Month: February 2019

Armenian community of Netherlands to hold demonstration in Hague

16:52,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Federation of Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands (FAON), the Dutch Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy will hold demonstration in Hague on February 27 for the memory of victims of pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait, Ganja and Baku, the FAON told Armenpress.

The demonstration will start from the Peace Palace to the embassy of Azerbaijan.

The event aims at remembering the victims of the pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait, Ganja and Baku in 1988 and 1990, as well as to protest against the continuing aggression of Azerbaijan against the Republic Artsakh and Armenia.

On the same day the FAON delegation will send a letter to the Dutch foreign minister, as well as the Parliament on issues relating to the status of Artsakh.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian, Georgian defense ministers to sign cooperation agreement

16:59,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Defense minister of Georgia Levan Izoria and his delegation will visit Yerevan on February 21, Gruzia Online reported.

Defense minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan and his Georgian counterpart will sign a bilateral cooperation agreement.

Within the frames of the agreement, it is planned to organize high-level mutual visits, cooperate in the field of military education and law.

This is the Georgian defense minister’s first visit to Armenia after assuming office.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 20-02-19

17:54,

YEREVAN, 20 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 20 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.09 drams to 487.59 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.15 drams to 553.22 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.05 drams to 7.41 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 5.82 drams to 635.72 drams.

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

Gold price up by 139.43 drams to 20914.64 drams. Silver price up by 0.28 drams to 247.37 drams. Platinum price up by 49.36 drams to 12713.54 drams.

27.8 billion AMD returned to state in 2018

18:28,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia has examined and summed up the situation with the financial damage inflicted on the state through criminal measures and the process of its restoration for the year 2018. A total of 27.8 billion AMD (57 million USD) has been returned to the state, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The examination shows that the total damage to the state as for 2018 amounts to over 84.8 billion AMD (nearly 174 million USD), but the preliminary investigation of a number of criminal cases is not over yet. Measures are taken to return to the state the entire financial damage.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian FM highlights creation of favorable atmosphere for NK conflict settlement in a meeting with OSCE MG Co-chairs  

18:35,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, as well as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk on February 20.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the Armenian FM and the Co-chairs focused on the issues raised during the last meetings that took place in the sidelines of Nagorno Karabakh peace process. The Co-chairs were particularly interested in the details of Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting that took place in January in Davos.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan reaffirmed the approaches and position of Armenia for an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict, highlighting the creation of a favorable atmosphere for it to happen.

The interlocutors exchanged views on future steps and meetings.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Nikol Pashinyan, OSCE MG Co-chairs highlight implementation of ceasefire agreements

18:52,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia received the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, as well as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk on February 20.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan welcomed the visit of the Co-chairs to Armenia and highlighted their role as an internationally authorized body to carry out talks on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on the victory of “My Step” bloc in the parliamentary elections.

PM Pashinyan presented to the Co-chairs the details of his non-formal meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev  in Davos in January.

The interlocutors exchanged ideas on the creation of an appropriate atmosphere for Nagorno Karabakh peace process. The sides highlighted the importance of the implementation of the ceasefire agreements.

Pashinyan and Aliyev have held 3 non-formal meetings so far. The 1st was in Dushanbe in September 2018 in the sidelines of the CIS summit. The 2nd took place in St. Petersburg in December 2018. This time the leaders met during the dinner organized in the framework of the informal meeting between leaders of CIS states following the EAEU regular sitting. Pashinyan-Aliyev 3rd meeting took place in January  2019 in Davos in the sideline sof the World Economic Forum.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

We are committed to the path of freedom pursued by Armenia and Artsakh – PM Pashinyan addresses message on Karabakh movement’s anniversary

19:31,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has addressed a message on the occasion of the anniversary of Karabakh movement, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia.

The address runs as follows,

“Dear compatriots,

On this very day of 1988, February 20, an incident took place that was historical in all senses. The NKAR Regional Council took a decision to be incorporated into Armenia. The people of Armenia expressed full support for the decision. Soon our sisters and brothers from the Diaspora joint their compatriots in Armenia and Artsakh.

February 20 of 1988 was an exclusive example of national revival, that inspired million. We regained our national unity, consolidation and determination. An all-national movement emerged in Armenia and Artsakh, that was unique in the sense of its power and being unpreventable,  it was deeply national and at the same time deeply democratic.

The implementation of the right of peoples to self-determination and democratic freedoms became a clear target, to which our people went, being convinced that freedom and independence ware indisputable values.

30 years later, in spring 2018, as a people, as a society and as a state, we once again experienced a new revolutionary awakening, again standing for the ideas that are valuable for every one of us. We proved to ourselves and to the world that we are dignified and patriotic citizens of our country, who are faithful to our struggle and ideals, we are faithful to the path of freedom pursued by Armenia and Artsakh.

Long live free Artsakh,

Long live free Armenia”.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

We are thankful to you for all you try to do for Armenia – Nicolas Aznavour to PM Pashinyan

19:53,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received co-founder of “Aznavour” Foundation Nicolas Aznavour, the son of the world famous late chansonnier Charles Aznavour.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, greeting the guest, Nikol Pashinyan said, “I am very glad to meet you and I am also glad that the meeting takes place in Yerevan. I hope your future plans are more linked with Yerevan, at least, there are such media reports. I hope it’s true and we will have the opportunity to meet more often. I am very interested to know about your projects, what you plan to do in Armenia to preserve Charles Aznavour’s heritage for making Armenia one of the key Aznavour centers “.

Nicolas Aznavour thanked PM Pashinyan for the warm reception and added, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. First of all I want to thank you for your visit to Paris. You know it was very important and enormously exciting for personally me and my entire family. I want to convey to you our gratitude.

I also want to congratulate you on assuming the post of the Prime Minister. I even voted in Armenia. We came here without any unnecessary noise to vote, since it’s very important for us.

Even when we travel or are far away, we always follow the news from Armenia and we are very thankful to you for what you try to do for Armenia. It’s not an easy task but I think it’s very positive to see from abroad what kind of hard work you do”.

During the meeting Nicolas Aznavour presented to Pashinyan the activities and the future plans of “Aznavour” Foundation.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Pashinyan sends condolence letter on the death of Louise Manoogian Simone

20:14,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a condolence letter to the family of Louise Manoogian Simone on the occasion of her demise.  As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the condolence letter runs as follows,

“It was with deep grief that I learned about the death of Louise Manoogian Simone, a great philanthropist of Armenian origin and outstanding national figure. Her death is really a great loss for our entire people to whom she served with endless devotion and great responsibility.

The contribution of Louise Manoogian Simone to the mission of preservation of the Armenian identity, development of independent Armenia and empowerment of the Armenian Apostolic Church is invaluable. Living far away from the Motherland, she was closely tied with Armenia, showing caring attitude toward her compatriots and serving as an example and inspiration for many other philanthropists.

Assuming the high post of the Armenian General Benevolent Union in a decisive period for Armenia, she spared no efforts for the elimination of the consequences of Spitak earthquake and the Artsakh war. Thanks to her efforts numerous educational, cultural, and charity projects came into life in Armenia and communities with large Armenian population in the Diaspora.

With her patriotic and productive activities Louise Manoogian Simone has left a lasting trace in the modern history of the Armenian people and Armenia.

I offer my deep condolences and solidarity to all the relatives of and friends of Louise Manoogian Simone and our entire people on the occasion of this bereavement”.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan