Month: February 2019

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 21-02-19

17:22,

YEREVAN, 21 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 21 february, USD exchange rate up by 0.48 drams to 488.07 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.48 drams to 552.74 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 7.45 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.85 drams to 637.57 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price вup by 171.23 drams to 21085.87 drams. Silver price вup by 4.25 drams to 251.62 drams. Platinum price вup by 185.13 drams to 12898.67 drams.

Armenian justice minister holds meeting with Ambassador of Netherlands

17:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Justice minister Artak Zeynalyan on February 21 received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands to Armenia Johannes Douma, the ministry told Armenpress.

The minister introduced the Ambassador on the provisions of the government’s Action Plan relating to the justice field, the possibilities to provide electronic surveillance devices to the Probation Service, the development of new judicial and human rights protection strategies and etc.

At the end of the meeting the sides reaffirmed their readiness to further deepen the mutual partnership between the two countries in the justice field and record tangible results.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Ex-president’s brother returns another 11.5 million USD to the state  – criminal case still in process at NSS Armenia

17:36,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Alexander Sargsyan, former MP, brother of ex-president Serzh Sargsyan, has paid 11.5 million USD to the state as a compensation for tax evasion, abuses. Earlier, he transfered18.5 million USD to the state, NSS Director Artur Vanetsyan told the reporters.

Vanetsyan added that the criminal case is still in process and there will be new information about Alexander Sargsyan’s possessions.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

OSCE assesses committment of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to prepare their peoples for peace a positive signal

18:31,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE is committed to its mediation mission for the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and hopes to see progress in the negotiation process in the format of Minsk Group Co-chairs, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger announced during the winter session of yhe OSCE PA.

‘The committment of theleadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan to prepare their populations for peace can be a very promising signal’, ARMENPRESS reports Greminger as saying.

He emphasized the necessity of strengthening the role of the mediation missions of the OSCE in the settlement processes of different conflicts.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format is the only mediation format engaged in Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process. The Co-chairs are Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Pashinyan highlights balanced position of Armenia and Georgia on regional conflict settlement processes

18:41,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Defense Minister of Georgia Levan Izoria on February 21 who is in Armenia on an official visit.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the PM welcomed the visit of the Georgian defense delegation to Armenia, highlighting the deepening and development of friendly relations between the two states in various spheres. Pashinyan referred to his meeting with Georgian PM Mamuka Bakhtadze in Bolnisi in January, noting that the existing friendly and working atmosphere between Armenia and Georgia will foster the expansion of cooperation and raise it to a new level. In this context the Armenian Premier highlighted the frequent high-level mutual visits between the two states.

Noting that he is glad to be in Armenia on an official visit, Levan Izoria highlighted his meeting with the Armenian Defense Minister and the signing of the 2019 Action Plan on bilateral defense cooperation. According to him, Georgia is interested in strengthening and deepening the relations with friendly Armenia and is ready to continue the effective partnership in that direction.  

The interlocutors discussed issues referring to the Armenian-Georgian defense cooperation.

The sides exchanged views on regional security and stability and peaceful settlement of conflicts, emphasizing the importance of mutual efforts in that direction.  Pashinyan highlighted the balanced position of Armenia and Georgia on regional conflict settlement processes. The Georgian Defense Minister noted that Georgia highlights the establishment of friendly relations in the region and support the efforts aimed at peaceful settlement of conflicts.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Humanitarian mission of Armenia in Syria is an aid to local Armenians – Member of RF Federation Council

18:56,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The humanitarian mission of Armenia in Syria is an aid to the Armenians in Syria, ARMENPRESS reports Member of the Russia’s Federation Council, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Colonel of Special Services Igor Morozov said on February 21.

“We welcome the step of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, that responded to the call of Russia to provide humanitarian aid. This is not a support to Russia, though it’s very important for us when the CSTO and CIS member states support our foreign policy initiatives, but it’s rather a support to the Armenians living in Syria and we are thankful for that step”, Morozov said.

He added that currently Russia has a heavy burden of humanitarian mission on its shoulders in Syria and calls on all allies and partners to provide assistance to the Syrian people.

The member of RF Federation Council noted that the Armenian people have traditional and historical links with Syria and the fact that the group of Armenian de-miners and doctors is in Syria is a great step in terms of deepening the friendly relations between the Armenian and Syrian peoples.

A group consisting of humanitarian de-miners, doctors and Armenian specialists ensuring their safety, a total of 83 people, departed for Syria’s Aleppo on February 8 aimed at providing professional humanitarian support to the Syrian people.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian FM invites Secretary for Relations with States of Holy See to pay visit to Armenia

20:20,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to the Holy See Karen Nazaryan met with H.E. Msgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See on February 18.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, during the meeting the Ambassador presented the agenda of the development of relations between Armenia and the Holy See and the upcoming measures and initiatives in this direction.

Ambassador Nazaryan conveyed to the high ranking representative of the Holy See the official invitation of Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan to pay a visit to Armenia.

Under the light of the regional developments the interlocutors referred to their approaches and priorities.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian festival events in USA launched by Post Classical Ensemble’s concert

20:21,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of Armenia in the United States hosted a gala concert and dinner celebrating the richness and diversity of Armenian art and music on February 19 kicking off the Post Classical Ensemble’s Spring 2020 Armenian Festival. Attended by the members of the upcoming festival’s executive committee, festival sponsors and supporters, the evening featured a stunning performance by world-renowned Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, accompanied by Post Classical Ensemble’s Concertmaster Natanel Draiblate, who enchanted the audience with their renditions of works by Bach, Ligeti, Khudoyan, Kodaly and others, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

In his opening remarks Ambassador Varuzhan Nersesyan spoke about the power of cultural diplomacy, the synthesis of cultures throughout history and the promotion of cross cultural ties. Later during the evening PCE Executive Director Joseph Horowitz gave a brief outline of the upcoming festival.

“The Color of Pomegranates: An Armenian Odyssey” 2020 Armenian Festival, co-chaired by Armenian-American benefactors Aso Tavitian and Noubar Afeyan, will comprise a series of events, including an Armenian Film Festival at the National Gallery of Art and an unprecedented multi-media immersion experience and concert at the Washington National Cathedral, featuring the PCE (ensemble-in-residence at the Washington National Cathedral), cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, composer Vache Sharafyan and visual artist Kevork Mourad. In addition to these, a number of other events such as Armenian art exhibitions and concerts are slated to be held in Washington DC and New York. The 2020 Armenian Festival will be the third major cultural event in the US in the past few years exploring Armenian cultural heritage and traditions, following last year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s Armenian program and the Metropolitan Museum’s landmark ‘Armenia’ exhibition.

Acknowledging the historical reality or a pressure card on Turkey?: Armenian National Committee’s reaction to reports on UAE’s recognition of Genocide

09:10,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Committee of Middle East is closely following the Arab media reports according to which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is going to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Committee views these reports in the context of regional developments.

Vera Yakubyan of the Armenian National Committee of Middle East told ARMENPRESS that such reports on recognizing the Genocide have also been circulated in case of Egypt, but with no concrete result till now.

“You know that as for Egypt there were many rumors that the parliament is going to adopt a resolution, but all these remained in the propaganda field, and no practical steps were taken. We are reacting cautiously to all reports regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. It’s not ruled out that these statements are a step to exert pressure on Turkey, and we know that today certain Arab states have tense relations with Turkey”, she said, adding that the UAE is among those Arab countries which currently has a difficult process of relations with Turkey.

“It’s known that in recent years Turkey has supported the Islamists in the Arab world. And now there is a competition who will be more influential in the Arab world. And therefore the issue of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is being raised on the background of problems with Turkey. Of course, we are following the developments, but are not so excited at the moment because maybe the relations with Turkey will normalize. You know that there are strong economic ties between some Arab countries and Turkey”, Vera Yakubyan said.

She noted that some Arab countries were among the first ones to provide shelter to many Armenians who survived the 1915 Armenian Genocide. These countries enabled Armenians to settle there, have their church, open a memorial stone and commemorate the Genocide victims. “Therefore, we can state that some Arab countries indirectly acknowledge the historical reality of 1915”, Yakubyan said.

As for the possibility of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the UAE, she said it will pave a way for the recognition by the remaining Arab countries.

“If they recognize, that will be an unprecedented phenomenon in the Arab world. It can have a chain reaction effect and the remaining Arab countries will also take such an action. In any case now it’s difficult to understand whether the UAE will recognize the Genocide or not”, Vera Yakubyan noted.

According to the Arab media reports, the UAE may recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, which will further increase the tension between Abu Dhabi and Ankara. The media outlets report that the UAE’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide may be announced on April 24.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

International military experts highly appreciate Armenian production displayed at IDEX-2019

09:15,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. International military experts have highly appreciated the Armenian military production displayed at the IDEX-2019 International Defense Exhibition and Conference in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Armenian defense ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan, who was in the Armenian delegation during the recent visit to the UAE, told ARMENPRESS.

“IDEX-2019 is a global exhibition that is being held in Adu Dhabi every two years demonstrating arms-ammunition, military industry and military production in general. It has two profile directions – land and sea. Armenia was not only participating in the event for the first time, but for the first time was presenting a certain military production at an international exhibition. I want to state that several international experts have already fixed and highly valued that Armenia presented such interesting new products”, Hovhannisyan said.

The defense ministry spokesperson informed that the new products of the Armenian military industry have been displayed.

“There were a number of new products especially in the field of radio electronics by Armenian military industry enterprises. The event has just ended, and we will have the opportunity to sum up who have shown an interest soon”, he said.

Artsrun Hovhannisyan added that by participating in such international platforms Armenia can establish serious ties which will be useful if not today, than in the future.

Nearly 95 countries are participating in the IDEX international exhibition.

Armenia has presented the following military products at the event:

-Electro-optic countermeasure system 3K01

-Sniper Rifle K-8

-Thermal imaging gunner sight for T72A tank

-Inductive mine detector RIA-1

-Bulletproof vest GS-47/0717

-Various types of reconnaissance UAVs, all in final stages of development, with proven technologies

-Military and tactical boots

-Pancratic sniper sight 3*9

-Microwave transistor amplifier for target detection HFAS-75G

The brilliant performance of the Armenian defense ministry’s Military Orchestra and the Guards of Honor has also been highly appreciated. “In recent years a good cooperation tradition has been formed between the Yerevan Drums musical group and the Guards of Honor of the Armenian Armed Forces during the events taking place in Armenia and abroad. This has already become a type of culture. These groups visited the UAE at the invitation of the hosting country, and I want to state that they have not returned yet because they are just kept there. They have been loved so much. Almost every day they continue performing for the guests and visitors. They already have invitations for participating in other events”, Hovhannisyan said.

Interview by Norayr Shoghikyan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan