12:56,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS.  Armenia, as a landlocked developing country that has had its western and eastern borders under land blockade for the past three decades, is interested in the opening of communications in the region in accordance with international norms and full respect for the sovereignty of countries.

 Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries being held in Yerevan.

 In his speech, Mirzoyan referred to the Crossroads of Peace project initiated by the Government of the Republic of Armenia aimed at connecting the North and the South, the East and the West, and strengthening the ties between people, thus contributing to the dialogue and the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

Mirzoyan emphasized that the Armenian Government is ready to continue efforts to restore regional communications and build new ones. In this regard, he noted the importance of the North-South project, which is a high priority strategic plan for Armenia.

"It will ensure not only a good connection between the northern and southern regions of Armenia, but also between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea, becoming an important transit route between Western Asia and Eastern Europe.

The Foreign Minister stressed the readiness of Armenia to restore the Gyumri-Kars, Hrazdan-Kapan, Nrnadzor-Agarak, and Yeraskh-Nakhichevan border railways.

“The Crossroads of Peace” is not a competitor to other logistics projects, but is meant to complement them,” Mirzoyan concluded.

 13:41,

 15:06,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has approved the regulations on the work and meetings of the Azerbaijani and Armenian commissions on the delimitation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

 The corresponding resolution of the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov has been published on the website of the country's government, which reads as follows:

“To approve the regulations on the organization and holding of meetings and joint working meetings between the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and the Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border and Border Security between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.”

 15:31,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Kristina Quinn, the Prime Minister's Office said in a readout.

According to the source, the Prime Minister emphasized with satisfaction the dynamic nature of Armenian-American relations and noted that active bilateral dialogue contributes to the consistent development of interaction. Nikol Pashinyan highly appreciated the US efforts in the process of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, attaching imortance to its continuity.

During the meeting, issues related to the Armenian-American cooperation agenda, as well as other issues of mutual interest were discussed.

 16:17,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. In his address at the Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries held in Yerevan, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Lasha Darsalia said that the Armenian government's vision and initiatives related to the development of the Caucasus region are very valuable.

Darsalia noted that Georgia supports its good friend and partner, Armenia, lauding Armenian government’s efforts, which are important for the entire region.

"We are waiting for an important decision, according to which, we hope, Georgia will receive EU candidate status. The Foreign Minister of Georgia is on an important working visit to Europe, therefore, he instructed me to attend this meeting. Georgia is definitely in favor of regional cooperation,” said Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Lasha Darsalia said.

“The Armenian Government also has many important initiatives. The South Caucasus is becoming an increasingly important region from the perspective of communications and the Middle Corridor. In this context, the approaches of the Armenian government are important,’’ Darsalia said, adding that Armenia can expect Georgia’s support in this regard.

 16:25,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Botswana  have established diplomatic relations.

On 14 December, in Yerevan the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Botswana Lemogang Kwape signed a statement on establishing diplomatic relations.

"Indeed, we are opening a new chapter in our relations. We hope that, through our further work based on the shared values, we will enhance cooperation in various fields, ranging from agriculture to science, education, and also collaboration on international platforms," said Ararat Mirzoyan.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Botswana Lemogang Kwape  also expressed hope for cooperation in various fields.

“I hope that new doors will be opened not only for our countries, but also for peoples. We share democratic and development values. And today's meeting proves it. As a result of the establishment of diplomatic relations, I expect that our peoples will move forward hand in hand," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana.

Speaking about areas of cooperation, Lemogang Kwape noted that there was also discussion about diamonds.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana assured that their team is ready for further cooperation.

 16:55,

Ralph Yirikian, Director General of Ucom, and Sona Kalantaryan, Director of SunChild (Arevordi) NGO, visited Rind settlement of Areni community in Vayots Dzor province today. A 10.3 kW solar plant was installed in the local kindergarten, enabling the kindergarten building to be heated with electricity obtained from the sun's rays.

"Ucom, as a national communications operator, supports the development of the green economy in Armenia, and this initiative is one of its shining examples. These solar plants will provide warmth for our children for the next 20-25 years and, most importantly, will not harm nature because the solar plant is absolutely harmless. This is also an important mission in terms of spreading eco-education. We will always help promote the green concept," said Ralph Yirikian, Director General of Ucom.

This cooperation became a reality in 2023 within the framework of the memorandum of cooperation concluded in August by Ucom and SunChild non-governmental organization for nature and culture preservation. According to the memorandum of cooperation, the support was initially intended for other activities but due to the forced displacement of Artsakh residents and resettlement in different settlements of Armenia, this support was redirected to infrastructure development.

"The protection of nature and cultural monuments and the promotion of eco-culture is important for us. With our activities, we contribute to the development of the eco-movement in order to be able to preserve native nature. Ucom is one of our important advocates on this path, whose support greatly helps to implement more large-scale projects," said Sona Kalantaryan, director of SunChild NGO.

During the visit, the leaders of the two organizations toured the kindergarten building and familiarized themselves with the conditions.

***

Ucom provides the fastest fixed and mobile communication services in Armenia. It is the absolute leader in providing IPTV and fixed Internet services and occupies leading positions in the Armenian mobile Internet market. With modernized 4G+ and its own fiber optic networks meeting the best international standards, Ucom provides a complete set of fixed and mobile communication services to more than 700,000 subscribers.

***

Established in 2006, The SunChild NGO is a non-profit organization renowned for and dedicated to environmental education, awareness raising, and behavior change projects.  SunChild NGO has successfully organized a range of high-profile events, including the SunChild International Environmental Festival, that have attracted significant media attention and public participation, as well as the SunChild EcoClub Network, allowing thousands of young people to obtain environmental knowledge.

 17:04,

YEREVAN, 14 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 14 December, USD exchange rate up by 0.46 drams to 404.58 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 6.04 drams to 441.56 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 4.51 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 6.40 drams to 512.20 drams.

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

Gold price up by 50.75 drams to 25787.46 drams. Silver price down by 2.65 drams to 295.60 drams.

 17:20,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the absence of the Armenian authorities from the events of a number of integration unions.

“I do not think that it is in Armenia's interest to somehow stop membership in the CIS, EAEU, and CSTO. Finally, it is the choice of the country,” Russia’s Putin said.

As for the absence of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the general events, Putin noted that it is conditioned by certain processes taking place in Armenia, and is not related to the desire or unwillingness to continue the work in those integration associations.

 18:06,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The official visit of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan to the Hellenic Republic commenced on December 14 with a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of the Unknown Soldier in front of the country's Parliament, the Ministry of Defense said. 

Afterwards a dignified welcoming ceremony took place at the Hellenic Republic Ministry of National Defence, featuring the participation of an honor guard and a military band,

Subsequent to the ceremony, a formal meeting between the Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan and  the Minister of National Defense of the Hellenic Republic, Nikolaos Dendias took place. The issues related to the Armenian-Greek defense cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

At the meeting the considerable potential for cooperative development  was emphasized and, consequently, an agreement  was reached to invigorate the cooperation across various dimensions, encompassing military-technical engagements, experience exchange, educational initiatives, training programs, tactical training, and other directions.

At the culmination of the meeting, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and the Minister of National Defense of the Hellenic Republic signed an Agreement "On Military-Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hellenic Republic".

Afterwards, the ministers issued a joint statement to the press.