Tavush province’s damage from Azerbaijan’s attacks estimated at AMD 150 million
23.07.2020,
14:33
According to preliminary estimates, the damage of the Tavush region of Armenia from the aggression of Azerbaijan has already reached 150 million drams, Armenian Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Minister Suren Papikyan said Thursday at a regular government meeting.
YEREVAN, July 23. /ARKA/. According to preliminary estimates, the damage of the Tavush region of Armenia from the aggression of Azerbaijan has already reached 150 million drams, Armenian Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Minister Suren Papikyan said Thursday at a regular government meeting.
He said that, taking into account the tense situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in recent days, it became necessary to make a decision on the redistribution of funds in the budget and transfer funds to the Tavush province’s administration.
"According to preliminary estimates, great damage has been caused to the border areas of Tavush. Today we made a decision to allocate AMD 25 million based on the estimates of the working group, to enable quick restoration of the damage. Part of the amount is transferred as an advance payment in order to start the work quickly." until the final assessment of the damage is completed, "Papikyan said.
He noted that the funds will be transferred from both the state budget and the government reserve fund.
In this regard, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that at this stage, the authorities are quickly and efficiently allocating certain funds for the start of work, so that later it would be possible to take more large-scale measures.
“At the previous, closed-door meeting, we discussed and concluded that conceptual policy changes need to be made with regard to border villages. If these villages are now under fire and therefore restoration work is considered in this context, then they should not only be restored. We should have a clear strategy for the development of border villages. It should be understood that Armenia does not end with border villages, but begins," Pashinyan said, adding that the impression of the country is formed precisely in border villages.
He said that the most important indicator of the country's competitiveness and combat capability should be programs in border villages.
"I do not want to set a high bar of expectations, since this process requires a long work, but they should feel the spirit and mood," Pashinyan said.
In his words, in the villages, first of all, it is necessary to carry out serious construction work, but the main thing is not only the construction of buildings, but also the maintenance of everyday life, since a person should not only live there, but also have an occupation, the opportunity to earn money and create well-being.
About escalation of tension on Armenian-Azerbaijani border
Since July 12, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have been carrying out aggressive actions against Armenia in the north-east direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. The enemy attempted to violate the state border in the Tavush region of Armenia using a tank, mortars, howitzers, drones and Grad MLRS.
The shelling targeted Armenian strongholds, several villages and the city of Berd. After the lull of July 15, on the night of July 16, Azerbaijan troops again attempted raids in the Aygepara section, but after suffering numerous losses, they was thrown back, continuing shelling of the settlements.
The Armenian Armed Forces is providing a proportionate response to periodic shelling and suppressing the enemy’s activity. For the entire period, the air defense units of the Armenian army destroyed Azerbaijan’s control system of UAVs, 13 drones, a tank and artillery batteries.
According to preliminary data, as of Thursday, 36 soldiers were injured as a result of attacks on Armenian strongholds (16 of them were light abrasions, 20 were hospitalized and received medical care, one was in serious condition), 4 soldiers were killed and 6 cars were damaged. As a result of shelling of peaceful settlements in Tavush, 24 houses, a brandy factory and a winery, a kindergarten, a cemetery, 4 cars, a water main, a gas pipeline and a greenhouse were damaged, as well as a police checkpoint, in which 2 police officers were injured. In addition, one civilian was also wounded. Azerbaijan officially confirmed the death of 11 servicemen, the Armenian side reported the death of at least 10 more Azerbaijani special service officers. -0---
He said that, taking into account the tense situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in recent days, it became necessary to make a decision on the redistribution of funds in the budget and transfer funds to the Tavush province’s administration.
"According to preliminary estimates, great damage has been caused to the border areas of Tavush. Today we made a decision to allocate AMD 25 million based on the estimates of the working group, to enable quick restoration of the damage. Part of the amount is transferred as an advance payment in order to start the work quickly." until the final assessment of the damage is completed, "Papikyan said.
He noted that the funds will be transferred from both the state budget and the government reserve fund.
In this regard, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that at this stage, the authorities are quickly and efficiently allocating certain funds for the start of work, so that later it would be possible to take more large-scale measures.
“At the previous, closed-door meeting, we discussed and concluded that conceptual policy changes need to be made with regard to border villages. If these villages are now under fire and therefore restoration work is considered in this context, then they should not only be restored. We should have a clear strategy for the development of border villages. It should be understood that Armenia does not end with border villages, but begins," Pashinyan said, adding that the impression of the country is formed precisely in border villages.
He said that the most important indicator of the country's competitiveness and combat capability should be programs in border villages.
"I do not want to set a high bar of expectations, since this process requires a long work, but they should feel the spirit and mood," Pashinyan said.
In his words, in the villages, first of all, it is necessary to carry out serious construction work, but the main thing is not only the construction of buildings, but also the maintenance of everyday life, since a person should not only live there, but also have an occupation, the opportunity to earn money and create well-being.
About escalation of tension on Armenian-Azerbaijani border
Since July 12, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have been carrying out aggressive actions against Armenia in the north-east direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. The enemy attempted to violate the state border in the Tavush region of Armenia using a tank, mortars, howitzers, drones and Grad MLRS.
The shelling targeted Armenian strongholds, several villages and the city of Berd. After the lull of July 15, on the night of July 16, Azerbaijan troops again attempted raids in the Aygepara section, but after suffering numerous losses, they was thrown back, continuing shelling of the settlements.
The Armenian Armed Forces is providing a proportionate response to periodic shelling and suppressing the enemy’s activity. For the entire period, the air defense units of the Armenian army destroyed Azerbaijan’s control system of UAVs, 13 drones, a tank and artillery batteries.
According to preliminary data, as of Thursday, 36 soldiers were injured as a result of attacks on Armenian strongholds (16 of them were light abrasions, 20 were hospitalized and received medical care, one was in serious condition), 4 soldiers were killed and 6 cars were damaged. As a result of shelling of peaceful settlements in Tavush, 24 houses, a brandy factory and a winery, a kindergarten, a cemetery, 4 cars, a water main, a gas pipeline and a greenhouse were damaged, as well as a police checkpoint, in which 2 police officers were injured. In addition, one civilian was also wounded. Azerbaijan officially confirmed the death of 11 servicemen, the Armenian side reported the death of at least 10 more Azerbaijani special service officers. -0---
