Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Armenpress: US Embassy in Armenia urges all sides to bring down tensions

Chakrian Hovsep

US Embassy in Armenia urges all sides to bring down tensions

 18:10, 25 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. The US Embassy in Armenia attentively follows the developments in Armenia, including the announcements of the stakeholders, ARMENPRESS was informed from the US Embassy.

‘’We encourage all the parties to demonstrate tranquility, restraint and bring down the tensions peacefully and without violence’’, reads the statement of the Embassy.

The Embassy also emphasizes the importance of democratic institutions and processes for solving political disagreements through dialogue.

The General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces issued a statement on February 25, expressing strong disapproval of Pashinyan’s sacking of Tiran Khacharyan, the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff.

The statement, signed by the Chief of General Staff, his deputies, and over 3 dozen top military commanders, said that “the prime minister and the government are no longer able to make reasonable decisions.”

Pashinyan called General Staff’s statement a military coup attempt and fired Chief of General Staff, Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan.




UN ready to send humanitarian mission to Nagorno Karabakh

Chakrian Hovsep
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 27 2021

The UN has reiterated it is ready to deploy an initial independent inter‑agency humanitarian assessment mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and other conflict-affected areas at the earliest opportunity. 

“We have informed all relevant actors in that regard. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UN Refugee Agency and relevant UN entities continue to engage with all concerned on the specific parameters and timing of the deployment of the planned mission,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, told a daily briefing. He said the latest official communication was sent on 19 February.

“The mission hopes to get a clearer picture of the humanitarian situation on the ground and broadly assess the conditions for safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable returns of all displaced populations,” Dujarric said.

“We look forward to a formal reply to our latest communication. We call on all relevant groups to cooperate fully with the UN entities to ensure their unfettered and speedy access to conduct such a mission, which will be solely based on the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence,” he added.

Armenian President Sends congratulatory message to Georgian PM

Chakrian Hovsep

Save

Share

 18:25,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory message to Irakli Garibashvili on the occasion of being appointed Prime Minister of Georgia.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian President’s Office, Armen Sarkissian highlighted the continuous strengthening and deepening of friendly relations and constructive dialogue with Georgia.

‘’I am full of hope that during your tenure the friendship based on mutual respect and trust of the Armenian-Georgian peoples will contribute to the development of interstate cooperation in all spheres’’, reads the congratulatory message of the President of Armenia.

The consequences of the use of force cannot be considered as a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – FM Aivazian

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 17 2021

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian held a video conference with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov (Russia), Stephane Visconti (France), Andrew Schofer (USA) and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

As the press department at the ministry said, the interlocutors exchanged views on the possibilities of resuming the peace process and the addressing of core issues of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within its framework. In this regard, Minister Aivazian noted that the conflict is based on the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and security, and the consequences of the use of force cannot be considered as a resolution to the conflict.

In this context, Minister Aivazian reiterated the commitment of the Armenian side to continue the efforts for a peaceful settlement under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, as the only internationally mandated format for mediation to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Minister Aivazian and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs exchanged views on addressing humanitarian issues, enshrined also in the November 9 trilateral statement. Minister Aivazian particularly emphasized the imperative for the immediate repatriation of the prisoners of war, captured civilians and other detainees, emphasizing the unacceptability of Azerbaijan’s destructive policy in this issue, the source said. 

2 more bodies of fallen troops found during search operations, Artsakh authorities say

Chakrian Hovsep

Save

Share

 10:24, 8 February, 2021

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The rescuers of Artsakh have found 2 more bodies of fallen servicemen during the search operations in Varanda (Fizuli) which has come under the Azerbaijani control, the State Emergency Service of Artsakh told Armenpress.

“The dead servicemen will be identified after forensic examination.

As of February 8, the total number of the bodies found in the battle zones has reached 1367.

Today the search operations will not be conducted in connection with the shift of the Russian peacekeeping troops”, the statement says.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia high tech industry records 20,6% growth

Chakrian Hovsep

Save

Share

 11:48, 9 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the war, the Armenian high-tech industry’s turnover grew 20,6% in 2020, the Minister of High Tech Industry Hakob Arshakyan said in a news conference.

Arshakyan reminded that nevertheless the pandemic and the war hindered some projects. “But the high tech sector had a double digit growth in 2020. Turnover of companies grew 20,6% and amounted around 198 billion drams,” he said. The number includes exclusively high tech industry companies and doesn’t include communication operators.

The number of employees working in the sector grew 22%, reaching 18,747. The number of active companies also grew. 1228 active companies are operating in the high tech sector, and 192 new ones received certifications in 2020 and will benefit from the tax privileges defined by the ministry’s policy and law.

Speaking about startups of Armenian origin which operate scientific-research centers in Armenia, he said that these companies have attracted nearly 50 million dollars in investments in 2020, mostly from abroad. “This means that they created science-based products and companies in Armenia which were able to record the kind of results that became interesting for venture investors and other investors.

Taxes paid by high tech companies in 2020 grew 14%, surpassing 41 billion drams.

