Month: February 2021

 10:27, 9 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative continues to broaden its humanitarian program in Artsakh, the IDeA Foundation told Armenpress.

Aurora’s international standing and its vast network of engaged donors, experts, humanitarians and beneficiaries are being used to provide support to the people of Artsakh and ensure effective solutions on the ground. Taking into consideration the scale of Aurora’s relief program, a decision has been made to bring onboard a local expert with relevant background, and Narine Aghabalyan, former Minister of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Artsakh, has joined the Aurora team to lead the project. In the meantime, Aurora keeps accepting proposals from organizations in need of assistance on the ground – they are invited to submit their applications to [email protected].

“It is very important that Aurora is able to help people in need in different corners of the world, as well as to direct large-scale programs to Artsakh in 2020․ Aurora has already supported around 50 projects focused on immediate needs of locals, impacting thousands of Artsakh people. We are very glad to welcome Narine to the team and are certain that her expertise will allow the program to reach new heights,” said Arman Jilavian, Board Member of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.

In the aftermath of the war, Aurora has been providing direct aid to the people of Artsakh on the basis of the #AraratChallenge crowdfunding initiative and has already allocated $473,000 to the program. Together with partner organizations, the #AraratChallenge helps 48 projects focused on providing essentials to displaced people and restoring civil infrastructure in Artsakh through financial support, as well as by connecting volunteers willing to donate their time and expertise with humanitarian organizations in need of assistance on the ground.

Over the years, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founders, Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan and organizations founded by them have been involved in numerous programs in Artsakh. In addition, starting with Marguerite Barankitse, the recipient of the inaugural Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, the Aurora Prize Laureates have been visiting Artsakh annually, promoting its internationally.

“Overcoming the consequences of the autumn war of 2020 in Artsakh is a challenge for every Armenian.  Aurora can unite us all and help us meet it. United, we can do so much more than what we think we’re capable of,” said Narine Aghabalyan. An Artsakh native born in 1967 in Stepanakert, she held offices within the Government of the Republic of Artsakh in 2009–2020. For more than 8 years, Narine Aghabalyan had been the Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, and later occupied the position of the Minister of Education, Science and Sports before joining the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.

In her new position as Head of Artsakh program, Narine Aghabalyan will oversee the implementation of the projects in the region supported by Aurora, as well as the development of a humanitarian platform to connect all stakeholders under the auspices of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and enforce the centralized coordination of major Artsakh-related efforts and funding.

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About the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, is transforming this experience into a global movement based on the universal concept of Gratitude in Action. By addressing real, on-the-ground challenges, the Initiative provides a second chance to those who need it the most. We believe that even in the darkest times, a brighter future is in the hands of those who are committed to giving others help and hope, and Aurora welcomes all who embrace this philosophy. This is achieved through the Initiative’s various programs: Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, Aurora Dialogues, Aurora Grants, Aurora Community, Aurora Index, 100 LIVES Initiative and #AraratChallenge. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is the vision of philanthropists Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan who have been joined by thousands of supporters and partners. Our Chair, Dr. Tom Catena, draws on his experience is a surgeon, veteran, humanitarian and the 2017 Aurora Prize laureate to spread the message of Gratitude in Action to a global audience.

 09:50, 9 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The prices of petroleum and diesel fuel in Armenia have declined 9.5% and 20.2% respectively in January 2021 compared to January 2020, the Statistical Committee told Armenpress.

In January 2021 compared to December 2020 the prices of petroleum and diesel fuel have increased 3.1% and 3.8% respectively.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 18:03, 9 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia NIkol Pashinyan received newly appointed Ambassador of China to Armenia Fan Yong on February 9, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the diplomat and wished his productive work for the sake of the development of the Armenian-Chinese relations. The PM recalled with satisfaction his visit to China in 2019 and the impressive meetings with the President and Prime Minister of China, noting that the agreements reached during those meetings are being successfully implemented. ‘’Armenia and China have intensive relations, Chinese Business, culture, education are tangibly represented in our country. We are ready to consistently deepen cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian and other areas’’, the PM said.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, despite the difficulties in 2020 caused by the pandemic,, the volume of exports from Armenia to China has increased, which shows the positive dynamics of bilateral trade. The Prime Minister thanked the Chinese government for the assistance to the Armenian healthcare sector in the fight against coronavirus.

Thanking for the warm reception, the Chinese Ambassador assessed it an honor to hold a diplomatic position in Armenia and assured that he will make all efforts for the development of the Armenian-Chinese relations. According to him, the two countries are bound by mutual trust and understanding, and the Chinese government highlights partnership with Armenia.

The sides exchanged views on the post-war situation in Artsakh. The Prime Minister thanked China for its impartial position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, noting that the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh remains unsolved and that Armenia highlights the negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format.

Referring to the humanitarian aspect, Nikol Pashinyan stressed that the return of the detainees remains a priority, as well as the protection of the Armenian historical, cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.

Fan Yong noted that China supports the establishment of security, stability and peaceful cooperation in the region, and supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the agenda of bilateral relations and its further expansion. In the context of the development of economic relations, the sides referred to the expansion of Chinese investments in Armenia, increase of trade turnover, implementation of infrastructural programs, activation of touristic flows, as well as the cooperation opportunities in the sidelines of the EAEU. Both sides considered promising the cooperation in high technologies, education and humanitarian fields.. The Prime Minister offered the Chinese companies to present to the Chinese companies the investment opportunities created by the unblocking of regional communications, the Chinese Ambassador assured that the information will be conveyed to Chinese business circles.

