Month: February 2020

 17:43, 4 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian received today newly appointed Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri on the occasion of presenting his credentials, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian President congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office and expressed hope that he will bring his active contribution to further deepening and strengthening the historical, friendly relations between the two countries.

President Sarkissian said Armenia and Iran have always been good neighbors and supported each other at difficult times.

The Armenian President remembered his recent meeting with President of Iran Hassan Rouhani in Yerevan.

The President and the Ambassador exchanged views on the Armenian-Iranian agenda and the opportunities to expand the mutual cooperation in various fields.

The Iranian Ambassador said he will make all efforts to further develop and expand the partnership between the two friendly countries.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:56, 4 February, 2020

YEREVAN, 4 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 4 February, USD exchange rate is down by 0.05 drams to 478.80 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 0.92 drams to 529.31 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is up by 0.08 drams to 7.57 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 2.89 drams to 623.11 drams.

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

Gold price is down by 148.02 drams to 24241.35 drams. Silver price is down by 1.80 drams to 273.55 drams. Platinum price is up by 106.22 drams to 14870.39 drams.

 20:07, 4 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS.  Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan send a condolence letter to President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang on the occasion of the outbreak of coronavirus.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime MIniste rof Armenia, the letter addressed to the President of China reads as follows,

“At this difficult moment for China, please, accept the sincere condolences and solidarity on behalf of the Armenian people and personally me addressed to you and the friendly people of China on the occasion of the outbreak of coronavirus, which has already claimed hundreds of lives.

During its centuries-old history China has withstood numerous challenges and always overcome them with honor. We are confident that this time again, under your prudent and provident leadership, Chine will be able to overcome the severe consequences of this disaster, restoring the peaceful and secure atmosphere of the country.

I wish you endless patience and resolve, and spiritual strength o the friendly Chinese people”.

The letter addressed to the Chinese Prime Minister runs as follows,

“On behalf of the Armenian people and personally me I offer deep condolences and solidarity with you and the friendly Chinese people on the occasion of the death of some hundreds of people as a result of the outbreak of coronavirus. I am confident that the measures taken by the Government of China under your leadership will lead to the victory over the severe consequences of this disaster, restoring the normal operation of the country.

I wish you strength and confidence, and patience and spiritual strength to the friendly Chinese people”.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 21:14, 4 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS.  Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyễn Xuan Phuc met on February 3 with Ambassador of Armenia to Vietnam Vahram Kazhoyan.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, greeting the Ambassador, Prime Minister Phuc noted that there is a positive atmosphere of mutual understanding between the two countries and particularly emphasized the importance of the development of cooperation in the spheres of trade, economy and investments.

Thanking the Prime Minister of Vietnam for the reception, Ambassador Kazhoyan congratulated him on the occasion of the 90^th anniversary of the establishment of Communist Party of Vietnam and assumption of the chairmanship over the UNSC and the ASEAN by Vietnam.

During the meeting Ambassador Kazhoyan referred to the priorities of the Armenian-Vietnamese cooperation. He added that the Armenian companies show great interest to participate in “Vietnam Expo” 2020, which can be a good platform for the export of Armenian products not only to Vietnam, but also ASEAN countries.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 19:04, 4 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS.  The lawyers of 2^nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyans filed a motion to the court to suspend the case on the alleged overthrow of the constitutional order. ARMENPRESS reports the examination of the motion was postponed because of the end of the working day.

The other participants f the trial will give speeches at the next hearing.

Aram Orbelyan, one of Kocharyan’s lawyers, citing the Constitution, emphasized that in March 2008 Robert Kocharyan acted exclusively in the limits of the powers of the President. According to Orbelyan, Robert Kocharyan’s right to immunity and  presumption of innocence have been and continue to be violated. Concluding his speech, Aram Orbelyan asked the court to suspend the criminal persecution of Robert Kocharyan.

Erik Grigoryan, lawyer of former Deputy PM Armen Gevorgyan, also filed a motion to drop the charges from his defendant.

Criminal charges are pressed against former President Robert Kocharian, former Chief of General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, former Secretary General of the CSTO Yuri Khachaturov, former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and former  Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan over the March 1 case.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 20:53, 4 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS.  Detention has been chosen as a preventive measure for Davit Movsisyan who is indicted for the death of serviceman (conscript) Vahram Avagyan, ARMENPRESS reports head of the press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Naira Harutyunyan wrote on her Facebook page.

Davit Movsisyan is the son of former MP Arakel Movsisyan, known as Shmays.

Davit Movsisyan is charged under Article 359 (3) of the Criminal Code of Armenia, that is, breaching the rules of conduct of servicemen in the absence of subordinate relations between them, which negligently caused grave consequences.

The incident took place on January 30. Davit Movsisyan was the co-serviceman of the killed soldier.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 09:50, 5 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan reminded the 6 pan-national consensuses proposed by him in Stepanakert on August 5, 2019, as a pillar and formula for the pan-Armenianism and the national unity.

The PM made a post on Facebook:

“Consensus 1: Violence should be ruled out from the set of tools for resolving any pan-Armenian issue. We should rule out violence while solving any internal issues between us in our reality. All those forces, individuals, who consider violence as a measure to solve any inner-Armenian issue, should be rejected and thrown into the garbage of the history of the Armenian people. The vision of having a violence-free society, a violence-free people should become the key point of our national unity. But, in this context there is only one exception: the talk is about the use of a legal force to prevent and reveal crimes, and ensure the normal life of the people.

Consensus 2: People and their free _expression_ of will are the only source for the formation of power. Any attempt of distorting the people’s will should be viewed as an anti-state, anti-national activity. In this respect I attach a great importance to the holding of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in the Republic of Artsakh in free, competitive and democratic environment and to providing real guarantees for the people’s free _expression_ of will. Therefore, the Republic of Armenia should act and will act as a guarantor of the Artsakh people’s free _expression_ of will and the formation of a legitimate power through this _expression_ of will.

Consensus 3: The sovereignty of Armenia and Artsakh, the Armenian people is the highest value, and all those forces who will try to bring foreign forces for solving inner-Armenian issues, all those forces who will act in our country as a representative of foreign interests, should receive and will receive the toughest counter response of the Armenian people and their legitimate representative – the government of Armenia.

Consensus 4: Armenia and Artsakh should be free from corruption. All corruption manifestations, including sponsorship, artificial monopolies, artificial barriers against the competitors, should be eradicated. The damages caused by corruption activity to the state and the people should be restored.

Consensus 5: The rule of law and right, the equality of all before the law should become a key point in the inner-national relations. The existence of courts that are under foreign or domestic influence is a threat to the national security. In Armenia and Artsakh courts should be independent. The presence of a privileged elite, circles and individuals in economy, politics and any sphere of public life should be ruled out. Here I want to make a comment: dear people, we have many worthy people, Armenians gave many worthy sons, but it’s unacceptable and cannot be tolerated when someone provides service to the people and the homeland and later tries to sell that service in a privileged, out-of-law way.

Consensus 6: The most important consensus: the purpose of the negotiation process for settling the Artsakh conflict should be the defense of the results of the Artsakh liberation war carried out for the self-determination and security of the people of Artsakh. Based on the negotiation results any solution considered accepted for the governments of Armenia and Artsakh can be considered acceptable only in case of the people’s approval in Armenia and Artsakh”.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 10:22, 5 February, 2020

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. An OSCE mission will conduct a planned ceasefire monitoring on February 6 at the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact, the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh said.

From the Artsakh side, the monitoring will be carried out by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office field assistants Ognjen Jovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ghenadie Petrica (Moldova), as well as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office personal assistant Simon Tiller (UK).

From the opposite side of the line of contact the monitoring will be conducted by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, his field assistant Mihail Olaru (Moldova) and staff member Martin Shuster (Germany).

The monitoring will take place in accordance to arrangements reached with the government of Artsakh.  It will be carried out in the eastern part of the village of Talish in the Martakert region.

The authorities of Artsakh expressed willingness to assist in conducting the monitoring and ensure the safety of the OSCE mission.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 09:57, 5 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. The number of people infected with the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV in China has surpassed 24,300, and the death toll has climbed to 490, China’s National Health Commission said, reports TASS.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Wangyi news portal reported citing regional authorities that over 23,600 people were infected with the new coronavirus, and the death toll climbed to 491 (including one lethal case in Hong Kong).

Over 185,500 people in China remain under medical supervision.

According to the commission, 846 people have recovered after contracting the new coronavirus. Most people infected with 2019-nCoV are reported from Hubei province (16,600), where the death toll from the new coronavirus climbed to 479. In Zhejiang province, 829 people were infected, in Guangdong province — 813 people, in Beijing — 228 people (one person died), in Heilongjiang province bordering Russia v 155 people (two people died), and in Inner Mongolia province bordering Russia — 35 people.

On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent: coronavirus 2019-nCoV.

Cases of the new coronavirus were also confirmed in 24 other countries, including Russia. The WHO declared the new coronavirus outbreak an international public health emergency.