Month: October 2019

Armenia’s Security Council carefully follows ongoing developments in Syria’s north-east

 09:49, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Discussions were held in Armenia’s Security Council attended by the relevant authorities regarding the current situation in Syria’s Armenian-populated settlements caused by the October 9 military invasion by Turkey.

The Security Council said it closely follows the ongoing developments in Syria’s north-east and at the same time develops options to respond to possible developments aimed at ensuring the security of the Armenian population.

On October 9 Turkish forces launched an offensive in Syria’s north-east.

The Armenian foreign ministry released a statement noting that Armenia condemns the military invasion by Turkey in north-east Syria, which would lead to deterioration of regional security, losses among civilians, mass displacement and eventually to a new humanitarian crisis.

The United Arab Emirates also condemned the Turkish aggression in Syria.

Iran also condemned this action, urging Turkey to withdraw the troops from Syria.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Fight against terrorism is one of priorities of national security bodies – acting NSS chief

 10:23, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Acting Director of the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia Eduard Martirosyan on October 9 received Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Jumakhon Giyosov, the NSS told Armenpress.

Introducing the functions of the structure, Jumakhon Giyosov said the Executive Committee coordinates the mutual cooperation of the relevant authorities of the organization’s member states in fighting terrorism, extremism and separatism. He noted that the expansion of the international cooperation, as well as involvement of partner states in the anti-terrorism operations is among the priorities of the SCO.

In his turn the acting NSS chief highly valued the SCO activities in fighting terrorism and stated that the threat of terrorism is one of the global problems faced by the humanity in the 21st century, and thus, the fight against terrorism is one of the priorities of the activities of national security bodies. Eduard Martirosyan stated that the NSS is ready to cooperate with the SCO and jointly fight for eliminating the threats of the international terrorism.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

President Bako Sahakyan attends opening of conference of Artsakh friends in Stepanakert

 11:04, 11 October, 2019

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on October 11 attended the opening of the “Cooperation for Justice and Peace” conference of Artsakh friends in Stepanakert during which he delivered a speech, the President’s Office told Armenpress.

“Dear participants of the forum,

Dear friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I extend my most heartfelt welcome to all of you in the Artsakh Republic.

Today’s event is distinguished both by its content and the participant list. This is the pioneering pro-Artsakh forum, which has brought together, under the same roof, political, public, cultural figures, human rights advocates, scientists, analysts and journalists from different countries who support Artsakh. Here are members of the friendship groups and circles with Artsakh, representatives of administrative units and political forces having recognized the independence of the Artsakh Republic or have been cooperating with us.

Remaining true to the democratic principles and humanitarian values, you have spared no effort supporting Artsakh for years, raising awareness about and rendering objective information on our country on diverse international platforms, carrying out activities towards the development of bilateral relations and the implementation of multifaceted programs in Artsakh.

We are grateful to you for all the painstaking work you carry out, we highly appreciate your pursuits and are glad to have friends like you.

The discussion points on the forum agenda touch upon almost all the spheres of our republic’s activity. This format enables having a clear and full picture of the realities, outlining and setting the record straight on the future plans.

In this context, it is crucial to present once again our vision of the Artsakh Republic state-building process and our foreign policy imperatives, which is a unique roadmap for your work as well.

Building an independent, sovereign and strong state has always been the backbone of our state-building, our trinity with Armenia and the Diaspora, our commitment to democratic values and principles being among its pillars.

The full-fledged security of Artsakh in all the dimensions is a must for us. Even the slightest decline in our security will tempt our opponents to launch a new aggression which itself is pregnant with unpredictable consequences. For this very reason security issues are top priority in the negotiation process too.

Drawing upon the negotiation process, I would like to reaffirm our commitment to peaceful settlement of relations with Azerbaijan around the negotiation table under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. It should be mentioned that it is impossible to achieve real progress without the restoration of the full-fledged negotiation format with the direct participation of Artsakh.

Obviously, the fate of Artsakh cannot be decided without its participation and there is no return to the past, both with respect to status and borders.

The principles of balanced and multi-vectored approach remain at the root of the Artsakh Republic foreign policy.

Maintaining equally good-neighborly relations with Europe, the USA, Russia as well as regional states is a foreign strategy imperative for us. This stance is derivative from both the specificity of our region and the existence of the Armenian Diaspora.

In the foreign policy realm official Stepanakert will continue placing special emphasis on forging and enhancing relations with different countries and states and their administrative units.

Dear friends,

Any period of time generates new problems, requires clarification and refinement of strategies and tactics to face various challenges. Here close cooperation between Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora, cementing the working relationships between Artsakh and its friends is of utmost importance.

We have lot more work to do and diverse issues to solve, however, they are very much realistic. I am confident that we will succeed in solving them efficiently, and within this context holding such events has a great role to play.

I wish productive work to the forum, robust health, success and all the best to theparticipants.

Thank you”, reads the President’s speech.

Armenian PM’s spouse to attend Swiss Red Cross charity event in Geneva

 11:11, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Anna Hakobyan, spouse of the Armenian Prime Minister, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of My Step and City of Smile charitable foundations, will depart for Switzerland on October 11, her Office told Armenpress.

In Geneva Mrs. Hakobyan will attend the annual charity event of the Swiss Red Cross.