Arshakyan called on students seeking to obtain higher education to seek engineering professions, saying that this sector is growing rapidly in Armenia.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenpress: Spanish Aladina Foundation provides donation to City of Smile to help children suffering cancer

Chakrian Hovsep

Spanish Aladina Foundation provides donation to City of Smile to help children suffering cancer

Save

Share

 09:00, 2 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. Donations to Armenia’s City of Smile Foundation aimed at assisting children and young people up to the age 25 suffering cancer and blood diseases have sharply declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent war. However, at the end of the year the Spanish Aladina Foundation has provided help to the City of Smile, in particular covering the treatment costs of beneficiary children for about two months, Director of the City of Smile Foundation Ester Demirchyan told Armenpress.

“The coronavirus pandemic led to huge decline in donations. It was followed by the war which further deepened the crisis situation. We hadn’t ever had such a low figure of donations since the opening of the Foundation which we had during the wartime – in October, November and December. Of course, there were objective reasons for this situation, as we all were focused only on one direction – to try to help, to do the utmost to win the war, to help our soldiers and the displaced people”, she said.

She considered normal the fact that when an issue of national identity arises, the foundations are left on the second plan. But she noted that children suffering cancer cannot wait long as each day, each delay of drugs and examinations leads to heavy consequences. Demirchyan, however, stated that no one was rejected by the Foundation during that days.

After the war the flow of donations has relatively activated. “We have received a number of small grants by different organizations. However, the only one organization which was the most inspiring for us that days was the Aladina Foundation which provided a donation of 160,000 USD”, she said, adding that this is the biggest donation received by one organization.

Aladina is operating mainly in Spain, is working with 15 different hospitals of Spain. This is their second experience of international transfer, the first one was provided to Lebanon’s child cancer center.

“It’s very honoring that we managed to attract its attention. This cooperation was the best New Year gift for us as it gave us strength and energy to continue the mission of the Foundation”, she said.  

Demirchyan calls this cooperation as a very good beginning of the year, stating that they need to attract more organizations. The Foundation’s monthly costs for children, young people comprise nearly 70-80 thousand dollars. The Aladina Foundation provided money for two months. Mrs. Demirchyan said the whole staff of the City of Smile Foundation expresses its deepest gratitude to the Aladina Foundation and directorate.

The Aladina Foundation is operating in Spain for about 15 years assisting children suffering with cancer. The Foundation is organizing various events, renovating rooms, providing psychological support, etc. Demirchyan hopes that the cooperation with this Foundation will continue.

She reminded that the treatment of children suffering cancer is quite expensive, adding that many people should unite around this issue. She called on the public to regularly make donations for this purpose. Ester Demirchyan said the website of their Foundation allows to choose the option of making monthly donations and become the supporter of it.

“I understand that currently many people are facing many difficulties, however, I believe that each of us can provide some help at least once a month to these children who really need it”, she said, calling on both individuals and various organizations not to forget about these children and provid their help.

The annual expenditure of the City of Smile Foundation comprises nearly 1 million USD: its beneficiaries are children, young people from Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk. So far, the Foundation has provided help to nearly 370 children and young people. In 2020 the Foundation had 95 new beneficiaries. Demirchyan stated that nearly 70% of children suffering cancer in Armenia are completely recovering.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian opposition MP: Jalal Harutyunyan is Karabakh citizen, he can’t be appointed to position in Armenia

Chakrian Hovsep
News.am, Armenia
Feb 5 2021
Armenian opposition MP: Jalal Harutyunyan is Karabakh citizen, he can’t be appointed to position in Armenia
15:40, 05.02.2021

Whoever agrees to assume office during the administration of this government shares the blame for state treason, and I don’t care if it is Jalal Harutyunyan or anyone else, for that matter. This is what deputy of the opposition Prosperous Armenia faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Gevorg Petrosyan said during today’s press conference.

“Jalal Harutyunyan has been appointed Head of the Military Oversight Service at the Ministry of Defense. I ask him to state his vision right now and to present his concept paper on military security. He is a citizen of Artsakh. So, who gave him the right to be appointed to a public service position in Armenia?” he added.

CivilNet: From Hadrut to Shushi: The Retreat

Chakrian Hovsep
CIVILNET.AM

4 February, 2021 20:00

Tigran Varag, founder of Armenian Geographic hikers organization, left for Artsakh (Karabakh) on October 17 to take part in the war. In a conversation with CivilNet, he recounts his division’s retreat from Mokhrenis village in Hadrut to Karintak near Shushi. “The retreats were happening without fighting,” he says.

3,900 people left Armenia by air in three days, deputy PM says

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 4 2021

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hailed the successful launch of the Travel without COVID-19 program despite some issues that emerged during its implementation.

“I asked for the statistics today, and it turned out that only seven citizens faced obstacles while leaving the country,” Pashinyan told a cabinet meeting.

Ignoring the fact that many people are leaving the country, the premier assured that a large number of people are also arriving in Armenia, considering it an important economic factor.

Addressing the issue at the request of Pashinyan, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said that the travel model with the Travel without COVID-19 app was considered as a pilot program for a month. Since Russia has decided to resume air service with Armenia on a reciprocal basis starting February 15, four flights per week will be performed between Moscow and Yerevan, he said.

“During these three days, 3,900 people left Armenia by air and 3,400 people came to Armenia. 1,423 of the departed passengers were citizens of Armenia, while 1,263 of the passengers who arrived in the country held Armenian passports. In fact, the application is fully functional,” the deputy PM said.