Month: March 2023

 12:45,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s economic activity index grew 10,9% in January and February of 2023 compared to the same period of 2022, according to official data released by the Statistical Committee.

Industrial output in the two months of 2023 grew 1% compared to the same period of the previous year. Construction grew 13,2%.

Trade turnover increased 18% while services increased 23.5%. 

The Consumer Price Index grew 8,1%. Meanwhile, the Industrial Product Price Index grew 0,8%.

Electrical energy production dropped 0,2%.

A 77,7% growth was recorded in the foreign trade volumes compared to the same two months of last year. Exports and imports grew 96,4% and 67,4% respectively.

 14:52,

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Workers at a pomegranate garden in a Nagorno Karabakh town came under Azeri gunfire Monday morning, local authorities said.

No casualties were reported after Azerbaijani military units opened small arms fire from combat outposts at "workers who were carrying out agricultural activities in a pomegranate garden" in Martakert, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh said in a statement.

The agricultural work was suspended.

Nagorno Karabakh police said they’ve notified the Russian peacekeepers on the shooting.

 16:40,

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. A young couple from Uganda was left devastated when their 18 months old baby girl was diagnosed with SCD, aka sick cell anemia, a typically inherited blood disease that may cause multiple health problems.

“Nora was 18 months old when we realized that she’s having trouble standing,” Agnes Achan, the child’s mother, told ARMENPRESS at the Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Armenia. “She was having bouts of fever and cough. We took her for a Malaria test and doctors prescribed antibiotics. But it was getting worse. She lost weight beyond recognition."

After many visits to various doctors, Nora was diagnosed with SCD. Her parents consulted with various hospitals around the world after choosing to travel to Armenia in October of 2022 for their child’s treatment.

This was their first ever visit to the country.

“Today we don’t even want to go back, though we didn’t know anything about your country a few months ago,” Agnes Achan said.

After a successful course of treatment, Nora, now 5, is full of energy, healthy, and is jumping around playfully all day long.

“I am very grateful to this hospital and the City of Smile charitable foundation, which really brought back my baby’s smile. I am grateful to all the doctors and the department of psychological support,” Achan added, noting that the doctors were providing 24/7 assistance.

“I advise all my countrymen in Uganda to come here to this Armenian hospital if they require treatment. The doctors here are very caring, they love children and are very attentive.”

The child was treated using allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Nora’s 3-year-old brother was the donor. He and their father have already returned to Uganda.

The procedure is rather expensive around the world, but it is much cheaper in Armenia. The hospital gets support from City of Smile, the DMKS German organization and the Italian Cure2Children international foundation.

Children from Cameroon and Nigeria have also received allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the hospital.

 

Nelly Margaryan

 17:16,

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. On March 27 political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic took place in Yerevan. The Armenian delegation was headed by Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Czech delegation was headed by Jaroslav Kurfürst, Director General for European Affairs of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

During the consultations, the interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues related to the Armenian-Czech bilateral agenda. The parties emphasised with satisfaction the high level of the existing political dialogue and the necessity to maintain it. Touching upon the perspectives of economic cooperation, the sides expressed their willingness to undertake steps towards expanding the business ties. The cooperation in the cultural, educational and scientific fields was also discussed.

The parties referred to the expanded Armenia-EU partnership as well as discussed the possibilities of mutual support within the international organisations.

The delegations exchanged views on a number of issues of regional and international agenda of mutual interest.

Deputy Minister Hovhannisyan briefed the interlocutor on the deteriorating humanitarian situation as a result of the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor and Armenia’s commitment and efforts to establish peace in the region. The importance of the decision made on February 22 by the International Court of Justice was emphasised, according to  which, Azerbaijan  should take all necessary measures to ensure the uninterrupted movement of people, vehicles and cargo in both directions through the Lachin Corridor.

Following the consultations, Jaroslav Kurfürst was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. The interlocutors touched upon the bilateral political dialogue between the Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic, as well as issues of the Armenia-EU partnership, including the deployment of the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia. They exchanged views on recent regional developments. Foreign Minister Mirzoyan emphasised that despite the ongoing negotiations on the treaty of establishment of peaceful relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the latter’s provocations and aggressive rhetoric do not contribute to the efforts aimed at establishing stability in the region.

 17:35,

YEREVAN, 27 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 27 March, USD exchange rate up by 0.46 drams to 388.53 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.20 drams to 418.37 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 5.08 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.05 drams to 476.38 drams.

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

Gold price up by 227.24 drams to 24905.61 drams. Silver price up by 3.71 drams to 289.43 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 19:25,

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. On March 27, the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan met with the Director General for European Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jaroslav Kurfürst, ARMENPRESS was informed from the National Assembly of Armenia.

Welcoming the delegation in parliament of Armenia, Sargis Khandanyan noted that the relations of Armenia with the Czech Republic are based on the ties of friendship and solidarity.

According to him, now Armenia is in the continuous processes of democratic reforms and is consistent to the succeeded experience of the Czech Republic.

The Committee Chair noted that this year the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Czech Republic. According to him, during the past three decades, inter-state warm relations were succeeded to develop and at present, Armenia is ready to deepen the cooperation in all possible spheres of mutual interest with the Czech Republic.

As Sargis Khandanyan observed, the inter-parliamentary cooperation is rather active. He expressed conviction that the mutual interests will promote the strengthening of cooperation between the parliaments of two countries.

Armenia highlights the effective cooperation with the Czech Republic on the bilateral, as well as multilateral platforms, in the EU and multilateral formats, including the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and other formats.

Jaroslav Kurfürst thanked Sargis Khandanyan for warm reception and words. He also emphasized the deepening of cooperation between the two countries, noting that on the occasion of the establishment of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, a number of events and mutual visits are scheduled.

According to the Director General for European Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the cooperation in parliamentary format has an important role for enriching the agenda of inter-state relations and deepening of the existing friendly ties.

The Committee Chair presented the situation in Armenia and in Nagorno Karabakh, spoke about the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, underlining that as a consequence of closing of the only road connecting with the outside world, 120.000 residents of Nagorno Karabakh is in full blockade.

Issues of regional security were also discussed.

 20:01,

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. On March 27, the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, convened an extraordinary extended-format session of the Security Council with the participation of representatives of the political forces of the National Assembly, ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the President of the Republic of Artsakh.

The President noted that the purpose of the meeting is to jointly discuss the existing problems in the created military-political situation and make the necessary decisions.

Speaking about Azerbaijan's regular violation of the provisions of the trilateral declaration since 2020 and the consistent increase in humanitarian, socio-economic, military, political and psychological pressures on Artsakh in the conditions of the ongoing blockade since December 12, 2022, President Harutyunyan noted that despite our many statements and exhortations, international actors continue to limit themselves to declarative statements, being unconsistent in the implementation of weighty decisions.

"Therefore, our task is to soberly assess the degree of complexity and responsibility for the created situation, to re-evaluate all available resources and mechanisms to prevent possible new threats, and make the necessary conclusions and carry out relevant actions. I am sure that through our reasonable steps it is possible to overcome this difficult period, preserving and protecting the vital interests of the Republic of Artsakh," President Harutyunyan emphasized.

Defense Minister Kamo Vardanyan made a report on the operational situation at the session.

There was an exchange of ideas on the issues of the agenda.

The President of the Republic gave a number of instructions to the relevant bodies.

 20:18,

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. French Ambassador to Turkey Hervé Magro was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry for rewarding members of Kurdish organizations in the French Senate, whom Ankara considers terrorists, ARMENPRESS reports, TASS informed, referring to its source at the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

At the Turkish MFA the French Ambassador was told that Turkey does not accept and strongly condemns the awarding of members of the "People's Defense Units" Syrian-Kurdish formations in the French Senate.