Month: August 2019

Pashinyan has a political goal to form zero tolerance towards corruption in Armenia

13:14,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Public zero tolerance to corruption should be formed and formulated in Armenia, and this is the political goal we are going to implement, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the session of the Anti-Corruption Policy Council on August 30.

“It’s clear to everyone that the Armenian government has a political will to fully fight corruption, is consistent and will be consistent on this matter. When we say that we managed to eradicate the systematic corruption in Armenia, this is also seen from the public’s reaction because I saw data in this document that according to the polls conducted in May more than 84% of the Armenian citizens stated that they didn’t face corruption cases, which, is, of course, a very important record”, Pashinyan said.

However, he said that over the past one year they also faced certain institutional problems and difficulties connected with the fight against corruption.

“The fight against corruption, the investigations of corruption cases and also the restorations of damages caused by corruption are not going on with the volumes and scales we all and the public have a right to expect. There are many objective and subjective issues here, and among them the institutional problems are also very important. Some of these institutional problems are noticed from the first sight, but the second part is not noticed from the first sight, and I think that we need to be very consistent in this sense in order to strengthen the ongoing fight against corruption with the creation of some new institutional procedures”, the PM said.

Nikol Pashinyan added that during this period they have carried out quite a broad and qualified work to be orientated on anti-corruption strategy directions and fix how they imagine the future institutional development of fighting corruption.

“The political recording that is important today is that our government is going to be consistent in the fight against corruption, and here there cannot be any compromise. We have formed a political task that a public zero tolerance should be formed Armenia towards corruption, and this is the political goal we are going to implement”, he said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Yerevan getting ready for Ararat Anti-Terror 2019 counter-terrorism drills

14:11,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Coordinated by the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center, the National Security Service of Armenia (NSS) organized a joint command-staff exercise on August 29 in Yerevan. Representatives of the Special Services and Security Bodies of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in the exercises.

The NSS said in a news release that the drills were conducted as part of the preparations for the upcoming Ararat Anti-Terror 2019 joint Counter-Terrorism Military Exercises involving specialized bodies from CIS member countries. The event will take place September 25-26 in Armenia.

Issues related to anti-terror protection of fuel-energy complex facilities were also discussed during the exercise, the NSS said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Rotterdam to host Eurovision 2020

14:54,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Rotterdam has been selected as the Host City for the 65th Eurovision Song Contest following a tight race with the southern Dutch city of Maastricht. The Contest will be held on Tuesday 12, Thursday 14 and Saturday 16 May 2020, Armenpress reports citing Eurovision website.

Addressing the difficult decision between Maastricht and Rotterdam, Jon Ola Sand, the EBU’s Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest, said, “Rotterdam has shown fantastic enthusiasm and commitment and has the right facilities to welcome delegations from over 40 countries next May. We look forward to working with Rotterdam and NPO, NOS and AVROTROS on an incredible state-of-the-art Eurovision Song Contest in a great city next year.”

Shula Rijxman, Director General of NPO said: “It is our wish to organize a Eurovision Song Contest that is embraced throughout the Netherlands and also functions as a showcase for our country in Europe. We are happy that as a public broadcaster we can now really work together with Rotterdam and the Ahoy arena to organize a unique event that connects and inspires all inhabitants of the Netherlands and Europe”.

Film on Armenian Velvet Revolution to be screened at Toronto International Film Festival

15:09,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Garin Hovhannisyan’s Menak Chem (I am not Alone) – a film about the Armenian revolution, will be screened on September 7 at the Toronto International Film Festival, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook.

“The film’s score is written by Serj Tankian. The film turned out really great, I think it will be an international success, promoting the recognizability of Armenia and the Armenian people around the world,” Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 30-08-19

17:25,

YEREVAN, 30 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 30 august, USD exchange rate stood at 475.96 drams. EUR exchange rate stood at 527.22 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.14 drams. GBP exchange rate stood at 580.15 drams.

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

Gold price stood at 23522.19 drams. Silver price stood at 281.03 drams. Platinum price stood at 13404.96 drams.

Nikol Pashinyan congratulates Bako Sahakyan on birthday

18:33,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on August 30. Pashinyan congratulated Sahakyan on birthday anniversary, wishing him health and new achievements in the responsible mission, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

PM Pashinyan awards best performers at “Kangaroo”, “Meghu” and “Russian bear” contests

18:48,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. The medalists of “Kangaroo” mathematics contest, “Meghu” contest of the Armenian language and “Russian bear” contest of the Russian language, as well as the medal winners at international Olympiads and gold medal graduates of educational institutions were awarded by PM Pashinyan at the Presidential Residency. ARMENPRESS reports the students were awarded by medals, certificates and other prizes.  

“In today’s Armenia and for our Government education is a key priority. We highlight education so much, since the Republic of Armenia is a democratic country, a country of free and proud citizens, and this is directly linked with the statehood. The link is that Armenia is already a country, where citizens control, but are not controlled. And being a citizen first of all means being able to make decisions and being able to be responsible for those decisions”, Pashinyan said, noting that education is the key component for doing all that.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Caucasian Silicon Valley – Italian leading news outlet refers to Armenia’s IT sector

20:05,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Leading Italian RaiNews news outlet referred to the development of the IT sector in Armenia in an article headlined “Caucasian Silicon Valley”. ARMENPRESS reports journalist Martino Seniga toured in the leading IT companies in Armenia and presented their innovations.

“In the capital city of Armenia, Yerevan numerous start-ups and companies are flourishing, many of which are global leaders in their spheres. For that very reason WCIT-2019 will take place in Yerevan on October 6-9”, the journalist wrote.

The journalists also talked with Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, visited the office of WCIT-2019, Vanadzor Technology Ceter, Renderforest company, Armat laboratory, COAF Smart center and talked with their employees.  

Seniga also told in the article about Armenia’s history and presented its culture.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Artsakh’s President receives Defense Minister of Armenia

20:47,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan received on August 30 the Defense Minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh President’s Office.

Defense Minister of Artsakh Karen Abrahamyan also participated in the meeting. Issues related to army building and cooperation between the two Armenian republics were discussed during the meeting.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Former Finance Minister remanded

21:50,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. A Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction satisfied the motion to remand former Finance Minister and former chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan, ARMENPRESS reports Khachatryan’s lawyer Yerem Sargsyan told the reporters following the trial.

“The court found that the arrest was not lawful but also found that there are enough grounds to remand him”, Sargsyan said.

The lawyer added that they will appeal.

The National Security Service of Armenia had submitted the motion to remand Gagaik Khachatryan.

The former official is charged with abuse of power and misappropriation of particularly large amount of money. His nephew, who also was a high level SRC official is charged with misappropriation of particularly large amount of money. The National Security Service of Armenia arrested them on August 27.  

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan