15:42,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan will participate in the inauguration ceremony of newly elected President of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia.
Simonyan will leave for Uruguay from February 28 until March 3.
13:02,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The death toll from the novel coronavirus in Iran has reached 18, according to Al Arabiya TV.
As of February 22 the death toll was 6, with 28 confirmed cases of the virus, known as Covid-2019.
Iran reported the first case of the virus on February 19.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
13:35,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Embassy in Iran is temporarily suspending its consular section’s work (citizens’ registration and reception) starting February 23, the embassy said in a statement amid the novel coronavirus (covid-2019) outbreak in Iran.
“The embassy apologizes for the inconvenience,” it said Sunday morning.
The embassy did not mention for how long the consular section will remain closed but noted that it will issue updates.
Earlier on February 22, Armenia warned its nationals against all but essential travel to Iran.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
09:33,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory letter to President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid on the country’s national day – the Independence Day, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.
“Armenia attaches importance to the friendly relations and the constant strengthening of the constructive dialogue with Estonia both at the bilateral format and within the frames of the European Union. I believe that my visit to Tallinn this year will give a new impetus to the Armenian-Estonian cooperation by covering new spheres of mutual interest”, the Armenian President said in his letter.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
10:19,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Foreign minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan expressed condolences to the families of victims of a devastating earthquake that hit Turkey.
“Deep condolences to families and relatives of victims of devastating earthquake in Van. Wishing speedy recovery to those injured”, the Armenian FM said on Twitter.
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake was registered near the Turkey-Iran border on February 23, killing 9 people and injuring 37. There are children among those killed. 8 of the injured are in critical condition.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
11:00,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Miroslav Lajčák visited today the Armenian Genocide Memorial on the sidelines of his official visit to pay tribute to the memory of the innocent victims, the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenpress.
Miroslav Lajčák arrived in Armenia on February 24 on an official visit. The Slovak FM is scheduled to meet with his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan. The meeting will be followed by a joint press conference.
Meetings with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian are also expected.
During the visit the Slovak FM will attend the official opening ceremony of the Embassy of Slovakia in Armenia.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
19:32,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will shut down its border with neighboring Iran for two weeks in a latest countermeasure to prevent the novel coronavirus outbreak from entering Armenia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in a statement that the emergency decision will be made in pursuance of Article 16 of the Law on State Border.
“Particularly, the Iran-Armenia air communication and the entry of people to Armenia through the Meghri Border Crossing Point will be suspended”, he said.
The ban will be effective for two weeks.
Pashinyan said that the Commission on Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus, the government’s task force operating since January 31, will convene a session on Monday to discuss further measures, possible scenarios and related actions.
“In any case I find it necessary to underscore that there are no reasons to spread panic. Such actions are harmful in all cases,” the PM said.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
10:03,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has admitted that the Italian authorities were not expecting such a drastic increase of the novel coronavirus cases in the country, but he at the same time said that the countermeasures to contain the outbreak will give results within the coming two weeks.
“We are carrying out thousands of tests,” he told Canale 5.
PM Conte said Italy has found itself in “a national emergency situation”.
As of February 23, Italy has confirmed 152 novel coronavirus cases. 3 people died from the disease.
The outbreak has been recorded mostly in Lombardy and Veneto. Schools and universities in the regions are shut down.
All public events, including cultural, sports and religious ones, have been suspended. In Venice, the fames Carnival was stopped two days ahead of schedule. The Milan Cathedral is also closed.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
23 Feb 20200
Yerevan (AFP) – Armenia will close its border with Iran and suspend flights, Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian announced Sunday, as fears over a deadly outbreak of the new coronavirus in Iran sent neighbouring countries scrambling to contain the outbreak.
“Iran-Armenia air links and the entry of people into Armenia via the Meghri checkpoint” the only border crossing between the nations “will be suspended”, he said in a post on Twitter, adding that the measure was set to last two weeks.