14:31,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by French Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, who arrived on an official visit to the Republic of Armenia.

According to the readout issued by the PM's office, welcoming the delegation led by the Minister of the Armed Forces, the Prime Minister noted. "Dear Minister, I welcome you and your delegation to the Republic of Armenia. This is the first visit of you and, in general, the Minister of the Armed Forces of France to the Republic of Armenia, and it is already historic by this fact.

I want to thank you for your support in forming our bilateral agenda and implementing that agenda. I must emphasize that, of course, the changes taking place in our security situation and cooperation are logical and justified. Of course, by thanking you, I should also consider it logical that France is one of the first countries to respond to our decision to diversify our relations in the field of security, because as we had the opportunity to discuss in Paris two days ago, our relations are very deep and multi-layered, and it is logical that these relations must be expressed also in the field of defense and security. I also want to emphasize that the security component has always been present in our discussions with President Macron, and now I am glad that these discussions are getting a concrete _expression_, including with your support."

In his turn, Sébastien Lecornu noted. "Thank you for these words and reception. You thrilled the French people with your presence at the Pantheon. It can be said that this was a very unique week for our two republics. As I told the media representatives with whom I just met, there was indeed a certain gap: on the one hand, the warm friendly relations that we had, and the defense sector, which was not yet fully realized.

I think that your personal relationship with the French president also plays a big role in this progress. I think it's based on trust, and let me say, our mutual trust as well. I think that our teams have mapped out a very specific path for us together with your Defense Ministry. And taking into account the threats that hang over Armenia's head, we are forced to move forward faster. That is, it is very important for us to react quickly and arrange the steps.

A lot was already underway, but thanks to the bilateral relations and the meeting you had with President Macron, it allowed us to move forward this morning in the same directions you had indicated together in Paris."

According to the source, the interlocutors discussed the works carried out in the direction of defense cooperation and upcoming plans.

The parties emphasized Armenia-France cooperation within the framework of the reforms of the Armenian Armed Forces, including military education, combat training and other directions.

The sides exchanged thoughts on issues related to regional security and stability.

 16:26,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. On February 23, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan and the French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of the victims, the defense ministry said.

The Ministers laid a wreath at the memorial and flowers at the Eternal Flame in memory of the innocent martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

 20:01,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The official visit of French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s to the Republic of Armenia has concluded, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan said on social media.

“ I bid farewell to my colleague at the airport,’’ wrote Papikyan.

 13:56,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia is planning to contact Armenia after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Yerevan had frozen its participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) because the pact had failed the country.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Zvezda television channel on Friday that Moscow needed more details from Armenia, Reuters reported.

"The Armenian side has not taken any official action in this regard," he said, referring to the purported freezing of its CSTO participation.

"We intend to get in touch with our colleagues and clarify the meaning of these statements," Reuters quoted Peskov as saying.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in an interview with France 24 television, stated that the CSTO did not fulfill its security obligations towards Armenia, particularly in 2021 and 2022. He emphasized that could not go without consequences. Consequently, Yerevan has essentially frozen its participation in the CSTO in practice.

 18:48,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Russia expects comprehensive clarification from Armenia through bilateral channels regarding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements about freezing Yerevan's participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

"We expect comprehensive clarification through bilateral channels regarding Nikol Pashinyan's statements concerning the freezing of Armenia's participation in the Collective Security Treaty and the organization itself," the Russian Foreign Ministry  has said.

 15:14,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS.  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in an interview with France 24, stated that the reforms in the Armenian army should concern nobody.

"Azerbaijan raises uproar every time in case of our new cooperation in the military-technical field, but does not say about its billions of dollars worth of arms purchases; this is an important fact.

Why is Azerbaijan concerned about the reforms of the Armenian army when it continues to occupy sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia, and when we propose, based on the Alma Ata Declaration, to delimit our borders and conduct a mirror-like withdrawal of troops? This would be a significant step toward mutual trust. The reforms in our army should not concern anyone," said the Prime Minister.

 16:18,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS.  The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has disseminated disinformation accusing Armenia of opening fire, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said.

“The statement issued by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that,  allegedly, on February 23 the units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of the Azerbaijani positions located in the eastern part of the border zone does not correspond to reality,’’ the ministry said.

 18:29,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Assembly delegation is taking part in the work of the Winter Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA).

According to the readout issued by National Assembly press service, the Head of the Armenian National Assembly delegation, the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan delivered a speech in the Assembly.

“Mr. Chair,

You presented your vision for the draft report of this committee. Of course, we will have time and opportunity before our annual session in Bucharest to contribute to this report and draft resolution, but I would like to emphasize the importance of inclusion in the text of the principles for the settlement of the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Those principles are the following:

1.Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to recognize each other’s territorial integrity based on the 1991 Almaty Declaration.

2.Two countries have agreed to conduct the delimitation process between the two countries on the political basis of the 1991 Almaty Declaration.

3.Two countries have agreed to unblock transport and economic links based on respect for the sovereignty and jurisdiction of either country, on the basis of reciprocity and equality.

The above-mentioned principles have been agreed and reconfirmed between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Prague in 2022, in Brussels last year, and in Munich a few days ago. After those meetings Armenia in the highest level reconfirmed its commitments to those fundamental points for the normalization of relations as soon as possible. It is very important, dear colleagues, to continue to call Azerbaijan to strongly adhere to these principles and to engage in the peace process based on these understandings without further delays and demands including territorial claims towards Armenia.

The adherence to the principles of Almaty declaration has a paramount importance for this process. 12 Soviet republics by joining this declaration and becoming sovereign states, recognized each other's territorial integrity, inviolability of borders and sovereignty. And thus, with the Almaty declaration, the existing administrative borders between the Soviet republics became state borders.

This principle is not only actual for the context of the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but it also fundamental for the respect of the other post-Soviet republics’ territorial integrity including Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova,” Sargis Khandanyan said.

 17:37,

YEREVAN, 23 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 23 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 404.35 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.30 drams to  437.67 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate hasn’t changed and comprises 4.35 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.18 drams to 512.47 drams.

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

Gold price down by 36.40 drams to 26312.31  drams. Silver price down by 0.08 drams to 299.91 drams.

 19:32,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Pashinyan held a phone conversation with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, the PM's Office said.

The Prime Minister of Armenia once again congratulated his Georgian counterpart on the occasion of assuming the high position and wished him success.

The interlocutors attached importance to the further development and deepening of bilateral relations and expressed readiness to cooperate closely in this direction.

Prime Minister Pashinyan invited Prime Minister Kobakhidze to pay an official visit to the Republic of Armenia. The Prime Minister of Georgia accepted the invitation.