The Situation on the border (20.07.2020)
- A relatively calm situation was observed on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The enemy violated the ceasefire regime 9 times, AEC-17 grenade launcher was used. 137 shots were made at the Armenian positions.
- RA President Armen Sargsyan visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and had a meeting with the Catholicos of All Armenians. The President and His Holiness considered it symbolic that the clergies of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia and in the Diaspora are strongly supporting Homeland.
- Russian military correspondent Semyon Pegov, the author of the WarGonzo project, prepared a reportage from the town of Berd in the Tavush region. He informed that the Azerbaijani army fired 4 projectiles from a D-30 howitzer in the direction of Armenian settlements.
- The representative of the RA Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan posted on his Facebook page a video in which the Armenian servicemen are calling on the people not to worry, to get engaged in their daily routine, since the servicemen carry out their military mission and they are strong like the Armenian mountains.
- RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan posted a message on his Facebook page, urging all to refrain from the initiative to acquire anything for the army. He called on those wishing to provide financial support to the army to transfer donations to the Soldiers Insurance Fund. The Prime Minister assured that the activities of the fund are completely transparent and protected by law.
- Shushan Stepanyan, spokeswoman for the RA Ministry of Defense, noted that although the ministry had stated that there was no need to volunteer, the former demobilized servicemen, both in Armenia and Artsakh, applied to local military commissariats, expressing readiness to continue the service and protect the country's borders
International news
- In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan noted that Azerbaijan has once again tried to impose unilateral concessions on Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan mentioned that there is no military solution to the conflict. Referring to Turkey's statements, the Foreign Minister noted that this approach does not contribute to a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
- The spokeswoman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan in an interview with “Kommersant” magazine noted that the recent threats and warlike statements by the Azerbaijani leadership, which led to the recent escalation, returned the process of peace talks to April 2016, despite the fact that an agreement on preparing people for peace was reached earlier. According to her, judging by the latest events, not the Azerbaijani authorities should prepare the people, but the people should prepare their leadership for peace.
- Pope Francis expressed concern over the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. At the end of Sunday prayer Maryam, in his welcoming speech to the believers gathered in St. Peter's Square, he expressed the hope that through dialogue and goodwill, it would be possible to achieve a peaceful solution to the problem in the name of the well-being of the nations.
- In the Senate of Uruguay, a member of the opposition Broad Front Party, former Minister of Tourism, Senator Lilian Keshishyan condemned Azerbaijan's actions. Ruling MP Pedro Khisdanyan and Deputy Health Minister Jose Luis Sachyan also made condemning posts on Twitter.
- Foreign media reported that Turkey obviously supports Azerbaijan and is going to send militants of the Free Syrian Army there to assist Azerbaijan in military operations against Armenia.
- A special funeral service was held at the St. Astvatsatsin Church in Aleppo for the repose of the souls of those killed on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
- The Hungarian-speaking Armenian community in Transylvania joined in the statements condemning the Azerbaijani aggression and called on the international community to support the peaceful negotiation process.
- The friendship group Armenia-Australia of the parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales condemned the provocative actions of Azerbaijan.
- Russian MPs expressed deep concern over the pro-Azerbaijani position of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Artem Dmitruk called this statement a rash. He urged to think about the consequences a hundred times before speaking out.
- The Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov mentioned that Russia hopes for an early settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as between the representatives of the two nations in Russia. He reminded that Russia called on both sides to show restraint and to return to maintaining the ceasefire and to stop the violence of any kind
- The French organization ARF "New Generation" held a protest in Paris. ARF Bureau member Murad Papazyan condemned the Azerbaijani aggression during the rally.
- In Amsterdam, the Armenians organized a protest in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Dam Square.
- Armenian residents in America organized a protest in front of the Azerbaijani embassy.