Direct economic damage to Karabakh from war could reach $2 billionDecember 23, 2020 - 18:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Direct economic damage to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as a result of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan may reach $2 billion, said Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan, who stepped down as Karabakh Human Rights Defender on Wednesday, December 23. “According to our calculations, over 15,000 houses and apartments were damaged in Azerbaijan's shelling. We cannot say what happened after the occupation: we have data and evidence that in many places our houses have been burned or damaged otherwise. It is impossible at the moment to gauge the damage," he said, according to Arka.am. He noted that the 15,000 houses were damaged as a result of artillery, rocket attacks and airstrikes. Beglaryan said that about 3.5-4 thousand infrastructural units and public facilities, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, culture, were damaged. "The objects remaining under their [Azerbaijani - ed.] control, which cannot be assessed, are not taken into account either. But, we still managed to assess and record particular objects before they got under their control," he said. Also, according to Beglaryan, more than 2,500 vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev on November 9 signed a statement to end the war in Karabakh after almost 45 days. Under the deal, the Armenian side has returned all the seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenian government besieged by protesters Protesters led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan poured into Yerevan’s Republic Square to try to surround the seat of Armenia’s government. Armenia, Russia agree on repairing railway destroyed in floods Yerevan and Moscow have agreed to repair a flood-stricken railway in northern Armenia. EU calls on Azerbaijan to release all political prisoners The European Union calls on Azerbaijan to release all those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights. |