Month: February 2020

 15:32,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met today with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić in Munich, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian PM highlighted the meeting and stated that it is a good opportunity to discuss the current issues. “As you know, Armenia currently is in the process of large-scale democratic reforms which accelerated especially after the 2018 peaceful, Velvet, democratic Revolution. It soon was revealed that the Constitutional system of our country was occupied before the Revolution, moreover, it was covered with mines. And now we are making efforts to demine the democracy and the judicial system in Armenia. I am glad for this opportunity to make you informed about the ongoing developments because recently we made a decision to hold a referendum on the Constitutional Court. I am happy to inform what is happening and why, and what will happen later”, the PM said.

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for this opportunity, which, as you said, is very important in terms of being informed about the ongoing developments. Let me remind that we have already started the intensive cooperation between Armenia and the Council of Europe after the visit of the CoE high-level working group last May. I know that you asked the CoE to engage in this process. And the CoE started closely following what is taking place. There are some concerns, and it would be interesting to listen from you how you see the future developments and how we can continue assisting your country”, the CoE Secretary General said.

Pashinyan introduced the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia, including those in the judiciary. He stated that last year Armenia recorded a great progress in international rankings on democracy, human rights and freedom of speech. He thoroughly introduced the details of the upcoming referendum scheduled on April 5.

Marija Pejčinović Burić expressed the full support of the Council of Europe to Armenia’s reforms, including in the judicial field, and stated that they will continue the discussions with the Armenian government regarding the cooperation on this path.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:03,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met today with his Iraqi counterpart Mohamed A. Alhakim on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Armenian MFA told Armenpress.

The Armenian and Iraqi FMs stated that the bilateral relations are recording a positive dynamics. In this context FM Mnatsakanyan said Armenia is taking actions to expand its diplomatic representation in Iraq which will bring contribution to further enriching the bilateral agenda.

They highlighted the role of the Armenian community in Iraq’s public-political life and strengthening the friendship between the two countries.

The ministers exchanged views on international and regional issues. FM Mnatsakanyan said Armenia always closely follows the developments taking place in the Middle East.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:45,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The first lethal case of the novel coronavirus has been identified in Europe – a Chinese tourist who contracted the disease died in France, Agence France-Presse said citing the French health minister, reports TASS.

According to the official, the 80-year-old Chinese citizen was rushed to hospitals with novel coronavirus symptoms in late January.

A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously called 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of Wuhan – a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people – in late December. The WHO declared it a global emergency, describing the outbreak as an epidemic with multiple foci.

The virus spread to 25 more countries, apart from China: Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. Chinese authorities have confirmed more than 66,400 cases of the disease, over 1,520 people died, while more than 8,000 people are reported to have recovered.

 16:38,

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. During the period from February 9 to 15 the Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire regime in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact nearly 120 times by firing more than 1100 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions, the defense ministry of Artsakh told Armenpress.

The Artsakh Defense Army forces follow the ceasefire regime and continue confidently conducting their military service.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:44,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan continues holding bilateral meetings with the heads of state and government within the frames of the Munich Security Conference, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Firstly, the PM met with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov during which they discussed various issues relating to the bilateral economic cooperation. In particular, the Armenian and Bulgarian PMs touched upon the development of cooperation in tourism, IT, infrastructures, transportation and energy, as well as exchanged views on the implementation opportunities of regional programs.

PM Boyko Borisov invited his Armenian counterpart to Bulgaria on an official visit which was approved. They expressed confidence that the high-level mutual visits will give a new impetus to the bilateral ties in all spheres.

Thereafter, Pashinyan met with President of Latvia Egils Levits. The officials discussed the Armenia-EU cooperation development, as well as Armenia’s ongoing democratic reforms and the cooperation on this direction.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:02,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in Munich, the Armenian PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The officials discussed the development and expansion of the bilateral relations. They highlighted the development of political, economic, educational and cultural cooperation.

Emphasizing the importance of strengthening the ties between the two peoples, the Armenian and Kuwaiti PMs touched upon boosting the cooperation in tourism sector, and also in this context the possibility of organizing direct flights.

PM Pashinyan introduced Armenia’s actions to improve the business climate, fight against corruption and stated that the government is interested in attracting the Kuwaiti business to the Armenian market, adding that it will allow investors to enter into the market of the Eurasian Economic Union.

They agreed to task their respective Cabinet members to take necessary actions for boosting business ties.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:59,

MUNICH, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Armenpress correspondent reports from Munich.

From the Armenian side the meeting was attended by PM’s assistant Hrachya Tashchyan and head of the department of foreign relations at the PM’s office Tsovinar Hambardzumyan.

The Armenian PM welcomed his counterpart of Norway and stated that he is very happy for this meeting as it is a good opportunity to discuss issues of bilateral interest, outline the ways to boost the relations of the two countries. “Dear Mrs. Prime Minister, Armenia is currently at a period of reforms. We have an agenda of reforms in various areas, in particular, in the judicial field”, Pashinyan said, adding that they have a goal to put democracy on institutional basis.

The Armenian PM thoroughly introduced the process of ongoing reforms in the judiciary. He said the European Union is Armenia’s key partner on the path of reforms.

Pashinyan said the support of international partners to the reforms is very important.

The PM of Norway praised the process of reforms in Armenia and expressed readiness to discuss issues of bilateral interest.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 20:00,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev kicked off on February 15 on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Armenpress correspondent reports from Munich.

After the meeting the leaders of the two countries will participate in a discussion on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the frames of the Conference. The moderator of the discussion is the President and CEO of the U.S. Russia Foundation (USRF) Celeste Wallander.

The 56^th Munich Security Conference launched on February 14. Armenia’s PM Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian are attending the Conference.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan