Month: April 2021

 17:34, 2 April, 2021

YEREVAN, 2 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 2 April, USD exchange rate up by 1.03 drams to 533.17 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.39 drams to 628.02 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 7.00 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 4.89 drams to 737.59 drams.

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

Gold price up by 655.96 drams to 29587.62 drams. Silver price up by 6.19 drams to 416.8 drams. Platinum price up by 330.55 drams to 20553.03 drams.

 18:23, 2 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan visited Abovyan community on April 2 to get acquainted with the projects of constructing a free industrial zone and sustainable community in the sidelines of ‘’Build Armenia’’ program, as well as to discuss cooperation opportunities.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Minister Kerobyan and Director of "Hayprospect" CJSC, "Build Armenia" program coordinator Sevak Artsruni signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Kotayk Governor Mesrop Mesropyan and Abovyan Mayor Vahagn Gevorgyan. The Memorandum is about encouraging the implementation of the "Build Armenia "program and sustainable community building in Armenia.

Vahan Kerobyan noted that according to the Memorandum, the Ministry of Economy is obliged to assist "Hayprospect" CJSC in constructing a huge industrial and residential complex, where numerous businesses and educational facilities will operate. The Minister of Economy assessed the program very progressive and asked Sevak Artsruni to briefly present it.

Sevak Artsruni informed that the program is in the initial stage. Most part of the land has already been acquired, nearly 70 hectares.

‘’It’s expected that the infrastructures of the industrial zone will be ready by the end of the year. By now 6 million USD has been invested. By the end of the year they will increase up to 20-30 million USD. The total program is estimated at up to 1 billion USD’’, he said.

Sevak Artsruni noted that two months ago their company signed a memorandum with Abovyan Municipality and now a memorandum has been signed with the Ministry of Economy and they are very happy for that, since they greatly highlight the cooperation with the Government and the community.

‘’Naturally, this is a business and there is the logic of pursuing profits, but we also assess this something important also for the country, because our final goal is also about repatriation and we know that we can make our country powerful with the help of 10 million Armenians, if we organize everything correctly’’, Artsruni said.

Sevak Artsruni accompanied the Minister of Economy, Kotayk Governor and Abovyan Mayor to the construction site and presented the ongoing works.

"Hayprospect" CJSC has set a task to give priority to the participants of the war, servicemen with disabilities, as well as to the wives of the soldiers killed during the war during staff hiring. The hiring process will start from May.  

"Hayprospect" community will be the first community environmentally and energy sustainable with cost-effective recourses in the region. The residential part of the community will have 10 thousand residents.

 18:51, 2 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan visited Yerablur Military Pantheon on April 2 and honored the memory of the victims of 2016 April War.

On the night of 1 to 2 April, in flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement of 12 May 1994 and the agreement of 6 February 1995 on strengthening the ceasefire, the Azerbaijani side undertook a large-scale offensive along the entire Line of Contact between the armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, using heavy equipment, artillery and combat aviation.

The intensity and the scale of the military actions, the number of forces and combat equipment involved, as well as the statements of Azerbaijani officials clearly indicate that the events of 2-5 April were not a spontaneous escalation, but a carefully planned and prepared military aggression. Over 100 Armenian servicemen were killed during the 4-day war.

 12:06, 1 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan officially announced today about the decision on appointing already former governor of the Tavush province Hayk Chobanyan as Minister of High Technological Industry.

During today’s Cabinet session Pashinyan stated that Hakob Arshakyan is leaving the position of high-tech minister and will be replaced by Hayk Chobanyan.

“I would like to thank Mr. Arshakyan for the works done. In fact, a new ministry has been formed from zero, which is quite a difficult work and has been done quite well.

I also want to wish success to Mr. Chobanyan in his future activities”, the PM said.

Hayk Chobanyan today has been relieved from the position of governor of the Tavush province.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:31, 1 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will soon start vaccinations against COVID-19 using the AstraZeneca vaccine, Healthcare Minister Anahit Avanesyan said on April 1.

Avanesyan said the health ministry’s board of experts is closely following the developments around the vaccine.

Citing the American FDA, EU’s drug registration agency and WHO conclusions, Avanesyan added that the health experts will convene a meeting on Friday to discuss the recent AstraZeneca guidelines change in Germany where the drug will be limited only to people over 60.

Avanesyan said the AstraZeneca doses are yet to pass customs and pass several other processes. It is expected that the vaccine will be available in Yerevan and in the provinces on April 5. Until then, health authorities are conducting trainings with polyclinic doctors.

24,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was supplied to Armenia through COVAC FACILITY.

Vaccinations are optional, but Avanesyan advised everyone to get the shot in order to return to normal life.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:39, 1 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Lt. General Artak Davtyan held a meeting with Lt. General Rustam Muradov, the commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh.

“Issues of ensuring security and organizing partnership were discussed during the meeting, the importance of ensuring the return of Armenian PoWs and the search operations for those missing was emphasized. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces thanked Lt. General Rustam Muradov for the effective work and efforts of the Russian peacekeeping contingent,” the defense ministry said in a news release.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:23, 1 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The opposition Bright Armenia (LHK) party continues to insist that an open-list proportional electoral system is the best for Armenia and it is wrong to abolish the preferential (ranked) voting method and hold early elections with the closed-list system.

Speaking at parliamentary hearings on the parliament majority-backed bill seeking to amend the electoral code, LHK lawmaker Gevorg Gorgisyan disapproved the initiative and said they propose an open proportional electoral system instead.

He admitted that the ranked voting system, the separations into districts potentially enable those having resources to exploit it to gain votes. “But depriving citizens from electing members of parliament, their representatives in parliament is fraught with even worse consequences. We’d have a parliament of button pushers,” he argued.

Gorgisyan insisted that an open proportional electoral system is the right system for Armenia and that it would contribute to strengthening democracy. He warned that otherwise the changes could lead to the political system’s degradation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:45, 1 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament approved at the first hearing the bill on making amendments and changes to the Electoral Code which propose to abolish the ranked voting method ahead of the upcoming snap elections and hold the polls with a simple proportional electoral system.

83 MPs voted in favor of the bill.

Thus, the bill proposes to abolish the preferential voting method, as well as sets certain regulations for the holding of elections during the pandemic.

The opposition Bright Armenia faction was opposing the bill. Faction head Edmon Marukyan made remarks, noting: “I officially announce now that if the rules of the game change, the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections is questioned”.

The ruling bloc assured that this change is just simplifying the process of the elections, however, this doesn’t mean refusal from the Electoral Code package.

Earlier this year the leadership has submitted a new Electoral Code package, which envisages a number of amendments, for getting an opinion from the Venice Commission.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:20, 1 April, 2021

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. President Arayik Harutyunyan of the Republic of Artsakh has announced that his government aims at restoring the country’s territorial integrity politically “at least within the borders of the former NKAO”.

Harutyunyan was visiting residents of several towns of the Martuni region when he made the remarks.

He refuted media reports speculating around the village of Karmir Shuka and said that “on the contrary, the restoration of the Artsakh territorial integrity at least within the borders of the former NKAO through a political way is on the agenda of the Artsakh authorities.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:37, 1 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government approved the signing of a cooperation agreement with China whereby the latter will donate 100,000,000 yuan. The money will be used for building a new studio of the Armenian Public Television and the implementation of other jointly agreed projects.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan