Author: Albert Nalbandian

Azerbaijan-Armenia fighting sparks fear of oil and gas disruption

Albert Nalbandian
Washington Times
 
 
 
 
By Guy Taylor – The Washington Times – Updated: 4:22 p.m. on Sunday,
 
Azerbaijani officials warned over the weekend that an escalating military clash between with rival neighbor Armenia could disrupt oil and gas flows from the Caucasus region to Western European markets.
 
Deadly fighting that broke out last week near the contested enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh has shown little sign of being resolved quickly, setting nerves on edge across the region and beyond over the potential for widening violence.
 
The two sides fought a war in the 1990s over the enclave, a breakaway region of Azerbaijan. The latest violence represents the worst flareup in years over the frozen conflict, with at least 20 people killed last week in skirmishes that featured the use of heavy artillery and drones between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces.
  
The Trump administration is calling for calm. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters last week that the U.S. is “deeply concerned” about the violence. “We urge the sides to de-escalate immediately and re-establish a meaningful dialogue,” he said.
 
Concerns are also ratcheted up in Europe, since Elshad Nassirov, the vice president of the Azeri state energy company SOCAR, warned over the weekend that energy infrastructure involved in shipping Caspian oil and gas to world markets is located near the fighting.
  
According to Reuters, Mr. Nassirov said the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline and some other facilities were located not far from the territory where last week’s clashes took place.
 
Speaking on a conference call, Mr. Nassirov also referred to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, the last stretch of the so-called Southern Gas Corridor which also includes two other pipelines running via Georgia and Turkey. Reuters described the pipeline as important because its completion means the whole corridor will be operational, reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas supplies.
 
  
 

Anti-monopoly authority allows merger of TEAM LLC and VEON Armenia

Albert Nalbandian
Public Radio of Armenia
July 10 2020

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Armenian State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition made the decision to allow the merger of VEON Armenia CJSC and TEAM LLC.

TEAM LLC will acquire 100% stake in VEON Armenia CJSC.

The company has undertaken not to carry out mass layoffs (more than 10% of the total number of employees) for at least six months after the merger takes effect.

High-Tech minister welcomes Armenia-Engineering Week 2020 event participants

Albert Nalbandian

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 13:17, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. The third annual Armenia-Engineering Week 2020 event is being held online this year from July 6 to 10.

The event has been initiated by Armenia’s ministry of high technological industry, the Enterprise Incubator Foundation and the Engineering Association, the ministry told Armenpress.

Minister of High-tech industry Hakob Arshakyan delivered opening remarks at the event, stating that the Engineering Week has become an expected technological event, and major works are being done to organize and hold it at the highest level.

“I want to mention some indicators about Armenia’s high technology developments. 2019 was a special year as several important events were held in Armenia, the ministry of high-tech industry was established which was a priority for a country like Armenia having such a serious technological development. Nearly 30% growth in turnover was registered in the field which involves more than 1600 people. Companies providing services and numerous products, as well as successful startups are developing in Armenia”, the minister said.

He welcomed the event participants from Armenia, the Diaspora and different countries of the world, wishing an innovative week to all and expressing hope that next year the event will be held in an offline format.

Director of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation Bagrat Yengibaryan said in his remarks that this event is a unique international platform and this year will gather the representatives of various technological enterprises, engineers, scientists, leading experts, students, as well as the representatives of the government and the business.

Director of the Engineering Association Vardan Aleksanyan noted that during these series of events the Armenian engineers this year as well will have an opportunity to demonstrate the solutions created in Armenia. “This is a chance to once again talk about the scientific potential existing in Armenia”, he said.

Armenia-Engineering Week 2020 aims at demonstrating Armenia’s latest achievements in engineering and high technologies.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Pashinyan: Development of Armenian Armed Forces important for ensuring peace and stability in the region

Albert Nalbandian
Aysor, Armenia
July 4 2020

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a working meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces, headed by Defense Minister David Tonoyan and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Onik Gasparyan. Development scenarios in our region’s military-political situation and the plan for the use of the Armed Forces were discussed during the meeting.

Addressing those present, the Prime Minister said: “Today’s discussion is very important. From time to time we discuss a plan on the use of the armed forces in different formats. To begin with, I consider it important to highlight the high pace and quality in the development of Armenia’s Armed Forces. I want to state that this is the priority of all priorities for my government, since the goals that the Armenian people aspire for cannot be achieved unless our armed forces are adequate enough to respond to geopolitical challenges, both strategic and tactical. Here, I would like to underscore that the current pace of development of the Armenian Armed Forces is important in terms of ensuring peace and stability in the region.

At the latest meeting of the Security Council, I had the opportunity to refer to this topic and state that the policies we are pursuing and the goals that we have set in the face of existing and emerging challenges serve not only to ensure the security and stability of Armenia and Artsakh, but as a matter of fact, it also serves to achieve security and stability of the entire region. And I am glad that we perceive the mission of our armed forces in Armenia and in the region, as a whole.”

Artsakh authorities confirm their determination for restoration of the country’s territorial integrity – foreign ministry

Albert Nalbandian
Panorama, Armenia
July 4 2020

On July 4, 1992, the Azerbaijani armed units, with multiple superiority in manpower and military equipment, employing heavy artillery and combat aircraft launched a large-scale offensive in the direction of Martakert town of the Republic of Artsakh,” Artsakh foreign ministry said in a released statement on Saturday.

The statement reminds that Martakert was completely destroyed, and the Armenian population of the town of about 13 thousand people was forced to leave their homes and become internally displaced persons, finding temporary shelter in the capital city Stepanakert and in various settlements of the Republic of Armenia.

“Following the capture of Martakert, the Azerbaijani army continued the offensive, destroying about 80 percent of the region, looting the Armenian settlements and subjecting their population to forcible deportation.

In general, almost half of the territory of the Republic of Artsakh fell under the occupation of Azerbaijan. The republic itself was on the verge of total annihilation. The humanitarian situation was even more catastrophic – by the end of the summer of 1992, more than half of the population of the Republic were refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The situation was aggravated by the almost complete indifference of specialized international organizations to the fate of Armenian refugees and IDPs who were on the verge of a humanitarian disaster in Artsakh.
However, even in these seemingly hopeless conditions, the people of Artsakh managed to summon its collective will, mobilize its full potential and repel the armed aggression of Azerbaijan.

A year later, on June 27, 1993, the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh liberated the town of Martakert. Those who returned to their homeland began the process of restoration and improvement of the war-torn border town, which gained even greater scope after signing the termless trilateral (Azerbaijan, the Republic of Artsakh, and the Republic of Armenia) ceasefire agreement on May 12, 1994,” read the statement.

The source reminds that to this day, some settlements of the Martakert region, part of the Martuni region and the entire Shahumian region, a total of over 1000 square kilometers of the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, are under the Azerbaijani occupation, where the Azerbaijani authorities implement illegal settling and pursue a policy of destroying the traces of presence of the native Armenian population in these territories.

“The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh confirm their determination to seek the de-occupation of the territories of Artsakh and the restoration of the territorial integrity of the Republic,” the statement said.

Artsakh plans to make higher education free

Albert Nalbandian

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 13:01, 2 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 2, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh is planning to make higher education free and further improve the field, President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan said live on Facebook.

“We have already announced that higher education in Artsakh is going to be free. We are going to have a high-quality education. I can surely state that it will further improve”, the President said.

 

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian parliament is considering ratification of $315 million loan agreement with IMF

Albert Nalbandian
armbanks.am, Armenia

24.06.2020 17:16

YEREVAN, June 24. /ARKA/. An emergency session of the Armenian parliament discussed today ratification of an agreement with the IMF regarding the use of the $280 million loan, allocated to Armenia in May 2019, and attraction of an additional loan in the amount of $35 million. The money is to help Armenia fight the coronavirus outbreak and mitigate its economic consequences.

Deputy Minister of Finance Armen Hayrapetyan said the coronavirus pandemic has been affecting Armenian government's revenue collection rate. To mitigate the pandemic's consequences the government decided to allocate 150 billion drams ($315 million) to finance a wide range of coronavirus-related compensatory measures, including cash payments to a large part of the population, financial assistance to businesses and loan subsidies for farmers.

“On the one hand, a shortfall in the tax revenues, on the other hand, an increase in social assistance spending led to a financial gap of 250-260 billion drams," Hayrapetyan said.

He said the $280 million loan, which was allocated to Armenia by IMF in May 2019 has not been used until now, 'but now we can use the money as the need has arisen."

He said after the ratification of the agreement, the money will be transferred to the treasury account and can be used. The remaining $35 million will be available in September.

He said the loan is provided at the rate of 1.3%, which is significantly lower than the current rates.

The Armenian authorities say the emergency borrowing is justified even though it will lead to a sizable increase in the country's foreign debt. -0-


Armenia’s Central Bank chief meets with President of Artsakh

Albert Nalbandian

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 17:57, 19 June, 2020

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS. President of the Central Bank of Armenia Martin Galstyan met today with President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, the CBA told Armenpress.

A number of issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting.

The meeting specifically touched upon the role of commercial banks and other financial companies to the development of Artsakh’s economy.

The sides highlighted the ongoing programs aimed at developing the partnership in the financial-banking sector.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

ANCC To Highlight Members of Parliament in a Social Media Campaign

Albert Nalbandian

Armenian
National Committee of Canada

Comité
national arménien du Canada

 

Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622

E-mail/Courriel:[email protected]

www.anccanada.org

 

-PRESS RELEASE-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2020           
                                                           

Contact:
Sevag Belian (613) 235-2622

ANCC To Highlight Members of
Parliament in a Social Media Campaign

 

(OTTAWA) – Starting Tuesday, June 23rd,
the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) will initiate a campaign on
its social media accounts, highlighting the biographies and key career
highlights of Canadian Members of Parliament, who throughout their careers have
supported ANCC’s policy priorities and the various issues concerning the
Armenian-Canadian community.

The series of posts will include cabinet ministers, members of the
Canada-Armenia and Canada-Artsakh Parliamentary Friendship Groups and members
of the Senate of Canada from all political parties.

“This social media campaign will help our community members and
voters learn more about their elected representatives and the great work that
they are doing for Canadians coast-to-coast” said Hrag Tarakdjian and Shahen
Mirakian, co-presidents of the ANCC.

The campaign will run until the end of July.

-30-

******

The ANCC is the
largest and the most influential Armenian-Canadian grassroots human rights
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and
supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the
ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-Canadian community on a
broad range of issues and works to eliminate abuses of human rights throughout
Canada and the world.

—
Sevag Belian – Executive Director | Directeur exécutif
Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité national arménien du Canada
T: (613) 235-2622 | C: (905) 329-8526
W: www.anccanada.org 
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Coronavirus: Pashinyan presents effectiveness of strict restrictions applied in March-April

Albert Nalbandian

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 15:54,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. The strict restrictions applied in Armenia in March-April 2020 due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) had a positive impact for the healthcare system, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the special session of the Parliament convened for debating the issue on extending the coronavirus-related state of emergency.

“It’s obvious that the lockdown has broken the spread rate. 500-600 daily cases are tolerable for our healthcare system if we didn’t apply tough restrictions and had such number of cases in mid-April, that would not be tolerable for the healthcare system”, he said.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 15,281, out of which 5,639 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases stands at 9,298. The death toll has risen to 258.

The government today extended the coronavirus-related state of emergency for another month, until July 13, 17:00.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan