14:00, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian military has said it’s taking countermeasures against the ongoing unprovoked Azerbaijani shelling on the border.

As of 13:50, the Azeri military were still shelling Armenian border outposts near the villages of Sotk and Norabak. The Azeri forces are using small arms and mortars in the attack.

“The units of the Armed Forces of Armenia are taking the necessary defensive measures,” the defense ministry added.

The defense ministry earlier said that two Armenian soldiers were killed in the Azeri shooting on Friday morning.

 14:25, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The intensity of the Azerbaijani gunfire targeting Armenia’s border outposts has decreased, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said Friday afternoon.

“As of 2:15 p.m., the intensity of Azerbaijani AF fire toward the Armenian combat outposts in the vicinities of Sotk and Norabak has decreased. The Ministry of Defence will make an additional report on any development of the situation,” the defense ministry said on Facebook.

Armenian border outposts in the Gegharkunik Province came under intense Azeri gunfire Friday morning.

As of 11:14, the death toll in the Armenian military stood at 2. Another soldier was wounded.

 15:14, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The UK Ambassador to Armenia John Gallagher hosted a farewell reception for departing Chevening Scholars who have been selected for Master’s degree scholarships at UK universities in 2023-2024, the UK Embassy said in a press release.

Members of the wider Chevening alumni family joined the event to congratulate the newcomers and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Chevening.

The Ambassador also presented certificates to the four successful Scholars. He said:

“For 40 years, Chevening has been building a global network of over 55000 Alumni who are creating positive change in their communities and for the world. An impressive bunch of around 200 Armenians grace this huge Chevening family.”

“Today, I congratulate these amazing four people who have joined them and will be studying at UK’s best universities through Chevening Scholarships. I wish them good luck for this new chapter and hope they will invest their UK experience and knowledge in the development of Armenia.”

Chevening Scholarships are the UK Government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scholarships support Master’s degrees studies at UK universities for individuals with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers.

As of today, there are around 200 Chevening alumni in Armenia, among them senior government officials and staff, members of parliament, influential civil society representatives and opinion makers, media professionals, staff of international agencies, and businesses.

Applications for 2024/2025 Chevening Scholarships will be open between 12 September and 7 November 2023.

 15:23, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Pashinyan Administration has sent the Rome Statute to parliament for ratification, the Prime Minister’s Office said Friday.

The Armenian government re-launched the process of ratifying the Rome Statute in December 2022.

Then, the Pashinyan Administration explained that it seeks to join the Rome Statute because it would allow to hold the government of Azerbaijan to account.

The Constitutional Court of Armenia on March 24 ruled that the Rome Statute – the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC) – complies with the Constitution of Armenia.

 15:31, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Raffi Hamparian has called upon U.S. Senators to place a hold on all nominations to the State Department, blocking any new confirmations until President Biden takes decisive action to break Azerbaijan’s 260+ day blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The ANCA’s call is backed up by a nationwide advocacy campaign, empowering Armenian and allied Americans from all fifty states to send letters urging their Senators to take this principled stand – in accord with U.S. interests and American values. The action portal is www.anca.org/hold.

The ANCA is asking that a hold on U.S. diplomatic nominees remain in place until the Biden Administration has undertaken demonstrable steps to:

– Lead a United Nations Security Council Resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh, sanctioning the Aliyev regime, and putting in place mechanisms to open land transit via the Lachin Corridor and to airlift supplies to Artsakh.

– Stop any new, current, or pending U.S. military or security assistance to Azerbaijan, and fully enforce Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.

– Deliver emergency U.S. humanitarian assistance and longer term development aid to the Armenian victims of Azerbaijani aggression in Nagorno Karabakh, including by means of a humanitarian airlift;

– Enforce statutory sanctions against Azerbaijani officials responsible for the genocidal blockade of Nagorno Karabakh.

 16:14, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The death toll in the Armenian military in the unprovoked Azerbaijani attack has reached 4, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement Friday.

1 soldier is wounded.

Armenian border outposts in the Gegharkunik Province came under heavy Azeri cross-border gunfire Friday morning.  In addition to firing small arms, the Azerbaijani military deployed UAVs and mortars in the shelling.

 16:37, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The EU strongly believes the Lachin corridor must be unblocked, the spokesperson of Charles Michel, President of the European Council, said in a statement on September 1.

The current humanitarian situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly and it is imperative to take steps to address the needs of the local population, Michel’s spokesperson Ecaterina Casinge said in the statement.

Below is the full statement.

“President Michel has continued to be intensely engaged in advancing the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process. His efforts over the past weeks, supported by Toivo Klaar, EUSR for the South Caucasus, have focused as a priority on addressing the humanitarian situation of Karabakh Armenians.

EUSR Klaar and President Michel’s team have been in frequent contact with Baku, Yerevan and representatives of Karabakh Armenians to work out a solution for unblocking access.

The current humanitarian situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly; it is imperative to take steps to address the needs of the local population.

European Council President Charles Michel has proposed a step-by-step approach which would reflect a sequencing in the full-fledged operation of the Lachin corridor and the opening of the Ağdam route.

Sequencing of these steps and the type of cargo that would be delivered by each of these roads, as well as attendant procedures, have been the core of the recent discussions.

The EU strongly believes the Lachin corridor must be unblocked, in line with past agreements and the ICJ Order, and notes that the use of the Ağdam road to provide supplies can also be part of a concrete and sustainable solution to the provision of urgent and daily basic needs. Discussions on these elements had started following the last meeting of the leaders in Brussels on 15 July 2023.

The EU side has also stressed the need for Baku to provide clarity to Karabakh Armenians in terms of procedures for their movements through Lachin corridor to and from Armenia.

In parallel, exchanges have also focused on restoring electricity and gas supplies to Karabakh Armenians as soon as possible.

Beyond the immediate situation, the EU side has stressed the need to address legacies of the conflict to facilitate a long-term sustainable resolution.

Dialogue between Baku and representatives of Armenians living in the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast will be essential in this regard. The rights and security of Karabakh Armenians must be guaranteed and discussions on specific modalities should start as soon as possible.

The dialogue between Baku and the Karabakh Armenians needs to strengthen confidence and trust. To this end the EU has provided various suggestions for international support to this process, as well as for engagement on the ground to underpin the implementation of agreements reached.

All the above efforts have only one goal: ensure irreversible normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan for the benefit of all populations on the ground. It is now time for courageous compromise solutions, also in light of today’s escalation.

The EU has been engaged with other international actors in these efforts, through regular personal contacts and exchanges of views on how best address the current unsustainable situation.”

 16:44, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Ucom is set to embark on a comprehensive modernization of its mobile network, commencing from September 4th to 10th in the Kentron administrative district of Yerevan, with partial inclusion of the Arabkir administrative district.

“We wish to provide our valued subscribers with advance notice that this marks just the initial phase. The project will be executed in stages, with the ultimate goal of providing a smoother and more contemporary mobile experience on Ucom’s already modernized network by the end of the year. In the interim, we kindly ask for your patience, as such improvements may entail potential fluctuations in connection quality, temporary reductions in network coverage, and intermittent service interruptions,” explained Ralph Yirikian, Director General of Ucom.

Ucom is committed to providing advance notice regarding any ongoing work within the administrative districts of Yerevan. The company extends its apologies to its subscribers in advance for any potential inconvenience while assuring them of a high-speed mobile connection by year-end.

 17:26, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, 1 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 1 September, USD exchange rate up by 0.12 drams to 385.90 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.95 drams to 418.43 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 4.00 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.12 drams to 489.13 drams.

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

Gold price down by 57.62 drams to 24098.06 drams. Silver price down by 0.95 drams to 304.41 drams.

 17:37, 1 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned Azerbaijan’s military aggression targeting Armenian border positions in Gegharkunik province and warned that Baku’s actions could seriously disrupt the efforts aimed at establishing stability and lasting peace in the region.

In a statement released Friday, the Armenian foreign ministry called on the international community to restrain Azerbaijan’s growing maximalist behavior.

Below is the full statement issued by the foreign ministry.

“On September 1, the armed forces of Azerbaijan opened fire on the positions of the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia located in the area of Sotk and Norabak in the Gegharkunik region, which resulted in casualties of 4 killed and 1 wounded. Azerbaijan’s armed forces also used mortars and UAVs,

“During this period, the Republic of Armenia has repeatedly signaled that Azerbaijan, aiming at carrying out pre-planned military actions, deliberately and systematically is spreading disinformation. 

“The encroachments against the territorial integrity of Armenia, combined with the statements and bellicose rhetoric regularly made by the Azerbaijani side on various levels as well as channeled through various state media, are the continuation of Baku’s aggressive policy aimed at settling existing problems and imposing its own will through the use of force and the threat of use of force.

“Under the conditions of targeted calls and growing pressure to lift the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, Azerbaijan’s provocation is also aimed at diverting the attention of the international community and avoiding the fulfillment of its obligations.

“We strongly condemn this kind of aggressive behavior of Azerbaijan, which is accompanied by the factual siege of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh through the 8-month-long illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, and can seriously disrupt the efforts aimed at establishing stability and lasting peace in the region. The Republic of Armenia reaffirms its principled position that all units of Azerbaijan’s armed forces must be withdrawn from the sovereign territory of Armenia.

“We call on the international community and the actors interested in real stability in the region to restrain Azerbaijan’s daily increasing maximalist behavior through the existing mechanisms and active and clear steps in order to prevent further escalation of the situation and to bring Azerbaijan to a constructive track.”