December 2020 – Page 5 – Armenian Directory & News

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 29-12-20

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Emil Lazarian

17:26,

YEREVAN, 29 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 December, USD exchange rate down by 0.95 drams to 522.30 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.11 drams to 639.82 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.10 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 5.10 drams to 704.06 drams.

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

Gold price down by 57.27 drams to 31485.62 drams. Silver price down by 0.78 drams to 432.91 drams. Platinum price down by 30.82 drams to 16943.46 drams.

We are going to discuss conditions for his resignation – Tsarukyan about expected meeting with PM

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Maral Takmazian

17:59,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. President of ‘’Prosperous Armenia’’ Party Gagik Tsarukyan told the reporters that he will discuss the conditions for PM Pashinyan’s resignation during the meeting with the latter, ARMENPRESS reports Tsarukyan said at the parliament before the meeting with Pashinyan.

‘’We are going to discuss the conditions for his resignation. Our agenda has not changed’’, Tsarukyan tld the reporters.

Earlier, head of ‘’My step’’ bloc’s parliamentary faction Lilit Makunts had told that she possesses information that a meeting may take place between PM Nikol Pashinyan and the heads of the 3 parliamentary factions.

Putin congratulates Pashinyan on upcoming holidays

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Ara Felekian

18:16,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory message to Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of the New Year and Christmas holidays. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the Prime Minister, the message runs as follows,

‘’Honorable Nikol Vovayevich,

Please, accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the New Year and Christmas.

The passing year was not an easy one and I want to hope that the challenges it brought will remain in the past. It’s important that we became fully convinced in the significance of the friendly and allied relations between our countries.

I am confident that the further development of the multidimensional Armenian-Russian relations is in line with the fundamental interests of our fraternal peoples, and is meant for ensuring peace, security and stability in the Transcaucasian region.

I wish you and your relatives, friends good health and welfare, and happiness and prosperity to all your compatriots’’.

Tsarukyan presents details of his meeting with PM Pashinyan

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Andranik Taslakhchian

18:24,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. President of ‘’Prosperous Armenia’’ Party Gagik Tsarukyan told the reporters that during his meeting with PM Pashinyan he told him what he had said in his public speeches, ARMENPRESS reports Tsarukyan said at the National Assembly.

‘’My position has not changed. He wanted to meet, I did not reject and we met. I told him what I have said publicly. I told that his resignation is the only way to overcome this situation’’, Tsarukyan said, adding that the remaining questions should be addressed to PM Pashinyan.

Marukyan presents to Pashinyan the position of his party

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Antranik Varosian

19:14,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Head of ''Bright Armenia'' Party Edmon Marukyan presented the position of his party to the PM during their meeting at the National Assembly, Marukyan told the reporters after the meeting.

''We suggested that the PM should resign, the parliament should elect a new Prime Minister, an interim Government should be established from the forces that have a consensus over that candidate and individuals that have made achievements in their spheres should be included in the Government'', ARMENPRESS reports Marukyan as saying.

According to him, the domestic political situation should be stabilized and snap elections should be prepared.

Russian PM confident Armenia-Russia partnership will continue to strengthen in 2021

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Nyrie Kalashian

19:29,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Prime MInister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. ARMENPRESS reports the message runs as follows,

''Honorable Nikol Vovayevich,

I sincerely congratulate you on New Year and Christmas holidays.

During the passing year the Armenian Russian relations, which are based on the principles of friendship, partnership and alliance, dynamically developed. Progress has been made over major joint projects. Integration cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union has been strengthened.

I am convinced that the multidimensional cooperation between Armenia and Russia will continue to strengthen in 2021. I consider it important to ensure effective cooperation in the post-conflict reconstruction of Nagorno Karabakh.

Honorable Nikol Vovayevich, I wish you good health and welfare, and peace and prosperity to all the citizens of fraternal Armenia''.

EU delegation makes all possible efforts to assist Armenia – EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 George Mamian

20:55,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The EU Delegation to Armenia makes all possible efforts to support Armenia in this difficult situation, ARMENPRESS reports head of the EU Delegation, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin said in her New Year's message.

''We are all approaching the festive period, when we would normally gather with our loved ones, eat delicious food, exchange presents and visit our family and friends.

I believe this time the celebrations will be very different. We are ending this year facing tragic events that affected Armenia and its people very harshly.

Lives, health, economic security were lost during the COVID pandemic that marked the beginning of this year. Lives, health and sense of stability were lost in the Nagorno Karabakh war. My heart is full of sorrow and compassion for those who have lost their loved ones. And it is difficult for me to say this, but we know that hardship is not over yet.

