PM Pashinyan and Russian Deputy PM discussed the activities of the trilateral working group headed by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan

Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk. Nikol Pashinyan and Alexei Overchuk discussed issues related to the agenda of the Armenian-Russian cooperation and economic relations. The interlocutors referred to the volumes of bilateral trade turnover of 2021 and noted with satisfaction the growth in that direction. The sides highlighted joint efforts aimed at developing trade and economic, investment cooperation, and the full realization of the existing potential in the sphere. The parties exchanged views on the prospects for the restoration of transport communications in the South Caucasus and the activities of the trilateral working group headed by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan.

PM Pashinyan meets with President Sarkissian

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with President Armen Sarkissian. The ongoing programs and priorities of the Government, as well as the external and domestic challenges facing the country were discussed.

The Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan Met With CSTO Secretary-General Stanislav Zas

Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan met with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas. Armen Grigoryan presented the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, stressing that it is an important challenge of for Armenia. In this context, the sides noted the importance of ensuring conditions for the early start of the process of demarcation and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Hrachya Sargsyan was elected the new mayor of Yerevan

Hrachya Sarkissian has been elected the new mayor of Yerevan with 57 votes “in favor” and 10 “against”. Thus, Hayk Marutyan was relieved from the post of Mayor of Yerevan.

The Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan Met With Members of the Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Iranian Majles

“Regional stability and security, inviolability of borders are red lines for Iran, and Tehran will not tolerate any territorial changes in the region,” Mahmoud Ahmadi Bighash, a member of the Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group said at a meeting with Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan. The Secretary of the Security Council also noted the importance of launching the Yerevan-Nakhichevan-Julfa railway, stressing that it will lead to the economic development of the countries of the region.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Sergey Lavrov stressed the importance of forming mechanisms for the delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A wide range of issues related to the implementation of the agreement reached in Sochi on November 26 were discussed. The importance of de֊escalation of the situation and steps aimed at increasing the level of stability and security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the formation of mechanisms for the delimitation and demarcation of the border was noted. [RA MFA]

Armenians have yet to learn how to use the power of their diaspora. Armen Sarkissian in an interview with Asia Times

Armenians have yet to learn how to use the power of their diaspora. And I’m working hard for that, because that’s one of the ways. People really don’t understand the power of the diaspora, how big it is, because it has never been used. We have to do a lot of things and one of these things is to change the constitution. [Armen Sarkissian]

Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan exchanged constructively at the Eastern Partnership summit, instead of open confrontation. Josep Borrell

It was striking that the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan, two countries that have been in open military conflict, exchanged constructively at the Eastern Partnership summit, instead of open confrontation. The discussion, which was more open than the diplomatic formalities that often dominate this type of meetings, confirmed that our Eastern partners have a strong demand for more cooperation and integration with the EU, and the EU is prepared to respond to this demand in a way that reaffirms its role as a significant geopolitical actor in the region. [Josep Borrell]

Shoygu called the Russian military a guarantor of peace in Nagorno Karabakh |armenpress.am|

For more than a year, Russian peacekeepers have been providing conditions for the establishment of a peaceful life in Nagorno Karabakh and neighboring regions, and help to restore relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. As for now, no serious incidents have been registered. The Russian military continues to act as a guarantor of peace also in Syria․ [Sergey Shoygu]

Coronavirus update

On December 22 as of 11:00 in Armenia registered:
Confirmed cases in total – 343 997 (+152)
Recovered – 329 281 (+153)
Active cases – 5 301
Total tests – 2 509 795 (+6 756)
Deaths – 7 921 (+7)
Deaths, caused by other reasons – 1 494 [Ministry of Health]