Author: Antonian Lara

 14:00, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan received newly-appointed Ambassador of Germany to Armenia Viktor Richter, the government said in a news release.

At the beginning of the meeting deputy PM Grigoryan congratulated the Ambassador on appointment and wished him a productive work. He said the government of Armenia is ready to assist the Ambassador in the development of the Armenian-German relations.

Both sides emphasized the presence of potential in the bilateral commercial relations which is not fully utilized and discussed the possible ways of deepening the cooperation between Armenia and Germany. In this context deputy PM Grigoryan presented Armenia’s advantages as a member state of the Eurasian Economic Union, and the opportunities opening for the German business.

The German Ambassador said there is a good base for the mutual partnership based on which it’s possible to develop the partnership.

The officials also highlighted the activity of the GIZ and KfW in Armenia.

The Armenian government’s reforms in healthcare, education and social protection spheres were also discussed. In this respect the deputy PM highlighted the potential partnership with the German partners, particularly, the participation of expert potential to the processes.

Regional developments and the ongoing actions to unblock the transportation communications in the region were also touched upon during the meeting.

 16:18, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. The UK government is currently engaging with the Armenian government to finalise a UK-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, encompassing the full breadth of bilateral issues, the UK Ambassador to Armenia H.E. John Gallagher said in an interview with ARMENPRESS.

“We hope to be able to make further announcements on this soon,” the ambassador added.

The full interview with Ambassador Gallagher, conducted on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the UK, will be published soon.

Armenian Armed Forces celebrate 30th anniversary of foundation

 08:35,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Armenia and Armenians around the world celebrate the 30th anniversary of foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces on January 28.

The formation of the Armenian Armed Forces coincides with 1992-1994, when the newly independent Republic of Armenia, along with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, being in undeclared but de facto war with Azerbaijan, simultaneously embarked on the creation of a national army. The Declaration of Independence of 1990, however, played a decisive role in the creation of the Armenian Army.

On January 28, 1992, the Government adopted the historic decision titled “On the Defense Ministry of Armenia”, heralding the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces. In May of 1992, the Defense Ministry carried out the first drafting.

The establishment of the Armenian Armed Forces passed through several stages. The first stage lasted from February 1988 to May 1992. In this period, ensuring the safety and security of the populations of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh was more than pressing, as the Karabakh Movement became active and the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations escalated.

The second stage, June 1992 – May 1994, when the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh were in the crosshairs of the Azerbaijani aggression.

The third stage began since June 1994 and continues to present day. During this period, significant works were carried out in the direction of improving the combat readiness of the troops, strengthening discipline, training of officers, Army-public relations etc.

In September of 1990, the special regiment of Yerevan was formed, while five companies were established in Ararat, Goris, Vardenis, Ijevan and Meghri. In 1991, the Government approved the formation of the State Committee of Defense.

Men aged 18-27 are subject to compulsory military service in Armenia for a two year period. Drafting is carried out twice a year – in winters and summers. In 2017 the Defense Ministry introduced “I am”, “I have honor” and “Outlook” service options.

Since its establishment, the Armenian Armed Forces have cooperated and continue cooperating with international organizations.

On May 15, 1992, Armenia became a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Military cooperation with Russia has a great role in the international cooperation field of the Armenian Armed Forces. Russia is Armenia’s strategic partner and the defense cooperation between the states is on a high level.

Cooperation with NATO is also expanding year by year.

The Armenian Armed Forces greatly focus on training and educating highly skilled personnel. With this purpose, the Military aviation college was formed, which later transformed into the Military-Aviation institute, the Defense Ministry’s Command College was established – currently the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute, and the military-medical faculty of the Yerevan State Medical University.

Graduates of the abovementioned institutions have continued trainings in foreign educational facilities. Namely, more than 1500 officers and cadets have trained and continue training in Russia and Greece.

Armenian peacekeepers have a significant role in the history of the Armenian Armed Forces. Due to the peacekeepers, various countries around the world saw and appreciated the highly skilled and professional Armenian soldiers.

On February 12, 2004, Armenia deployed a platoon-sized unit (three squads) to Kosovo to join the NATO peacekeeping mission as part of the Greek peacekeeping contingent.

In 2005, Armenia deployed peacekeeping forces consisting of sappers, engineers and doctors to Iraq. The mission was on duty until 2009.

Armenian servicemen are carrying out peacekeeping missions also in Afghanistan since 2010.

Since November 26, 2014, Armenian peacekeepers are deployed in Lebanon, within the UNIFIL.

In 2015, one peacekeeper was dispatched to Mali on a monitoring-peacekeeping mission.

The Armenian Army has been and will remain the guarantor of security and borders of Armenia.

 14:41, 14 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Moscow supports Yerevan and Ankara in the establishment of a direct dialogue and hopes that it will be successful, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference.

“Armenia and Turkey have appointed their special representatives. Russia helped to coming to that agreement, and we are very happy that today that first meeting is taking place in Moscow. Our role helped to establish a direct dialogue”, the Russian FM said.

The delegations of Armenia and Turkey arrived in Moscow, Russia, where the first meeting of the special envoys of the two countries will take place. Armenia’s special envoy for the dialogue process with Turkey is Ruben Rubinyan, and Turkey’s representative is former ambassador to US Serdar Kilic.

MOSCOW 

The Russian president and his Kazakh counterpart on Saturday discussed the latest situation in the Central Asian nation after massive countrywide protests claimed several lives and caused material damages.

In a phone call with Vladimir Putin, Kazakhstan’s Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed that a videoconference be held between the leaders of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members in the coming days — a suggestion backed by his Russian counterpart, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Thanking Russia and the other members of the CSTO for their support, the Kazakh president informed Putin of the developments in the country, noting that the situation was stabilizing, the statement added.

Putin voiced support for Tokayev’s proposal and called Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss the situation, said another Kremlin statement.

Both Lukashenko and Pashinyan agreed, with the latter, as the current head of the CSTO, promising to arrange it, the statement added.

The protests in Kazakhstan broke out on Jan. 2, when drivers held demonstrations against an increase in liquefied petroleum gas prices (LPG) in the city of Zhanaozen in Mangystau. The protests later spread to Aktau city 135 kilometers (84 miles) west.

Supportive protests in the western cities of Atyrau, Aktobe, and Oral, where the country’s petroleum and natural gas reserves are located, spread to other areas of Kazakhstan to turn into countrywide public demonstrations.

So far, 4,266 people have been detained, including nationals of neighboring countries, the country’s interior minister said in a statement.

According to the Kazakh Interior Ministry, at least 18 security officers and 26 protesters have lost their lives during the ongoing unrest.

In response, Tokayev declared a state of emergency in the commercial capital Almaty and the oil-rich Mangystau region from where the protests spread to the rest of the country.