During the visit the PM’s wife will also meet with the Armenian community representatives of Switzerland and will attend the holy mass in the St. Jacob Church of Geneva which will be delivered by His Holiness Garegin II on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Church.

Anna Hakobyan will also visit the École hôtelière de Lausanne school to meet with the executives.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Deputy PM Avinyan receives World Bank’s Regional Director for South Caucasus

 11:22, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan received the delegation of the World Bank led by Regional Director for the South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus, the deputy PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Welcoming the guests, the deputy PM said the meeting is a good chance to exchange views on the partnership with the Bank, as well as to discuss the ongoing programs and future cooperation directions.

In turn Sebastian Molineus thanked for the welcome and congratulated the Armenian government over the recent successful release of Eurobonds, as well as for holding the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019) at a high level.

The officials continued discussing issues relating to the fields of digitization, tourism, water resource management, irrigation, energy strategy and energy efficiency, as well as outlined the future steps on these directions.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

NSS reveals new case of embezzlement again involving former director of Hayastan All- Armenian Fund

 11:27, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s National Security Service revealed another case of embezzlement again involving former executive director of the Hayastan All –Armenian Fund Ara Vardanyan, the NSS told Armenpress.

Vardanyan has earlier been charged for misappropriating funds of the charity organization for personal goals, was arrested, but later was released on bail.

Based on the NSS data, this time Ara Vardanyan, by reaching an agreement with the director of the company belonging to the Fund with 100% share, signed a contract on October 26, 2017 to supply property worth 149.474.540.00 AMD to the education departments of the administrative staffs of Artsakh’s Shahumyan, Martakert, Hadrut, Kashatagh and Martuni regions, however, that equipment has not been delivered to these departments, and fake documents have been prepared for embezzling the aforementioned sums.

On October 9, 2019, the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction approved the motion to select the arrest as a preventive measure against Vardanyan.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Session of CIS Council of Heads of State begins in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

 11:26, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The narrow format session of the CIS Council of Heads of State has kicked off today in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, which is also attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The heads of state will discuss the cooperation development issues within the CIS and will present their views on the future issues.

They also are expected to discuss the issue of the 2020 CIS chairmanship, as well as the location of the next session.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian PM, Uzbekistan’s President meet in Ashgabat

 11:42, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is in Turkmenistan on a working visit, on October 11 met with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Ashgabat, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

PM Pashinyan said he is happy to meet with the Uzbek President to discuss the prospects aimed at strengthening the ties between the two states and friendly peoples. Pashinyan expressed the readiness of the Armenian side to contribute to forming a new agenda of the bilateral relations and quickly and effectively implementing it.

In his turn the President of Uzbekistan stated that his country attaches importance to the development of ties with Armenia and this meeting should be used to continue the high-level political dialogue, to fully utilize the existing potential in the bilateral relations and boost the cooperation. In this context the Uzbek President proposed to discuss the possibility to establish an inter-governmental commission.

Armenian PM Pashinyan agreed with this proposal and expressed confidence that the commission will be formed soon and will develop a respective legal framework as a result of effective work. Pashinyan also praised the Uzbek government’s caring attitude towards the Armenian community.

The officials continued discussing the opportunities to initiate joint programs in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Turkmenistan to take part in the session of the CIS Heads of State.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia welcomes any initiative aimed at deepening economic cooperation in CIS – PM Pashinyan

 11:44, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenia welcomes any initiative which is directed for deepening the economic cooperation within the CIS states, as well as expanding the integration processes, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the session of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on October 11.

The PM thanked the President of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen partners for organizing the session at a high level and for the warm welcome.

“I am very impressed with Ashgabat, with its wonderful architecture. I am visiting here for the first time. I want to express my gratitude to Turkmenistan for the work carried out during the chairmanship in the CIS aimed at the development of the organization. Your productive work has been reflected in the agenda issues of our cooperation”, Pashinyan said.

He said Armenia welcomes the declaration on economic, strategic cooperation and supports any initiative aimed at deepening the economic partnership, expanding the integration processes within the CIS states. The document outlines key strategic goals for the cooperation which can be achieved through a coordinated and consistent work both at the bilateral and multilateral formats.

Among the agenda issues Pashinyan highlighted the joint address to the CIS peoples, the international community on the 75th anniversary of the Great Patriotic Victory.

“It’s very important to inform our youth in our countries and elsewhere about the key role our peoples have played in the fight against fascism. According to various estimates, nearly 300.000 Armenians were killed during that years”, Pashinyan said. He noted that Armenia supports any constructive step aimed at objective coverage of these historical events, as well as opposes all those attempts of subjective interpretation.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

My Step for Aragatsotn Province investment forum to take place on October 12

 11:59, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. My Step for Aragatsotn Province investment forum will take place on October 12 in the Armenia Wine factory located in the village of Sasunik by the joint initiative of the ministry of territorial administration and infrastructures and the Aragatsotn Governorate.

An expo displaying the best production of the province will also take place.

The forum will be attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikuan, government representatives, officials, businessmen, foreign investors and other guests.

Nearly 30 business programs, the working atmosphere of the province, its development prospects, priority directions and potential will be introduced during the forum.

The forum aims at assisting the investment programs being implemented in the province, establishing new business ties, revealing the problems in the business sector and developing their solution mechanisms.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan