12:22, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. The World Council of Churches (WCC) and Conference of European Churches (CEC) have sent an open letter to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, expressing deep concern about the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). 

The WCC and the CEC urge the European Union and the whole international community to step up immediately their efforts and act without delay to bring the blockade to an end in order to save the lives of the Artsakh residents and to restore and respect their fundamental rights and freedoms.

Below is the full letter:

“We at the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Conference of European Churches (CEC) are deeply concerned about the current situation in Nagorno – Karabagh. The plight of Armenian citizens, call on us all to exert in our relevant spheres of responsibilities the maximum effort at persuading Azerbaijan to respect the orders of the International Court of Justice to immediately lift the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by reopening the Lachin Corridor. The humanitarian crisis in the blockaded enclave of Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh) is escalating into tragic levels of experiences with the prolonged deprivations and sufferings of civilians. We are, thus, prompted to stress the urgency of finding solutions to the ongoing crisis. We reiterate our previous statements and positions on the need for urgent and immediate action by the international community. The Lachin corridor is the only road that links the region to Armenia and it has been blocked for more than seven months, seriously affecting the lives and living conditions of 120,000 people, including children. They are lacking food, medication, electricity, and fuel supply. Their fundamental human rights are increasing violated on a daily basis. We have urged Azerbaijan and other actors to be involved in the process of establishing stability to put new efforts into the immediate lifting of the blockade by reopening the Lachin corridor to enable the free and safe passage of civilians, unimpeded transport, and H.E. Josep Borrell Fontelles High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy European Union Geneva and Brussels flow of goods along it to guarantee the accessibility of humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Armenian population of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). The ever-tightening blockade continues to put the people of Nagorno Karabakh into seriously deteriorating circumstances. It prevents furthering the progress toward settlement of outstanding issues between Azerbaijan and Armenia from their November 9, 2020, agreement as well facing in full the legal, political and ethical consequences of the atrocious 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The WCC and the CEC urges the European Union and the whole international community to step up immediately their efforts and act without delay to bring the blockade to an end in order to save the lives of the Artsakh residents and to restore and respect their fundamental rights and freedoms. In this regard, we believe that a step in the direction to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan through the sustained dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert/Khankendi is most necessary. We reiterate our firm conviction that lasting peace could be built only on the genuine commitment of all interested parties in negotiations who take seriously the full observance of all human rights and the fundamental freedom of all people based on mutual trust and respect. We continue to hope and pray for the ending of this blockade so that peace, harmony and justice may prevail.”

 12:41, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. Retired Armenian-German professional boxer Arthur Abraham has called for the opening of the Lachin Corridor, stressing that 120.000 people are fighting for survival.

In a video message shared on YouTube, the former IBF middleweight and WBO super-middleweight world champion said, “Since December 12, 2022, a severe humanitarian crisis has been created in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor.

The Lachin Corridor is the only road of life connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia and the whole world.

120.000 innocent civilians are struggling to survive in the absence of food, medicine and other vital supplies.

30.000 children, 20.000 elderly, 9.000 people with disabilities and 2.000 pregnant women are calling for help, but the world is silent.

The harsh reality of starving people is a humanitarian disaster that calls for immediate action.

I call on the United Nations and the civilized world to intervene. Open The Lachin Corridor.

Sincerely,

Arthur Abraham.”

[see video]

 12:50, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian foreign ministry has called for clear steps to implement all international decisions and calls regarding Nagorno-Karabakh.

“On June, PACE adopted [resolution] on the blockade of Lachin Corridor based on Paul Gavan’s report. Paul Gavan on August 4: “What we are witnessing now is deliberate attempt to ethnically cleanse Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh”. Now clear steps needed to implement all international calls and decisions,” Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan tweeted.

On August 4, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) member Paul Gavan (Ireland) warned that Azerbaijan seeks to ethnically cleanse the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh with the blockade.

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.

 13:58, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. Member of the European Parliament Costas Mavrides (Cyprus) has accused Azerbaijan of committing a war crime in Nagorno-Karabakh by blocking the Lachin Corridor and called on the international community to impose sanctions against Baku.

Asked on the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, MEP Mavrides told ARMENPRESS Brussels correspondent Lilit Gasparyan that the blockade of the Lachin Corridor since last December is a humanitarian emergency and a blatant violation of international law by Azerbaijan.

He added that the blockade constitutes a war crime under international law.

“The current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with the blockage of the Lachin Corridor since last December is a humanitarian emergency and a blatant violation of the international law by Azerbaijan. 120,000 native Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh including 30.000 children, with no medicines, no food, were blockaded by the Azerbaijanis. Following that, we had the binding International Court of Justice order that requires Azerbaijan to take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons. And what has Azerbaijan done since then? Nothing. The complete and arbitrary blockade of the Lachin Corridor, in particular the obstruction of the delivery of humanitarian cargos for the basic needs of the people of Nagorno Karabakh under siege, is considered a war crime under international law,” the MEP said.

Mavrides recalled his recent questions to EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

“In the relevant debate last month, in June, with the HR/VP Joseph Borrell, during the plenary session of the European Parliament, I posed to him the following questions: “With all the understanding, do you consider today Azerbaijan as a reliable partner? Second question, which is very specific: Based on the facts, is Azerbaijan committing a crime like ethnic cleansing, yes or no? And do you consider the response of the EU so far as proportionate to “the crime in the making?” European Parliament has a strong position on this, urging Azerbaijan to respect the relevant decisions and immediately reopen the Lachin corridor. Though decisions on the foreign policy and sanctions are taken on the European Council level where the Heads of State and Government participate and the High Representative can have an important political role,” MEP Costas Mavrides added.

The Member of the European Parliament described the EU monitoring mission in Armenia (EUMA) as “an important step for political and practical reasons,” and called on the international community and the EU to take drastic measures such as imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan.

“The EU decision to launch an EU civilian mission in Armenia has been also an important step for political and practical reasons. Considering that the situation on the ground deteriorates with Azerbaijan to continue its policy of starvation in Nagorno Karabakh and to disrespect the international organisations’ decisions, it is time for the international community and EU to take more drastic measures, such as imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan,” Mavrides added.

 15:53, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. The delegation of Armenia participating in the CIS Games, led by the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Karen Giloyan, visited the joint photo exhibition of ARMENPRESS and BelTA in Minsk on Monday.

Giloyan told ARMENPRESS that he attaches great importance to such kind of exhibitions in terms of the development of relations between the two countries.

“I attach great importance to such exhibitions. It is important that the photographers of the news agencies conveyed what they saw with their own eyes. Hearing about something is one thing, seeing it with your own eyes and conveying it is another,” Giloyan said.

A joint photo exhibition of ARMENPRESS and BelTA, the Belarusian Telegraph Agency, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Belarus titled “Armenia Through the Lens of a Belarusian Photographer and Belarus Through the Lens of an Armenian Photographer” was opened in the National Museum of the History of Belarus in Minsk on June 29.

100 selected pictures at the exhibition present the culture, traditions and nature of the two countries.

 16:12, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN,  AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS/BTA. Scientists from the Institute of Geology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and Sofia University have discovered the remains of a variety of animals that inhabited Bulgarian lands over 83 million years ago. The paleontologists made the discoveries during the “Trun 2023” expedition of the of the National Museum of Natural History at BAS to the Late Cretaceous vertebrate fauna deposit near the southwestern town of Tran, the Museum announced on Monday. The scientists are currently reporting their first successful days of field work.

This year’s fieldwork on site near Trun will continue until August 11, the team said. Some of the most interesting finds made so far include two vertebrae from large reptiles, probably dinosaurs.

(This information is being published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA.)

 17:11, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan has held a phone call with the new Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian.

Grigoryan congratulated Ali Akbar Ahmadian on assuming office and wished him success in the responsible position for the benefit of the friendly people of Iran, Grigoryan’s office said in a readout.

Grigoryan and Ali Akbar Ahmadian also discussed Armenia-Iran economic cooperation, as well as issues concerning further partnership.

 17:23, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, 7 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 7 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.20 drams to 386.09 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.90 drams to 423.62 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.06 drams to 4.00 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.90 drams to 491.45 drams.

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

Gold price up by 71.96 drams to 24111.79 drams. Silver price down by 1.45 drams to 291.09 drams.

 17:42, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have visited Vagif Khachatryan, the 68-year-old Nagorno-Karabakh resident who was kidnapped by Azeri border guards during his ICRC-facilitated medical evacuation to Armenia on July 29.

“Our delegates again visited Vagif Khachatryan, who is arrested by Azerbaijan, on August 5 in Baku,” ICRC Armenia communications manager Zara Amatuni told ARMENPRESS, adding that Khachatryan has contacted his family through a letter. Citing confidentiality, Amatuni did not disclose other information.

 23:21, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. A group of UN experts today expressed alarm over the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, which has led to a dire humanitarian crisis in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The blockade, obstructing the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for the past seven months, has left the population facing acute shortages of food staples, medication, and hygiene products, impacted the functioning of medical and educational institutions, and placed the lives of the residents – especially children, persons with disabilities, older persons, pregnant women, and the sick – at significant risk.

“The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is a humanitarian emergency that has created severe shortages of essential food staples including sunflower oil, fish, chicken, dairy products, cereal, sugar and baby formula,” the experts said.

They warned that the region was rapidly depleting its medical reserves, and hospitals were struggling to provide care as the operation of ambulances has been hampered due to declining fuel supplies.

The experts urged authorities in Azerbaijan to immediately restore the free and secure movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo moving along the Lachin corridor in both directions, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement of November 2020.

They also called on Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region, to protect the corridor under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

“By lifting the blockade, the authorities can alleviate the suffering of thousands of people in Nagorno-Karabakh and allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population,” the experts said. “It is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals during this critical time,” they said.

“We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to uphold its international obligations to respect and protect human rights, including the right to food, health, education and life. We also emphasise the importance of cooperation and dialogue among all parties involved to find a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the experts said.

The experts: Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons; Gerard Quinn,