational tool. In six months we’ll be able to say that the device made in Armenia passed testing in space and meets international standards. Then we can make any change we like with the satellite, and upgrade it to solve many tasks,” Martirosyan added.

 17:07, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, 7 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 7 September, USD exchange rate down by 0.15 drams to 385.68 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.43 drams to 412.95 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 3.92 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.70 drams to 480.44 drams.

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

Gold price down by 59.50 drams to 23833.23 drams. Silver price down by 0.98 drams to 291.09 drams.