Month: December 2020

 12:20, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The My Step Charity Foundation has announced a number of programs in support of the people of Artsakh who were affected by the war.

The foundation said it would provide:

1. support to the humanitarian aid stations operating in Armenia
2. packages (bags, stationeries, etc.) to school-aged residents of Artsakh who have temporarily settled in Armenia
3. acquisition of necessary items (strollers, clothing, hygiene products) for pregnant women and newborns from Artsakh who have temporarily settled in Armenia
4. organization of a New Year and Christmas market for children in Stepanakert
5. organization of New Year celebrations for children of military servicemen in Yerevan and in provinces of Armenia
6. opening of a temporary free meal center in Stepanakert

The foundation said that all relief programs are developed in cooperation with government bodies of Armenia and Artsakh upon studying the needs and demands.

In addition to urgent support programs, the foundation said it is also developing long-term self-sustainable programs which will bring positive change and improvement of livelihood.

“By uniting our efforts, let’s convey our love and care to our countrymen: ”, it said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1036376.html?fbclid=IwAR04vdBFvcbSq4zJhkpB9WzjpOv1XcLSmCO4YqE60vl2PMpDYOCHaTUkaHU

 14:11, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The family members of the troops who are missing in action in the Second Nagorno Karabakh War that ended on November 10 are rallying outside the Defense Ministry headquarters in Yerevan demanding a meeting with Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan.

The parents of the missing soldiers were earlier demonstrating outside a military base in Vagharshapat, demanding authorities to launch search operations in Zangelan. They said they don’t understand why search operations haven’t been conducted there so far and why the process is being delayed. The Chief of Staff of the Vagharshapat military base Kamo Malkhasyan had told them that the search operations would start as soon as November 2.

The families of the missing troops had earlier demonstrated outside the Russian embassy, asking Moscow to assist in the process. An embassy staffer had told them they would make every effort to help.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:25, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament Gor Gevorgyan has announced that he is quitting the ruling My Step bloc and will continue serving his constituents as an independent lawmaker.

“I reaffirm that national solidarity and unity, domestic stability are indisputable top priorities for me,” he said in a statement.

“During these days I tried to direct my efforts to have dialogue with my colleagues, to soberly assess the situation and find more efficient solutions for our state. At the same time, due to my principled disagreements over certain realities that have become obvious during this time, and a number of key and problematic issues facing our state, I have decided to withdraw from the My Step faction and to continue fulfilling my duties before my constituents as an independent Member of Parliament,” he said.

“I share the pain and sorrow of my people, I bow before all our martyrs, hero fighters and the Armenian army,” he concluded.

Gevorgyan is already the third MP to leave the ruling faction to become an independent lawmaker.

Two other ruling bloc MPs had resigned from parliament.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Serzh Sargsyan's nephew pleads guilty to illegal possession of firearms, narcotics and kidnapping

 15:01, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Former President Serzh Sargsyan’s nephew Narek Sargsyan pleaded guilty to charges of illegal possession of firearms, narcotics and kidnapping pressed by prosecutors since 2019, the prosecutor Aram Aramyan said.

Sargsyan is on a 25,000,000 dram bail.

The next court hearing will take place on December 24.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:40, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The ruling My Step bloc of the Armenian parliament held a closed meeting with Vahan Kerobyan, the new economy minister of Armenia who took office on November 26.

Details from the meeting weren’t immediately clear.

My Step bloc leader Lilit Makunts refused to elaborate.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:29, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Director of the National Security Service of Armenia Armen Abazyan is departing for Moscow on a visit, the NSS press service told ARMENPRESS without elaborating.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 16:15, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan is back to work after undergoing several surgeries for injuries he suffered overnight November 10 when a crowd of protesters attacked him outside the parliament building in Yerevan.

His aide Vahan Kostanyan told ARMENRESS that Mirzoyan will initially work at a partial schedule.

“He has returned, on a non-full schedule, because he still has some health issues,” Kostanyan said.

Kostanyan says the Speaker is generally doing fine but he is still recovering.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 16:59, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Advisor to the president of Artsakh Davit Babayan says in case of unblocking transport communication routes as envisaged by the statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan, the re-launch of the airport of Stepanakert should be put into discussion.

“With the support of the Russian side, the re-opening of the Stepanakert airport will create a second important route connecting with the external world. Moreover, after its re-opening the airport can become an important transportation hub, as well as will enable to solve socio-economic issues”, Davit Babayan told Armenpress, adding that according to his information during the recent military operations the airport of Stepanakert has been targeted, but didn’t suffer serious damages.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:04, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS.  Ameriabank has entered into long-term subordinated loan agreement with Symbiotics SA for USD 15 million, with possible increase up to USD 25 million. The funds qualify as Bank Tier 2 capital instrument under Basel III framework and are aimed at strengthening the overall capital position of the Bank.

Ameriabank CEO Artak Hanesyan commented: “We highly appreciate the relationship with our partners at Symbiotics SA and are delighted to continue it with a long-term subordinated loan facility  now. The new funds will help us to not only sustain loan book growth but also provide much needed support to the Armenian businesses in these challenging times. The Facility arrives just in time, when the regulator encouraged the banks to attract capital by means of Tier 2 instruments, and we plan to raise more Tier 2 Capital still this year. This is also an important milestone en route to our IPO and I thank again our partners for their continuous support and trust in Ameriabank”. 

“Together with our anchor investor in this deal, C-Quadrat, we are glad to support our long-standing partner Ameriabank with Tier II capital alongside the global pandemic and look forward to jointly ensuring uninterrupted access to finance for the local micro – small and medium sized enterprises in this economically challenging period”, noted Sofia Tulupova, Symbiotics Co- regional Manager for ECA and MENAP. 

“For more than ten years, Vision Microfinance has enabled people in developing countries to make decisive improvements in their living conditions. This has become possible due to the successful cooperation with Symbiotics and the reliable network of local financial institutions that has been carefully built within these years. Ameriabank is one of the highest rated partner institutions in our investee network and we are glad that with this facility we managed to deliver a timely support to the bank that will further serve its goal of financing MSME clients of the bank in urban and rural areas of Armenia.”, noted Günther Kastner, the founder, Managing Partner and CIO of C-QUADRAT Impact Asset Management GmbH.

 

About Symbiotics SA

Symbiotics is the leading market access platform for impact investing, dedicated to financing micro- small and medium enterprises and low- and middle-income households in emerging and frontier markets. Since 2005, Symbiotics has structured and originated some 4,000 deals for over 450 companies in almost 90 emerging and frontier markets representing more than USD 5.5 billion. These investments have been purchased by more than 25 fund mandates and more than 50 third party specialized fund managers, forming a growing ecosystem and marketplace for such transactions.

symbioticsgroup.com

 

About DUAL Return Fund/C-Quadrat

The Dual Return Fund – Vision Microfinance contributes to sustainable development worldwide by working towards majority of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over 1.77bn USD distributed in the form of 1123 loans to 303 different Microfinance Institutions in 67 countries, reaching out to an estimated more than 2,5 million micro entrepreneurs including their families.

www.visionmicrofinance.com

C-Quadrat Impact Asset Management, Austria, investment manager of the Dual Return Fund, is a leading independent asset management company in the German speaking region specializing in asset allocation, analysis and management of absolute return, sustainable investments and microfinance fund products.

www.cq-am.com

 

Ameriabank CJSC

Ameriabank is a dynamically developing bank and one of the major and most stable financial institutions in Armenia with clearly formulated digital agenda. The first investment bank in Armenia, Ameriabank is a universal bank offering innovative corporate, investment and retail banking services in a comprehensive package of banking solutions.

For further information, please visit .

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1036414.html?fbclid=IwAR1o_vncuHrUvveDqkv-Z0CWKxASOBqb50BrLZ-jqHPPiFqKKK–4w_6ays

 17:22, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, 1 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 1 December, USD exchange rate up by 0.58 drams to 506.98 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.59 drams to 607.41 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 6.66 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.24 drams to 676.92 drams.

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

Gold price down by 239.85 drams to 28729.18 drams. Silver price down by 15.62 drams to 361.04 drams. Platinum price up by 506.69 drams to 15957.49 drams.