Month: June 2022

 12:06,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service of Artsakh warns that the special services of Azerbaijan continue spreading fake news on Facebook with Armenian user accounts, attempting to create an atmosphere of fear. 

In a statement the NSS of Artsakh called on to avoid spreading suspicious news and follow only the official news.

“The National Security Service of Artsakh is taking respective steps to prevent the possible developments. We call on not to give in to fake news and avoid spreading suspicious news, discussing them in social networks, and follow only the official news”, the statement added.

 12:29,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried will meet with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and other government officials during the visit in Yerevan on June 18, the Embassy of the United States to Armenia said.

“Assistant Secretary Donfried will discuss U.S. support for the diplomatic efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan towards a lasting peace. She will engage on our strong partnership, based on shared values, and our mutual commitment to Armenia’s democratic development”, the Embassy said.

 13:11,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. in Armenia’s capital on June 18. 

The event aimed at exchange of knowledge, skills and experience, as well as creation of new ties in IT industry. 

One of the organizers of BarCamp Artur Papyan said that the event is organized completely on a voluntary basis. “It is created for developing the IT and media community, sharing with knowledge. The greatest feature is that there is no formal part”, he said.

BarCamp is being held in Armenia sine 2009. It became one of the largest tech and media event,s further expanding every year. Last year it was held also in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Goris and Dilijan towns. 

The organizers said that this event differs from other events in a sense that it is informal, is simplier and the entrance is free of charge for everyone. If, for example, you don’t like a presentation, you can leave it freely.

“People, who like to communicate and want to transfer their knowledge, come here. The speakers are not paid, and the organizers are working on a voluntary basis”, co-founder and marketing manager at Zoomerang app, which is the partner of the event, Arman Manukyan said, adding that here everyone is free to do what he/she wants.

This year the organizers also invited international speakers. There will be speeches on medical technologies.

The event won’t be broadcast live. 

 13:14,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received today U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, the foreign ministry reports. 

The sides touched upon the Armenian-American bilateral relations that are based on common values of human rights, democracy and rule of law, as well as the prospects of expanding the cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Highlighting the positive dynamics in the mutual visits and contacts at an official level, the Armenian FM praised the visit of the delegation of Armenia to the United States this May and the meetings held there, as well as the launch of the activities within the Armenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue. 

Issues relating to regional security and stability were also discussed. 

Minister Mirzoyan presented the current developments in the activity of the delimitation and border security commission between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the unblocking of economic ties and transportation communications in the region.

Touching upon the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, FM Mirzoyan highlighted the need for fully resuming the peaceful negotiations for the comprehensive and lasting settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, in this context emphasizing the efforts of the U.S. as a Co-Chair country.

FM Mirzoyan also presented the current humanitarian problems caused by the 2020 Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh, particularly the issues on immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, and the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the Azerbaijani control.

FM Mirzoyan briefed the guest also on the developments in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process. The necessity of taking concrete steps for the normalization was emphasized.

 13:25,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, the PM’s Offie said. 

In his remarks PM Pashinyan highlighted the constant development and expansion of the Armenian-American relations and stated that Mrs. Donfried’s visit is another opportunity to discuss the issues of the bilateral agenda. He added that the development of democracy is one of the key priorities of the Armenian government. 

Karen Donfried, in turn, said that the U.S. Administration is also attaching importance to the expansion and strengthening of the mutual partnership with Armenia in different directions, adding that the support to the development of Armenia’s democratic institutions will be continuous.

The sides also touched upon the processes taking place in the South Caucasus region, the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and the activity of delimitation and border security commission between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

The Armenian PM highlighted the strengthening of stability and peace in the region and emphasized the necessity for the international community’s adequate response to the provocative statements and actions distorting the regional stability. 

Pashinyan highlighted the key role of the United States as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country and attached importance to the comprehensive settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

[see video]

 14:24,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. The 11th Dolma Festival will take place in Armenia’s Zvartnots Historical Cultural Museum-Reserve on June 19. 

Sedrak Mamulyan, Chairman of “Preservation and Development of Armenian Culinary Traditions” NGO, told Armenpress that the number of pavilions is gradually increasing as 27 teams are participating in the festival this year. One of the teams decided to make a 150-meter dolma. Nearly 70  types of dolma will be displayed in the pavilions. 

The teams will compete for “Best Taste”, “Best Look”, “Best Idea” categories. The participant with the most points will receive the Grand Prix.

Owners of restaurants, representatives of service sector, cooks and individuals from Gyumri and Tsaghkadzor will participate in the competition. There are teams who will make sweets.

This is already the third year the Dolma Festival is taking place in the Zvartnots Museum-Reserve. The aim, Mamulyan says, is also to present the Armenian cultural monuments to tourists. He said that the decision to hold the Dolma Festival was made in 2011 following the statement of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who talked about their cultural features, touching upon also dolma.

“We aim at raising the attractiveness of our country, creating a tourism atmosphere”, Sedrak Mamulyan said, adding that they achieved their goal as tourists are looking forward to the festival.

The number of festival participants reaches around 3000-5000, but there was a year when they had a record hosting up to 30,000 participants.

 14:52,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan received today U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, the Office of the Security Council Secretary said. 

During the meeting Armen Grigoryan presented the security situation in the region and Armenia’s views on solving key security issues.

At the request of the guest, the Secretary of the Security Council also presented the current process of normalizing the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

The sides highlighted the importance to continue developing the bilateral relations based on democratic values.

 16:04,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. 74 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Iran in the past one day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 7, 234,597, IRNA reports. 

2 death cases were registered in Iran in the past 24 hours. The death toll in the country has risen to 141,363.

305 hospitalized patients are in critical condition. 

The total number of recoveries has reached 7,060,283.

 17:11,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili arrived in Armenia on a working visit. 

The two PMs said that the high-level intensive contacts show that the Armenian-Georgian relations are dynamically developing and the political dialogue is at a high level. 

They discussed issues and prospects on the Armenia-Georgia cooperation agenda.

Views were exchanged also on the regional situation and developments. 

The sides reaffirmed the readiness to consistently deepen the friendly ties and agreed to continue the active dialogue.