The Chinese Ambassador conveyed to the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan the invitation to participate in the "Shanghai Expo – 2021" exhibition.

 17:57, 9 February, 2021
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The National Assembly of Armenia elected Lilit Tadevosyan President of the Court of Cassation of Armenia by a secret vote, ARMENPRESS reports Chairman of the National Assembly Counting Committee Vahagn Hovakimyan announced at the parliament.

103 MPs participated in the voting. 102 voted in favor and 1 against.

Lilit Tadevosyan  was born in 1978, in Yerevan.

1993 – Graduated from the Russian secondary school # 182 in Yerevan with a gold medal in the same year entered and graduated with honors in 1998 from the Law Faculty of Yerevan State University.

1998 – 2001 Graduated from Postgraduate studies of Yerevan State University.

2001 – YSU Academic Council, received PhD in Law.

1998 – June 2012 – Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia.

12.1998 – 01.1999 – intern-investigator of the Erebuni administrative district prosecutor’s office.

01.1999 – 04.2001 – Investigator of the Erebuni and Nubarashen community prosecutor’s office.

04.2001 – 11.2004 – Senior investigator of the same prosecutor’s office.

11.2004 – 05.2006 – Assistant to the same community prosecutor.

05.2006 – 11.2007 – Prosecutor of the Criminal Investigation Department of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office.

11.2007 -10.2011 – Prosecutor of the Department for Corruption and Organized Crimes of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia.

10.2011 – 30.06.2012 – senior prosecutor of the same department.

She was a member of the Scientific-Methodical Council of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office.

2nd Class Advisor of Justice.

09.2000 – 09.2011 – lecturer at Yerevan State University Law Faculty, and since 2010 up to now, at the Law Faculty of the Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University. She has also lectured at the “Prosecutor’s Office School” SNCO.

2006 – 2010 was a doctoral student of the Moscow State University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

2010 – doctoral thesis. The Scientific Council of the same University and awarded her the degree of Doctor of Law from the Higher Qualification Commission of the Russian Federation.

The diploma of the candidate of juridical sciences has been certified by the Federal Service for Supervision of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, and the Diploma of Doctor of Law is certified by the Higher Qualification Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

She has participated in many international conferences (Republic of Armenia, Russian Federation, Arab Republic of Egypt, Georgia) and received certificates.

2003 – Training courses at the Center for Organized Crime and Corruption at the St. Petersburg State University, and in 2005, at the St. Petersburg School of Criminal Law and Criminology at the same university, and received relevant certificates.

She is a member of the Professional Council of the Higher Qualification Commission of the Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University, a member of the Scientific Council of Law and Policy Institute of the same University.

Author of over 60 scientific works published in the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, including 5 monographs.

2007 – awarded with “Fridtjof Nansen” Gold Medal, in 2012 – RA Prime Minister’s letter of gratitude.

On 30 June, 2012 by the decree of the RA President she was appointed judge of the RA Criminal Court of Appeals.

By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia on 22 September, 2016 she was appointed Judge of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

At the Recommendation provided by the SJC Decision-25-N -54 and the Presidential Decree of 20 July, 2016, she was appointed Chairperson of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation for a six-year term.

 17:28, 9 February, 2021

YEREVAN, 9 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 9 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.80 drams to 522.60 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 5.09 drams to 632.76 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.05 drams to 7.06 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 4.80 drams to 720.14 drams.

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

Gold price up by 589.08 drams to 30835.83 drams. Silver price up by 11.61 drams to 456.68 drams. Platinum price up by 700.91 drams to 19507.1 drams.

 17:10, 9 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Edvard Hovhannisyan received today Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin, the SRC told Armenpress.

The SRC Chairman said there is broad legal-contractual cooperation framework between the two countries in the fields of tax and customs administration which allows to cooperate actively both at the bilateral level and also on the sidelines of the CIS executive committee, the Eurasian Economic Commission and other international organizations.

Both sides expressed readiness to continue and develop the cooperation between the tax and customs authorities in the future.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:51, 9 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Vice Speaker of Parliament Lena Nazaryan received new Ambassador of China to Armenia Fan Yong, the Armenian parliament reports.

The Vice Speaker congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office in Armenia.

The sides discussed the recent war launched against Artsakh, the trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020, highlighting the implementation of its provisions.

Lena Nazaryan emphasized the urgency of the return of the Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan.

In turn the Chinese Ambassador highlighted the establishment of the ceasefire and expressed hope that all issues will be resolved.

“They also discussed the launch of Armenia-China direct flight, the implementation of joint programs in several areas. Despite the pandemic the relations between Armenia and China have been maintained, even a growth has been registered in the trade-economic sector. The trade turnover has comprised almost one billion USD”, the Parliament’s press service reported.  

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:48, 9 February, 2021

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani authorities have barred a group of Armenian Christian pilgrims from entering the Dadivank monastery, demanding that from now on they should receive a manifest listing the identities of pilgrims beforehand.

“Previously, the Azerbaijani side was demanding only the number of pilgrims heading to Davdivank, and the number was to be no more than 30 persons,” the Prelate of the Diocese of Artsakh of the Armenian Apostlich Church Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan told ARMENPRESS. “Now they are demanding us to present nominal lists beforehand. Therefore, on Sunday we will provide the list of pilgrims with the peacekeepers in order not to have other difficulties in entering Dadivank,” he said.

Pilgrims from Armenia are visiting Dadivank accompanied by Russian peacekeepers. 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan