Month: October 2019

Slain Yerevan cop to receive posthumous state award, says PM

 17:22,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has offered condolences to the family and friends of Tigran Arakelyan, the 38-year-old Yerevan police officer who was gunned down on-duty early morning October 16.

“I offer my condolences to the family, friends and relatives of police officer Senior Tigran Arakelyan who died today. The police officers’ protection in Armenia must increase in a way so it increases not only and not as much the officers’ protection level but the citizens’ protection level.

Tigran Arakelyan will be awarded with a state award for selfless service, while the criminals will receive their deserved punishment,” the PM said on Facebook.

Arakelyan and his partner were patrolling the city when around 04:30 they saw two young men who ran away upon seeing the police cruiser. The officers eventually apprehended the suspects in the Azatutyun Avenue, but the latter resisted arrest and one of them got hold of the officer’s firearm and fired on Tigran Arakelyan. Arakelyan succumbed to his injuries. His partner was battered by the suspects but survived.

The two suspects were later apprehended. Police said the suspects had earlier committed a robbery.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia responds to latest statements by Aliyev, Erdogan at Turkic Council summit

 17:41,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan has commented on the statements made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the 7th summit of the Turkic Council.

The foreign ministry spox made the comments in response to questions from Ararat News.

Question: Aliyev has stated that the “transfer of Zangezur to Armenia has led to the Turkish world’s geographical division”. In turn, Turkey’s president stated that they will do everything possible to ensure Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. How would you comment on these statements?

Naghdalyan: At the Turkic Council’s 7th summit the President of Azerbaijan once again repeated his aspirations for Armenia’s and Armenian territories, this time spicing it up with pan-Turkism emphases.

Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s distorted perception and approaches of regional security based on racism and discrimination are obstructing the peaceful resolution of conflicts and are contributing to encouraging instability in the region and beyond.

This all also emphasizes for us the priority for securing the Armenian people’s security in the region.

Question: The Turkish president also mentioned in his speech that “not in any period of its history has Turkey committed, and will not commit a massacre of civilian population”.

Naghdalyan: Not a single statement made by the President of Turkey on this topic deserves commentary after he attempted in his 2019 April 24th statement to justify the genocide committed against the Armenian people in his historic homeland.

Armenian FM holds meeting with EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar

 18:14,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan received on October 16th EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar and the latter’s delegation.

“The parties exchanged ideas over the Armenia-EU partnership comprehensive agenda, as well as touched upon topical regional issues and steps aimed at further strengthening cooperation within the framework of the EU Special Representative’s mandate.

In the context of the NK conflict’s peaceful resolution process the Armenian FM briefed on the current situation around the peace process. In this context the EU’s support to the ongoing peaceful settlement process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the exclusively peaceful resolution of the conflict was emphasized,” the foreign ministry said in a readout.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Yerevan-Rome for €29: Ryanair celebrates entry to Armenian market by offering crazy low fares

 18:42,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Ryanair, the Irish budget airline which announced today its entry to the Armenian market, is already offering passengers online to book flights from Yerevan to Rome, Milan and Berlin with starting prices as low as 28,24 Euros.

Particularly, Ryanair offers one-way tickets from Yerevan to Rome and Milan for 28,24 Euros for business days, and 35,88 Euros for weekends, the airline’s mobile booking application shows.

“To celebrate, we are releasing seats for sale on our network from just €29.99 for travel until May 2020 which are available for booking until midnight Friday (18 Oct). Since these amazing low fares will be snapped up quickly, customers should log onto www.ryanair.com and avoid missing out,” the airline said in a news release.

Yerevan-Berlin tickets cost 40,99 Euros and 49,99 Euros for business days and weekends respectively. The prices do not include additional services and are the lowest options.

For example, if you are choosing the Yerevan-Rome flight and you want to carry luggage, make pre-registration and reserve a particular seat the ticket price will increase for an additional 41,36 Euros.

Ryanair will also fly from Gyumri’s Shirak Airport to Germany’s Memmingen with tickets priced from 55,99 to 65,99 Euros.

The mobile application is being gradually updated and the prices may be changed, however as of this moment passengers can already make bookings.

Ryanair will launch the flights from January, 2020.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Police Chief awards posthumous Medal of Heroism to fallen Yerevan officer

 19:11,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Interim Police Chief of Armenia Arman Sargsyan has awarded a posthumous Medal of Heroism to Tigran Arakelyan, the Yerevan police officer who was gunned down in the line of duty on October 16th. Arakelyan was awarded for “selflessness and heroism in the line of duty in life-threatening conditions”, the police department said in a news release.

Arakelyan’s partner, who was injured in the incident, was awarded the “For Excellent Service in Police” order.

Arakelyan and his partner were patrolling the city when around 04:30 they saw two young men who ran away upon seeing the police cruiser. The officers eventually apprehended the suspects in the Azatutyun Avenue, but the latter resisted arrest and one of them got hold of the officer’s firearm and fired on Tigran Arakelyan. Arakelyan succumbed to his injuries. His partner was battered by the suspects but survived.

The two suspects were later apprehended. Police said the suspects had earlier committed a robbery.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

EU supports OSCE MG Co-Chairs’ efforts in NK talks, Special Rep. Toivo Klaar tells Armenian PM

 19:18,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting on October 16th with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The PM said that Armenia attaches importance to the continuous development of relations with the European Union and that the official high-level meetings testify about the Armenia-EU effective dialogue and dynamic process of cooperation.

According to PM Pashinyan, the EU is Armenia’s most important colleague in the full-swing reforms that are underway in Armenia, and the government is resolute in continuing key reforms in different sectors.

Klaar said that the EU is also attaching importance to deepening partnership with Armenia and is ready to continue supporting the Armenian PM and the Government in the reforms aimed at strengthening democracy.

Nikol Pashinyan and Toivo Klaar exchanged ideas around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The PM emphasized that Armenia sees the resolution exclusively through a peaceful path and is committed to the negotiations process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship format.

The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia commended Armenia’s steps aimed at the conflict’s peaceful resolution and noted that the European Union is supporting the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ efforts in the direction of peaceful negotiations.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia ready to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Syria

 19:33,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Mher Margaryan had a meeting on October 16 with United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock.

Margaryan expressed deep concern over the humanitarian consequences, including human losses and displacement of civilian population of Turkey’s military offensive in north-eastern Syria.

“Mher Margaryan specially emphasized the threats which emerged for the Syrian-Armenian community and other national and religious minorities as a result of the military operations, particularly the threat of mass atrocity crimes and identity-based crimes. The Armenian ambassador emphasized the importance of carrying out humanitarian actions and providing assistance in the north-eastern regions of Syria, and reiterated Armenia’s readiness to continue providing humanitarian aid to the friendly people of Syria.

The sides discussed the opportunities of cooperation and combining efforts in this direction,” the foreign ministry said in a news release.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan to participate in Tbilisi Silk Road Forum

 20:00,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan will travel to Georgia October 21-23 to participate in the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum.

PM Nikol Pashinyan signed the decision on dispatching Avinyan’s delegation to the event.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

On October 16, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar,.

The PM said that Armenia attaches importance to the continuous development of relations with the European Union and that the official high-level meetings testify about the Armenia-EU effective dialogue and dynamic process of cooperation.

According to PM Pashinyan, the EU is Armenia’s most important colleague in the full-swing reforms that are underway in Armenia, and the government is resolute in continuing key reforms in different sectors.

Klaar said that the EU is also attaching importance to deepening partnership with Armenia and is ready to continue supporting the Armenian PM and the Government in the reforms aimed at strengthening democracy.

Nikol Pashinyan and Toivo Klaar exchanged ideas around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The PM emphasized that Armenia sees the resolution exclusively through a peaceful path and is committed to the negotiations process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship format.

The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia commended Armenia’s steps aimed at the conflict’s peaceful resolution and noted that the European Union is supporting the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ efforts in the direction of peaceful negotiations.