16:04,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has received new proposals from Azerbaijan on a peace treaty, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has said.
“In response to our January 4 proposals, Azerbaijan has sent its variant, and we continue to work,” Grigoryan said at a press conference.
He said that there is still some “regress” in the Azeri proposals, which the Armenian Foreign Minister earlier spoke about.
16:17,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Russian authorities have released Azerbaijani national Kamil Zeynalli after briefly detaining him at a Moscow airport pursuant to an Armenian international arrest warrant, his lawyer has said.
Kamil Zeynalli’s lawyer Alekber Garayev told Azeri media that his client is wanted by Armenia under Article 135 (crimes against humanity), 147 (mercenaryism) and 149 (aggression) of the Armenian Criminal Code.
Other media reports said Zeynalli is also wanted under Article 140 (war crimes committed through prohibited methods of warfare).
The general prosecution of Armenia, however, told Armenpress that they don’t have any official information about Zeynalli’s arrest in Moscow.
Zeynalli is on Armenia’s interstate wanted list, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Narek Sargsyan told Armenpress. He did not elaborate. “The mentioned individual is on the interstate wanted list on a murder charge,” he said.
16:27,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. EU Civilian Operations Commander Stefano Tomat has described the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) activities as “impressive” and said that he is proud of the work that has been done during its 1st year.
“I am sure that the EU monitoring mission is bringing important contribution to Armenia and the region, which symbolizes the EU’s involvement for peace and stability,” Tomat said at an event dedicated to the 1st anniversary of EUMA.
“The number of border incidents decreased during the past year, and we can conclude that the EU monitoring mission has had its contribution in this positive development. But there are still challenges. The recent disinformation campaigns targeting EUMA underscore the difficult environment where the EU mission works. And in this sense, I’d like to reiterate our words of gratitude to EU member states for their support to the mission,” he added, noting that EUMA aims at building trust and doesn’t have aggressive goals.
16:32,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The EU monitoring mission did not have access to the area where Azerbaijan’s latest aggression took place in Syunik province, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has said.
He said that Russian border guards have presence in that area, but they failed to prevent the Azeri aggression.
“When the latest incident took place in Nerkin Hand, the EU monitoring mission didn’t have access there, unlike the Russians, and Russia itself is present there, and it couldn’t prevent the incident,” Grigoryan told reporters.
He said that EUMA definitely has stabilizing role in the region and Armenia fully supports the mission.
He said he is aware that Russian border guards have prevented EU monitors from entering Nerkin Hand, and that he has already addressed the matter.
4 Armenian soldiers were killed and another wounded on February 13 when Azeri forces opened fire at an Armenian military post near Nerkin Hand, Syunik.
16:40,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Azerbaijan plan to hold new meetings on the level of foreign ministers and deputy prime ministers, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has said.
He said that the peace treaty remains a priority for Armenia.
Speaking at a press briefing, Grigoryan said the agreement on the new meetings was reached in Munich after PM Pashinyan and Azeri President Aliyev’s meeting. “The issue is being discussed, but at this moment there is no clear information on the date and location of the meeting,” he said.
Armenia remains committed to the peace agenda and will consistently advance it, Grigoryan added.
16:52,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) is implementing its mandate and accusations of carrying out any other activities are baseless, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos said when asked to comment on the Azerbaijani foreign ministry’s statement on EUMA.
“Our mission has a very clearly defined mandate. It is deployed on the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan, and is exclusively engaged in what is outlined in its mandate, to ensure its presence, to carry out patrols, with the goal of helping to ensure peace in the region. This is what we’ve always been doing. Any other accusation or slander on engaging in any other activities are absolutely baseless,” he said when asked by Armenpress to comment.
Maragos added that all EU member states support the mission. “We are resolutely aiming for strengthening peace and stability in the region,” the EU ambassador said.
On 12 February 2024 the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Peter Michalko, was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Azerbaijani foreign ministry accused EUMA of being exploited as an “anti-Azerbaijani propaganda tool,” and becoming an agent of "binoculars diplomacy.”
17:08,
YEREVAN, 21 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 21 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.13 drams to 404.34 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.22 drams to 436.65 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.37 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.24 drams to 510.24 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price up by 148.22 drams to 26377.96 drams. Silver price down by 0.42 drams to 299.78 drams.
17:49,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in France on a two-day working visit with his wife Anna Hakobyan.
Today, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, the PM's office said.
According to the source, in the evening, the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of France, together with Anna Hakobyan and Brigitte Macron, will be present at the Paris Pantheon for the relocation of the remains of Armenian hero of the Resistance Movement, Missak Manouchian, and his wife Mélinée Manouchian in the pantheon of the greatest figures of France.
It is noted that today, Nikol Pashinyan will also have a meeting with the President of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher.
Meetings with French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo are planned as part of the visit.
18:04,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and the European Union are exploring options for cooperation in the field of security.
The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos said at the press conference organized on the occasion of the first anniversary of the EU Mission in Armenia, addressing the issue of the expansion of Armenia-EU relations.
"We are now working on a new agenda for Armenia-EU partnership. The Council of the European Union has asked the European Commission and the High Representative to develop options for further enhancing Armenia-EU relations in all directions. We are talking about the ongoing process, it concerns both sides," said Maragos.
The EU ambassador said that they are discussing what the wish of Armenian citizens in this regard. He highly praised the partnership based on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.
"We are a very important partner in many reforms for Armenia. We are also exploring options to collaborate in the security field. We are specifically discussing the possibility of Armenia's participation in the European Peace Facility," said the Ambassador.
He said that after the development of the agenda is completed, Armenia and the EU will be able to issue a statement. Maragos emphasized that the EU should address the ambitions of the Armenian people.
18:52,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The work towards liberalization of EU visas for Armenia will continue, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos said at the press conference organized on the occasion of the first anniversary of the EU Mission in Armenia.
"We are firmly committed to resolving this issue. It is necessary that all member states support it so that we can move forward. We understand that the liberalization of visas is a priority for the Armenian authorities and citizens of Armenia," said Maragos.
The Ambassador noted that last week EU High Representative Borell and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Brussels launched a new initiative to promote a new partnership agenda.
"This issue is being considered within the same context. Work in this direction will continue. However, we need to ensure that all the member states are in agreement on this matter," he said.