Author: Aram Torosian

International Centre for Migration Policy Development to continue assisting return, reintegration processes in Armenia

Aram Torosian

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 15:21,

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Head of the Migration Service of Armenia Irina Davtyan received on May 17 Martijn Pluim, Director for Migration Dialogues and Cooperation at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and ICMPD Armenia team leader Carel Hofstra, the Migration Service of Armenia said in a news release.

The sides summed up the current phase of the bilateral cooperation and discussed the new projects. Head of the Department of Return and Reintegration at the Migration Service of Armenia Haykanush Chobanyan presented the priorities in the return field, the cooperation both with international and public sector representatives.

Summing up the European Return and Reintegration Network Project in Armenia, Martijn Pluim said that it ends in May this year, and the ICMPD will continue its activity in Armenia on this direction starting July 1 under the Return and Reintegration structure.

“The European Return and Reintegration Network Project in Armenia was very inspiring, and we will continue supporting the government of Armenia in this direction, by preserving the components of capacity development and reintegration support to returning migrants”, Martijn Pluim said, adding that the project will serve to the needs and the gaps of the sector.

Suspected gunman of May 11 Yerevan shooting wanted for attempted double murder

Aram Torosian

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 12:33, 12 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Law enforcement agencies launched a manhunt to apprehend the suspected gunman who shot and wounded two people in a Yerevan highway on May 11 in what investigators say was an attempted double murder.

The shooting happened around 17:25 in the Artashat Highway in Yerevan.

The Investigative Committee did not disclose the identity of the suspect but said that the latter is a 34-year-old resident of Yerevan.

The two victims are hospitalized.

Other details weren’t immediately clear.

Turkey’s weightlifters displace Armenia at top of Junior World Championships medals table

Aram Torosian
May 8 2022
  • By Brian Oliver

    •  

  •  Sunday, 8 May 2022

Armenia led the medals table at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Junior World Championships in Heraklion in Crete – but only for a few hours as Turkey claimed a second title of the week.

Garik Karapetyan made a six-from-six 170-200-370 to win the men’s 96 kilograms for Armenia for a second straight year, improving his winning total from 2021 by 15kg.

That was too good for last year’s 89kg champion Tudor Bratu, from Moldova, who failed with his second clean and jerk but made his five other lifts to finish with 163-201-364.

Karapetyan, who will be 19 next month, has never finished out of the first two in his five international appearances since 2019.

That result put Armenia ahead of Indonesia in the medals table, but they are back in second place after Turkey won the women’s 81kg to go top with two days to go, having won two golds, three silvers and one bronze on total.

The numbers were not high, and would not have won gold two categories lower at 71kg, but Dilara Narin’s 99-131-230 was enough to take the title.

That was a career-best total for the 20-year-old, who was youth world champion at 76kg in 2019 and holds the youth world record, at 130kg, in the clean and jerk.

She was also the Youth Olympic Games gold medallist at 63kg in 2018, and has competed at four different weights.

The Mexican Emmy Gonzalez took silver on her international debut with 100-127-227.

Egyptian teenagers took bronze in both events, Yasser Usama with 157-202-359 in the 96kg and Fatma Ahmed on 99-122-221 in the 81kg.

WHO and Armenia agree on health priorities during Regional Director’s visit

Aram Torosian
May 6 2022

WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, signed a biennial collaborative agreement (BCA) and presented a special WHO award to health workers in Armenia during a recent country visit.

The BCA signed by Ms Anahit Avanesyan, Minister of Health of Armenia and Dr Kluge focuses on quality health care accessible to everyone, effective protection against health emergencies, and healthy communities as contributors to an economy of well-being – helping shape cooperation between the country and WHO/Europe for the next 2 years.

“Health is a human right, and in its own right is a key contributor to a flourishing economy, peace and security. Today, the Government of Armenia and WHO are putting health at the top of the country’s agenda, by signing a biennial collaborative agreement for 2022–2023,” said Dr Kluge.

“Armenia spearheads several national and regional health projects, with a focus on tobacco control, mental health, emergency preparedness and community resilience – to mention a few. This year, the establishment of a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and an Armenian Emergency Response Medical Team, as well as the forthcoming global Emergency Medical Teams’ Meeting in October, hosted by your government, all speak to the Armenian authorities’ strong, timely commitment to health,” he added.

Dr Kluge also discussed the country’s health agenda and commitment to reforms with His Excellency Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, His Excellency Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, and the Honourable Alen Simonyan, President of the National Assembly.

The BCA builds on the key achievements made within the 3-decade long partnership between WHO and the Government of Armenia. It is in line with international public health strategic goals and frameworks such as the WHO European Programme of Work and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

During a visit to a vaccination clinic at the Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Centre, Dr Kluge was accompanied by representatives of the international partners involved in health, including the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Armenia, representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Resident Coordinator. Speaking with EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Dr Kluge heard about the successful cooperation between the EU Delegation and WHO within the frame of COVID-19 response activities, which will continue and expand beyond COVID-19.

Dr Kluge spoke with health workers and parents of some of Armenia’s youngest citizens, who came for their scheduled routine vaccination – protecting against a range of vaccine-preventable diseases including polio, measles and rubella. He also spent time with older citizens receiving COVID-19 vaccine booster doses.

Recognizing the continued dedication and commitment of health and care workers to improve the health and well-being of people in Armenia and across the WHO European Region, Dr Kluge officially handed over the International Year of Health and Care Workers Award 2021 to Ms Avanesyan and through her to all health workers in Armenia.

Dr Kluge highlighted that the award is a token of appreciation and gratitude for the unwavering dedication of health and care workers, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 2 years. He emphasized the urgent need to invest more in health workers for shared dividends in health, jobs, economic development and equity.

https://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/armenia/news/news/2022/5/who-and-armenia-agree-on-health-priorities-during-regional-directors-visit

Around 16,000 non-residents open bank accounts in Armenia

Aram Torosian

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 17:14, 3 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Around 16,000 non-residents have opened new bank accounts in Armenian banks, the Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan said at a news conference.

He said that most of these non-residents are Russian residents.

Galstyan said that in accordance to globally accepted rules of banking, non-residents are under higher supervision.

“The Armenian banking system is working very accurately in the current situation in terms of maintaining all international norms. At the same time we see that under these norms we have not only citizens of Russia, but also citizens of other countries, who, upon entering the bank and proving that the center of their economic interest is being relocated to Armenia, have the opportunity to open accounts in Armenian commercial banks and be serviced in the Armenian banking system. The number of such customers, if I am not mistaken, is currently around 16 thousand,” Galstyan said, adding that most of them are Russian residents.

Parents of fallen soldiers protests at Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office building

Aram Torosian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
Parents of fallen soldiers protests at Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office building
14:29, 30.04.2022

The parents of the falled servicemen died after Nagorno-Karabakh war gathered today, April 30, near the building of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia.

They demand to open a criminal case against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, arrest him and give them the status of the victim’s legal successor.

Earlier, the Prosecutor General’s Office informed the parents that a petition regarding the prime minister’s part had been sent to the Anti-Corruption Committee, and only five days later it would become clear what actions would be taken.

 

Zakharova: There are still fundamental disagreements between Baku and Yerevan over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh

Aram Torosian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. Moscow is guided by proposals on basic principles for establishing interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia in providing assistance to Baku and  Yerevan in the preparation of a peace agreement.

This was stated during a weekly briefing on April 28 by official representative of  the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, to clarify the status  of Artsakh against the backdrop of negotiations on the normalization  of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

“Let me remind you that it was prepared in Baku and received a  constructive response from Yerevan. We believe that they are a good  basis for agreeing on positions. As for the status of  Nagorno-Karabakh, there are still fundamental disagreements between  Baku and Yerevan on this topic. We see our role in helping the parties to bring their positions  closer and not vice versa,” she said,  adding that this also applies to public works.  

It should be noted that speaking on April 14 in parliament, Armenian  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the following: “Today the  international community tells us again: lower your bar a little on  the Nagorno- Karabakh issue, and you will have greater international  consolidation around Armenia and Artsakh.  Otherwise, please don’t  place your hopes on us, not because we don’t want to help you, but  because we can’t help you.” After this statement by Pashiyan, a  meeting of the Security Council was convened in Artsakh. There was  also a meeting of the NKR President with NGOs that requested a  meeting against the backdrop of Pashinyan’s statements. 

Earlier, Baku sent 5 proposals to Yerevan on the normalization of  bilateral relations. Yerevan called them acceptable. The parties are  now actively preparing to launch the process of border delimitation  and ensuring border security. 

Erdogan: The process of normalization of relations with Armenia continues, problems will be resolved in the near future

Aram Torosian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.The process of of normalization of relations with Armenia continues, and the problems will be resolved in the near future. Turkish President Recep Tayyip  Erdogan said this on April 27 at an iftar with representatives of  national minorities, referring to the process of normalizing  Armenian-Turkish relations, Turkiyegazetesi reports.  

Erdogan said that the wars must be stopped and that they are making  efforts to establish an atmosphere of friendship. “We are negotiating  with Armenia. Let’s hope that the borders will open and our friendly  relations will continue,” he said.

In turn, Chairman of the Armenian Foundations Union Bedros Sirinoglu,  said in his statement on this occasion: “We were in a friendly and  sincere atmosphere.  Mr. President was sincere as always.”

It should be noted that on February 24, in Vienna, the second meeting  of the Special Representatives of Armenia and Turkey, Vice Speaker of  the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan and  Ambassador Serdar Kilic on the normalization of relations took place.   The special representatives confirmed that the ultimate goal of the  negotiations is a full-fledged settlement between Armenia and Turkey,  on which an agreement was reached during their first meeting in  Moscow on 14 January.  

The start of the normalization process was announced on December 13,  2021 by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. At the same time,  he stressed that Ankara will act in coordination with Azerbaijan  regarding steps to normalize relations with Armenia. The next meeting  is planned in Vienna, the date has not yet been made public.

Armenia lifts several COVID-19 restrictions, vaccine mandate at workplaces

Aram Torosian

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 11:57,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government lifted the vaccine mandate that required employed citizens to either get vaccinated against COVID-19 or produce a negative PCR test result every seven days to their employer.

Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan said that given the declining new cases the government is also lifting the requirement of getting tested or producing a vaccination certificate upon arrival at the airports or borders.

Other restrictions were also lifted. “The restrictions in correctional facilities and the military regarding visits or leaves were also lifted,” she said, adding that the physical distancing rule in schools, kindergartens and elsewhere was also lifted.

“In the last 14 days we’ve had only 144 cases, which is a 32% decrease compared to the previous year’s same period. The cases of deaths also decreased in the past month,” Avanesyan said and thanked health workers for their service.

António Guterres arrives in Ukraine after visiting Russia

Aram Torosian

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 21:20,

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. UN Secretary General António Guterres has arrived in Ukraine following a visit to Russia, ARMENPRESS reports Guterres wrote on his Twitter page.

“We will continue to work to expand humanitarian assistance and ensure the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones.

The sooner that war ends, the better for the sake of Ukraine, Russia and the whole world,” wrote António Guterres.