Month: June 2022

 17:23,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. The first plane of Armenia’s national airline Fly Arna landed at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport on June 10.

The Airbus A320 plane carried the delegation of Air Arabia Group.

The ceremony was attended by Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, representatives of the government, the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF), the Civil Aviation Committee and the Zvartnots International Airport.

Fly Arna is a joint venture company between ANIF and Air Arabia Group.

The airline will firstly operate flights in 4 directions – Egypt (Hurgada and Sharm El-Sheikh), Kuwait and Beirut.

The first flight will take place on July 3 to Hurghada.

ANIF Executive Director Davit Papazian told reporters that safety is the most important for Fly Arna.

The company also plans to operate flights to European countries in the future. Papazian hoped that the EU black list for Armenia will be revised soon.  

Fly Arna CEO Antony Price said in turn: “We look forward to seeing how this airline is going to further expand in coming weeks and months. We are waiting for several directions by which Armenians will be able to go for vacation, as well as bring other people to Armenia to reveal the country here”.

Currently, Fly Arna has 63 employees, 85% of whom are Armenians. “The only area where we have not involved Armenians, are the pilots and flight attendants. We try to get also Armenians involved”, Antony Price said.

Fly Arna’s Airbus A320 aircraft consists of 174 seats. The company is planning to have its second aircraft when the other routes are approved. The company plans to have 3-5 planes in the next two years.

Customers can book their tickets by visiting the Fly Arna website, contacting the call center or via travel agencies.

 17:30,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei highly assesses the relations with Armenia in all spheres, in an interview with ARMENPRESS the Foreign Minister of Belarus noted that particularly political and economic relations develop dynamically. According to the Minister, the trade turnover between the two countries recorded unprecedented rate.

Vladimir Makei also spoke about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, emphasizing that Belarus is categorically against the solution of the problem by military means, and that the conflict should be settled exclusively through diplomatic and political means.

– Mr. Makei, what issues were discussed and what decisions were made at the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CSTO?

– You know that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty, and the 20th anniversary of the decision to establish the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Of course, these important dates leave a mark on the discussions related to the activities of our organization. Today you see the dangers and challenges facing the post-Soviet countries, including the member states of our organization. These are global challenges: climate change, pandemic, as well as circumstances that pose real threats to our organization, such as the situation in Afghanistan, the strengthening of NATO on the organization's western border, and so on. Of course, marking those jubilee dates, we are not going to be satisfied with the existing successes, on the contrary, at this session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers we discussed the issues of strengthening our organization, determining the organization's place in the new geopolitical situation in the context of international relations. We believe that our organization should be able to adequately respond to the challenges and dangers that emerge almost every day. We paid great attention to this issue at the Council meeting, first in a narrow format, then in an expanded format. We exchanged views on the development of international events. I informed about the measures that NATO is taking on our western borders. Unfortunately, we see an increase in tension, which is directed also against our organization. The number of NATO troops on our borders is increasing, the number of military exercises conducted by NATO every year is increasing, and so on.

We exchanged views on the mentioned situation, and agreed to work closely in the field of foreign policy of the organization. We agreed to hold closer consultations on topics related to foreign policy, military, security. Based on the results of this session of this Council, the program of relevant consultations for 2021-24 was signed, a corresponding statement was adopted on the situation in our region, which clearly states the need to create a principle of inseparability of security. The security of one state cannot be built at the expense of another state.

In general, the session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers held in Yerevan was full up, productive and fruitful. I am convinced that the decisions made within the framework of this Council session can serve as a good basis for strengthening our organization.

– Did you discuss the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the issue of the invasion into the sovereign territory of Armenia in May 2021 by the Azerbaijani troops? What is the position of Belarus on the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into the sovereign territory of CSTO member Armenia? What solutions do you see?

– I would not say that this issue was directly discussed at the session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers. The Armenian side informed about the situation and developments in Nagorno Karabakh. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also touched upon this topic during the meeting with the foreign ministers of the CSTO member states.

The position of Belarus has been and remains unequivocal: we are categorically against the solution of the issue by military means. We believe that all such issues, conflicts should be resolved at the negotiating table through diplomatic and political settlement. The whole diplomatic and political toolkit should be launched so that any conflict, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, can be resolved as soon as possible. We believe that the agreements reached by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 9, 2020, create a good basis for resolving this problematic situation.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan informed about the process of demarcation and delimitation, which is very sensitive at this stage. We fully support the efforts made by the three countries for the speedy settlement of the conflict, as we see (Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also said about that), there are some encouraging points in this regard. Of course, we will fully support this process, given that the issue should be resolved as soon as possible; it must be resolved through diplomatic and political means.

– Mr. Makei, this year Armenia and Belarus mark the 29th anniversary of diplomatic relations. How would you describe the current level of Armenian-Belarusian relations? In your opinion, in which directions should the two countries work?

– I would describe our relations as a very, very high level and dynamic. Indeed, next year we mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations between our countries. We can state that the political relations between the two countries are developing very dynamically. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko regularly meets with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan within the framework of EEU, CSTO and CIS. And within the framework of those meetings, they discuss the issues of strengthening bilateral relations.

An interdepartmental consultation was recently held at the level of foreign ministers. I met with Ararat Mirzoyan a few days ago, and we also discussed the current state of our relations, the ways to strengthen them. Inter-parliamentary ties are actively developing, the sitting of the inter-parliamentary commission on economic cooperation was held recently. So, as for the political sphere, the relations are developing quite dynamically.

Trade and economic relations also register very high dynamics. For example, last year our trade turnover increased by almost 20%, reaching almost $ 100 million, despite the pandemic. There has never been something like that in our history. And during the first quarter of this year, the trade turnover has increased by 60%. This shows that there is a potential between the two countries, we intend to pay great attention to the strengthening of trade and economic ties. I must say that in this respect our embassies are actively working, therefore, a considerable basis has been created, our task is to further develop trade, economic, political, humanitarian ties, interregional cooperation, which is very important.

I am convinced that on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations we will come out with new indicators, we will rise to a new level of our cooperation. But this does not mean that we should relax, let everything go its own way. No, I have talked to my colleague, we have agreed to instruct our Ministries to intensify our further relations. It will be a new impetus to expand and strengthen our relations in all spheres.

Interview by Karen Khachatryan

 17:35,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. A ceremony of cancelling a postage stamp and envelope dedicated to the CSTO jubilee year and Armenia’s presidency at the CSTO was held today in Yerevan following the session of the Council of the CSTO Foreign Ministers.

The postage stamps were cancelled by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas and HayPost CJSC CEO Hayk Karapetyan.

The stamp has been printed in France with a print-run of 20 000 pcs.

The author of the stamp’s design is David Dovlatyan.

After the ceremony the CSTO Secretary General reminded that 2022 is a jubilee year for the CSTO as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the CSTO. He thanked the Armenian side for all the initiatives on this occasion.

Armenia assumed the CSTO presidency on September 16, 2021 for a one-year term.

 17:41,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan attended the event dedicated to the launch of the Armenian national airline Fly Arna at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The ceremony started with the arrival of the first Airbus A320 airplane of Fly Arna from Sharjah International Airport to Armenia, bringing with it the delegation of Air Arabia Group. The airplane was welcomed at Zvartnots International Airport with a water salute.

The event was attended by Tatevik Revazyan, Chairperson of the Civil Aviation Committee, Tigran Avinyan, Chairman of the Board of the State Interest Fund of Armenia (ANIF), David Papazyan, Executive Director of ANIF, Adel Abdullah Ali , CEO of Air Arabia and other officials.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan welcomed those present and said, "Sometimes it is very difficult to regulate the mind, what to focus on. more on what we have or what we do not have? And this is a really important question, because what we have inspires us, and what we do not have, can sometimes discourage us in the sense that having so much in Armenia, at the same time we do not have so much that sometimes it seems impossible to fill the gap, accomplish the mission, accomplish the task that fits into the vast space of what we do not have.

And in this sense, we have decided not to be afraid to face all the challenges. And we have decided that we should have more and more and to give up the logic of patching. If we are doing something, we must do everything we can to do it as properly as possible, at the highest possible level.

And our political commitment has been that during the years we are in office, significant changes must take place in the field of aviation, the colors of our state flag must appear on more and more planes. I am glad that we have this opportunity today, I congratulate all of us, because with the participation of our partners from Air Arabia from the United Arab Emirates and the Armenian National Interests Fund, we are establishing this kind of an airline."

According to Nikol Pashinyan, this has multi-sided significance, because one of the most important achievements of the pre-Covid period was that the Government was able to create an opportunity for citizens to travel at affordable prices. "And this is not just a matter of movement, this is also a political, civilizational issue, because when as wide sections of our society as possible have the opportunity to travel, to communicate with other countries, it is an opportunity for us to get to know ourselves better, better assess ourselves, have more energy, have a better idea of what to do next," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister hoped that "Fly Arna" airline will bring more people to Armenia and will take more people from Armenia. "In this sense, our country will also become a crossroads, from where people go travelling, where they return, where people go for rest, acquaintance, tourism, and those people keep a part of Armenia in their hearts, they take some positive attitude towards Armenia with them. Congratulations again to all of us on doing a step forward on the path of the development of this direction. We know more negative than positive stories about Armenia's aviation sector, it's time to break that chain. I hope that together with our partners we will be able to overcome the weighty package of negative news or the impression left by it with positive news, new developments, new planes, new passengers, new directions," Prime Minister Pashinyan said.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister, accompanied by the CEO of Air Arabia Adel Abdullah Ali, toured the first Fly Arna aircraft to get acquainted with the conditions created for the passengers.

During the official launch ceremony, Fly Arna announced the date of its first commercial flight. The first flight G6501 will be operated from Zvartnots International Airport to Hurghada International Airport on July 3, 2022. Fly Arna’s initial destinations will also include direct flights connecting Armenia with Sharm El Sheikh and Beirut.

 18:01,

YEREVAN, 10 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 10 June, USD exchange rate down by 4.90 drams to 421.95 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 10.57 drams to 446.89 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 7.39 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 9.94 drams to 524.95 drams.

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

Gold price down by 401.79 drams to 25027.25 drams. Silver price down by 3.32 drams to 297.50 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 18:16,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Armenia, received Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on International Cultural Cooperation, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian spheres and promising directions.

The sides referred to the "Armenian Culture Days in Russia" and "Russian Culture Days in Armenia" programs. The "Armenian Culture Days in Russia" event will take place on June 10-11, 2022 in Moscow and on June 13 in Kislovodsk. The event "Russian Spiritual Culture Days in Armenia” is planned in autumn of 2022.

The interlocutors attached importance to holding the above-mentioned events and stressed that they will contribute to the strengthening of the centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples.

Artsakh’s NSS reveals case of high treason

 20:45,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service of the Republic of Artsakh has revealed a case of high treason.As ARMENPRESS was informed from the National Security Service of Artsakh, as a result of effective operative-investigative measures, it was found out that L.G., a citizen of the Artsakh Republic, being a serviceman, in January-February 2021, through the "Facebook" social network, established contact with an account made by foreign special services using a profile of an Armenian girl. After some time of communication, he received $ 150 by bank transfer, for which he provided some military information.

Through the mediation of the mentioned "girl", from February 2021, he continued to communicate with another representative of the foreign special service through a mobile phone application. Having the coordinates of the military positions located along the border under the protection of the N military unit of the Ministry of Defense, equipment, armament, number of servicemen on duty, other information related to the implementation of combat duty, during the period from March 2021 to May 2022, he transferred military secret information to the foreign special services.

A criminal case was initiated in the National Security Service of the Artsakh Republic under Article 310, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Artsakh Republic, within the framework of which L.G., the citizen suspected of high treason, was arrested and confessed.