Today there are 90 000 displaced people in Armenia, who will not have a chance to spend the holidays in their homes. There are also 20 000 hosting families who opened their doors and welcomed those who were fleeing the war offering hospitality in difficult times. There are local and international organisations out there helping as they can. As well as there are thousands of health workers, teachers, police officers and others, who are risking their health and lives to save ours during still ongoing pandemic. Their strength and determination deserve more than just admiration.

Speaking for all of us at the European Union Delegation to Armenia, I can promise you that we are putting every possible effort to support Armenia in this difficult situation.

Since the very start of the pandemic, we have been working hard to mitigate its impact. We teamed up with local organisations to provide food and hygiene parcels to those who could not access basic items, and tablets to children so they could continue learning at home. Together with our Member States, we delivered medical equipment to hospitals; numerous medical professionals from EU Member States arrived to Armenia to assist their Armenian colleagues. We provided small businesses with grants and private sector will receive additional support in 2021. To this date, we provided 35.6 million EUR to the Government of Armenia to help the vulnerable families and businesses.

Together with our Member States, we delivered humanitarian aid to those affected by the Nagorno Karabakh war. The European Commission provided 3.9 million EUR support to the civilians affected by the conflict in the region. We continue our cooperation with local organisations to provide food and hygiene parcels as well as psychosocial support to displaced people from Nagorno Karabakh. At the same time, we know that a lot more needs to be done and we are working hard to support you.

Dear people of Armenia,

Under normal circumstances, I would wish us all a Happy New Year 2021. However, today, let me humbly wish you that the upcoming year be hopeful and peaceful, marked with health and the end of the pandemic.

I would also like to wish you a lot of strength for yourself, for your loved ones and for Armenia. May the better and brighter days come soon'', reads the message.

Armenian Defense Minister visits Russian mlitary base in Gyumri

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Emil Lazarian

21:45,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Vagharshak Harutyunyan visited the Russian military base in Gyumri on December 29.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MoD Armenia, Vagharshak Harutyunyan got aquainted with the infrastructures of the base, armaments and military equipment.

The Armenian Defense Minister emphasized the role of the Russian military base in Armenia from the perspective of ensuring regional security, spoke about the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership and deepening of allied relations.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan also visited the Orthodox Church of St. Alexandra, located in the territory of the military base, as well as the Museum of Military History, made a note in the guest book of the museum.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 12/29/2020

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Emil Lazarian

                                                Tuesday, 

Opposition Leaders Insist On Pashinian’s Resignation

        • Gayane Saribekian

Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and opposition leader Gagik Tsarukian 
meet in Yerevan, .

The leaders of the two opposition parties represented in Armenia’s parliament 
met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and reiterated demands for his 
resignation on Tuesday.

“I said to the prime minister what I had said publicly: that his resignation is 
necessary for getting the country out of this situation. That is the only way 
out,” Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), told 
reporters after his meeting with Pashinian held in the Armenian parliament 
building.

“My position hasn’t changed,” Tsarukian said, adding that Pashinian must step 
down “as soon as possible.”

Edmon Marukian, the leader of the Bright Armenia Party (LHK), said he also 
insisted on the prime minister’s during their separate conversation. He said 
they reached no common ground on how to end the political crisis in the country.

Pashinian did not make public statements after his talks with the two 
parliamentary opposition leaders. The talks came three days after he expressed 
readiness to hold snap parliamentary elections and discuss their practical 
modalities with the Armenian opposition.

The offer was rejected by a coalition of 16 opposition parties, including 
Tsarukian’s BHK, that have been holding anti-government demonstrations since the 
Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped the war in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 
10. In a weekend statement, the Homeland Salvation Movement again demanded that 
Pashinian hand over power to an interim government that would hold fresh 
elections within a year.


Armenia -- Edmon Marukian, the leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party, at 
a news conference in Yerevan, December 23, 2020.

The LHK is not part of the opposition coalition trying to unseat Pashinian with 
the street protests. But it too wants Pashinian to resign before the elections.

The prime minister, who rejects the opposition demands, has not yet commented on 
possible election dates.

“The elections must be held as soon as possible and they are needed by everyone, 
including the authorities,” said Alen Simonian, a senior member of Pashinian’s 
My Step alliance. “As for time frames, they depend on various political and 
technical solutions that need to be agreed with our partners.”

Marukian warned in that regard that he and his party will try to block the 
conduct of such polls if Pashinian continues to reject the opposition demands. 
“This parliament cannot be dissolved without [the consent of] Bright Armenia and 
Prosperous Armenia,” he claimed.



State Body Defends Armenian Courts Against Criticism From Government

        • Artak Khulian

Armenia - The head of Supreme Judicial Council, Ruben Vartazarian, at a press 
conference in Yerevan, .

The head of a state body overseeing Armenian courts rejected on Tuesday Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian’s latest strong criticism of the country’s judiciary.

Ruben Vartazarian, the chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, insisted that 
the courts do not execute orders issued by the government or the opposition. Nor 
are they influenced by public opinion, he said.

“If there are such judges they will face disciplinary or criminal proceedings,” 
Vartazarian told a news conference.

In the last few months various Armenian judges have refused to allow 
law-enforcement authorities to arrest dozens of opposition leaders and members 
as well as other anti-government activists. Virtually all of those individuals 
are prosecuted in connection with angry protests sparked by the Pashinian 
administration’s handling of the recent war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinian charged over the weekend that Armenia’s judicial system has become 
part of a “pseudo-elite” which is trying to topple him in the aftermath of the 
disastrous war. Justice Minister Rustam Badasian likewise accused judges last 
week of routinely acting in an unprofessional and “non-objective” manner.

Vartazarian dismissed those statements while admitting that “as a citizen” he 
has “many questions” about decisions made by local courts. He said that the 
Armenian Justice Ministry and law-enforcement agencies have legal authority to 
initiate disciplinary action or criminal proceedings against allegedly 
delinquent judges.

The Armenian constitution gives the Supreme Judicial Council wide-ranging 
powers, including the right to nominate, sanction and even fire judges. No judge 
can be indicted without the state watchdog’s consent.


Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian chairs a meeting with senior 
law-enforcement and judicial officials, Yerevan, November 30, 2020.

Pashinian was accused by opposition leaders and Armenia’s human rights ombudsman 
of pressuring the judiciary after summoning several senior judges and members of 
the Supreme Judicial Council to a meeting with top law-enforcement officials 
late last month.

The meeting focused on ongoing criminal investigations into riots that broke out 
in Yerevan on November 10 following the announcement of a Russian-brokered 
ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinian seemed upset with courts’ refusal to 
sanction the pre-trial arrest of many of the individuals charged with ransacking 
key government buildings and beating up parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan.

Pashinian also sparked controversy when he urged supporters to block court 
buildings across the country after a Yerevan court released former President 
Robert Kocharian from custody in May 2019. He accused the judiciary of remaining 
linked to the “corrupt former regime” and vowed to replace many judges.

Pashinian’s government subsequently abandoned its plans for a mandatory 
“vetting” of all judges after consultations with European legal experts. A 
government bill on judicial reforms enacted in March 2020 calls instead for a 
“verification of the integrity” of judges which is carried out by a state 
anti-corruption body.



Opposition Lawmaker Stripped Of Parliament Post

        • Naira Nalbandian

Armenia - The Prosperous Armenia Party's Naira Zohrabian speaks at a news 
conference in Yerevan, .

The Armenian parliament voted on Tuesday to dismiss the chairwoman of its 
standing committee on human rights representing the opposition Prosperous 
Armenia Party (BHK).

The parliamentary majority representing the ruling My Step bloc engineered the 
move in response to what it regards as offensive comments posted by the BHK’s 
Naira Zohrabian on Facebook.

In an apparent attack on hardcore supporters of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, 
Zohrabian last week lambasted “scum” which she said has taken over Armenia and 
is responsible for its recent misfortunes. She said it must be disenfranchised 
and even forcibly “educated” for the good of the country.

“I am not going to hand over my homeland to the scum,” wrote the outspoken 
parliamentarian.

Pro-government lawmakers were quick to condemn the comments. They said that 
Zohrabian lost her moral right to lead the parliamentary committee because she 
not only insulted hundreds of thousands of Armenians but also called for them to 
be stripped of their civil rights.

Zohrabian denied insulting anyone when she spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service at 
the weekend. But she also said: “I regard all those who believe Nikol was right 
to surrender Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) … as scum.”

Zohrabian claimed that the My Step motion to strip her of her parliamentary 
position is “political persecution” ordered Pashinian. She said on Monday that 
she will appeal to the Constitutional Court if the parliamentary majority 
approves it.

The National Assembly adopted the motion by 78 votes to 4. BHK deputies 
boycotted the vote.

Zohrabian’s BHK is part of a coalition of more than a dozen opposition parties 
that have been holding demonstrations in a bid to force Pashinian to resign. 
They blame him for Armenia’s defeat in the recent war in Karabakh and say he is 
not capable of dealing with security challenges facing the country.


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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