13:46,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense has again falsely accused the Armenian Armed Forces of opening fire across the border, the Ministry of Defense warned Monday.

“The statement disseminated by the MoD of Azerbaijan that allegedly on August 21, between 10:25 a.m and 10:30 a.m., the units of the Armenian Armed Forces fired against the Azerbaijani combat outposts located in the eastern part of the border, does not correspond to reality,” the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Facebook.

 14:44,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. For the first time in over two months, Russian peacekeepers have facilitated the transfer of over 40 people, citizens of Russia and Nagorno-Karabakh, from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

The Center for Cooperation with the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Government said that 41 citizens of Russia and Nagorno-Karabakh were transported from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia on August 21 – the first such transfer since June 14.

“The Russian citizens were waiting for their transportation for a long time, while the citizens of Artsakh are students who have enrolled in universities in Armenia and abroad. According to a preliminary agreement reached with the peacekeepers, the transport of students and Russian citizens will continue in the coming days. Nevertheless, the Azerbaijani side continues to obstruct the movement of many persons in two directions. At this moment, hundreds of citizens are waiting in Armenia for their return to Artsakh, 333 people with conditions requiring urgent and planned intervention are on an ICRC waiting list for their transfer to Armenia, in addition to the thousands of people who require two-way movement for humanitarian, working and other purposes,” the Center for Cooperation with the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent of the Nagorno-Karabakh Government said in a statement, warning that Azerbaijan continues to create humiliating conditions in the illegal checkpoint at Hakari Bridge, in addition to the unlawful control and obstacles against Nagorno-Karabakh residents. “In particular, against the persons’ will, the Azerbaijanis and their invited journalists have again filmed the persons’ faces and used it for propaganda. Besides, the Azerbaijani side did not allow the Russian peacekeeping contingent’s vehicles to pass across Hakari Bridge and forced the passengers to carry their baggage and walk across the bridge,” it added. The passengers then continued to their destination on vehicles that approached from Goris. A video of the transfer has been released as evidence.

“The passage of the citizens through the illegal Azeri checkpoint doesn’t anyhow change the position of the government of the Republic of Artsakh regarding that checkpoint on Lachin Corridor and the remaining Azerbaijani obstructions. The government of the Republic of Artsakh continues to insist that unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and goods must be completely restored in both directions along Lachin Corridor without any Azeri interference, in accordance with the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement and the International Court of Justice 22 February 2023 and 6 July rulings,” the center added.

All humanitarian shipments into Nagorno-Karabakh have been banned by Azerbaijan since June 15.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to 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. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

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.

An Armenian humanitarian convoy carrying 400 tons of emergency aid is blocked by Azerbaijan at the entrance of Lachin Corridor.

 15:09,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Foreign Ministry has released details about the upcoming visit of Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions Hadja Lahbib.

“On August 22, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions of the Kingdom of Belgium Hadja Lahbib will pay an official visit to Armenia. The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Belgium will take place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, and it will be followed by a joint press conference. In the framework of the visit the Foreign Minister of Belgium will also have meetings with the Prime Minister and the President of the National Assembly of Armenia,” foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in a statement on social media.

 15:51,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan will host the Armenian-Korean Economic Cooperation Conference on 14 September to promote and expand economic ties between Armenia and South Korea, the Ministry of Economy announced Monday.

The event is organized jointly by the Armenian Ministry of Economy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

Registration for participation is open online.

 16:01,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. The first Armenian cross-stone (khachkar) in Finland was consecrated and inaugurated on August 19 in Espoo, the second most populous city of the country, as a sign of Armenian-Finnish friendship. The monument is located in the yard of St. Herman Church.

The cross-stone is a replica of one of the many historic cross-stones in Old Jugha which were infamously destroyed by Azerbaijani authorities.

Grigori Yeghiazaryan, the Vice President of the Armenian community in Finland, told ARMENPRESS that the inauguration of the cross-stone is of great significance for the entire community. “From now on the cross-stone will become a monument uniting the community, and also connecting us with Armenia,” he said.

 16:21,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. A 35-year-old man from Martakert region in Nagorno-Karabakh has gone missing, local police said Monday.

He was last seen on August 19.

According to police, the man (pictured above) left his home around 17:00 on August 19 in the town of Martakert to search for his livestock and hasn’t returned since. He was wearing a blue shirt, black jeans trousers and sneakers.

 17:30,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia continues its activities in the UN and other platforms, foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in response to media inquiries on the UNSC emergency meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh and possible subsequent developments.

She said that the international community, the members of the UN Security Council interested in real, lasting stability in the region must take clear steps, unite efforts in order to lead the developed understanding regarding the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor and the immediate resolution of the problem with effective use of existing mechanisms.

Question: On August 16, an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council was held regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The countries expressed their positions, but it was not reflected in any document. Why was there no decision made, no document adopted? Did Armenia present such a document?

Answer: As we have already noted, we highly appreciate the principled positions voiced so far by our partners, international bodies during this and the previous meeting of the UN Security Council held in December, as well as on other international platforms, which are in line with the primary mandate of the UN Security Council of maintenance of international security and peace, the universal values of human rights protection and, perhaps what is the most urgent at the moment, the understanding of the need to prevent Azerbaijan’s aggressive actions and a new humanitarian catastrophe in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Procedurally, the format of the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is a discussion, it does not directly imply adoption of a document (resolution or statement). In addition, the 15 (permanent and non-permanent) members of the UN Security Council have the right to submit and initiate voting of draft resolutions of the UN Security Council. Not being a member of the UN Security Council, Armenia does not have such authority.

The discussion in the format of the UN Security Council provides an important platform, an opportunity to focus the attention of the international community on the possible catastrophic consequences of the situation, to activate the Council’s efforts to address it and to foster their possible coordination and to outline the further steps.

Question: Is that the end of the process?

Answer: By no means. This is an ongoing process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia continues its activities in the UN and other platforms. Today, the international community, the members of the UN Security Council interested in real, lasting stability in the region must take clear steps, unite efforts in order to lead the developed understanding regarding the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor and the immediate resolution of the problem with effective use of existing mechanisms.

Question: Why was the emergency meeting of August 16 convened under the title “The letter of September 13 of the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN addressed to the President of the UN Security Council”? Why wasn’t a new letter or application sent by Armenia?

Answer: After Armenia’s request to the UN Security Council after Azerbaijan’s aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia in September 2022, a relevant agenda point of the UN Security Council was formed under the title you indicated. This is an accepted practice in the UN Security Council and has a very simple technical justification – not to burden the Security Council agenda with different formulations of the same or very similar issues.

I would like to emphasise that, in the letter of September 13th, Armenia brought to the attention of the UN Security Council the letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs which indicated Azerbaijan’s armed attack and the ongoing aggressive actions against both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh highlighting that they threaten international peace and security.

Later, starting from December 2022, discussions regarding the blockade of the Lachin corridor and the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh took place with reference to the mentioned letter and under the relevant agenda point.

It is noteworthy that ahead of the both meetings in December 2022 and in August this year, Armenia presented concrete requests, letters to the attention of the members of the UN Security Council aimed at raising the issue of the blockade of the Lachin corridor. In addition, several dozen letters were distributed addressing the blockade and the humanitarian crisis both in the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and other international platforms.

 17:43,

YEREVAN, 21 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 21 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.25 drams to 385.88 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.04 drams to 420.53 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 4.10 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.65 drams to 491.65 drams.

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

Gold price down by 48.12 drams to 23493.86 drams. Silver price up by 0.87 drams to 282.74 drams.

 19:15,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter will travel August 21-28 to Yerevan, Amman, and Cairo, the U.S. State Department announced Monday.  

“During her trip, the Assistant Secretary will observe U.S. consular operations and meet with foreign government counterparts to underscore our deep and sustained commitment to the protection of U.S. citizens overseas and the facilitation of legitimate travel to the United States,” the U.S. State Department added in a statement.

 09:56,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has visited servicemembers of the National Security Service Border Guard in an outpost in Kapan, Syunik Province.

The Prime Minister arrived in Syunik on Thursday on board the Let L-410 Turbolet twin-engine aircraft which will be used for the regular Yerevan-Kapan passenger flights starting next week.