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
16:42, 1 July, 2020
YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. The bomb threat targeting the food court of Yerevan Mall was false, the ministry of emergency situations told Armenpress.
Earlier today, at 14:26, the National Center for Crisis Management received a call about a bomb placed at the food court of Yerevan Mall.
Rescuers and the operative group of the Crisis Center left for the scene.
No bomb was found after the search operations.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The Vatican issued another stamp marking the Pope’s 2016 visit to Armenia
The Vatican has issued a new stamp on the fourth anniversary of the Pope’s visit to Armenia. The Holy See chose this stamp to mark the United Nations International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), the Armenian Embassy to the Holy See reported.
The stamp depicts Pope Francis and His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, watering the symbolic vine planted in Noah’s Ark, thus confirming that the theme of plant and earth health is a spiritual value.
In 2017 the Vatican issued stamps dedicated to the Pope’s 2016 visit to Armenia—“Visit to the First Christian Nation.” That stamp was designed by Daniela Longo and depicts the pope in front of the Dzidzernagapert Memorial Monument.
Upon arriving in Armenia on June 24, 2016, the pope broke from his officially-prepared remarks and denounced the Armenian Genocide calling it the “First of Deplorable Catastrophes” of the 20th century.
“The occasion was the commemoration of the centenary of the Metz Yeghern, the ‘Great Evil’ that struck your people and caused the death of a vast multitude of persons. Sadly, that tragedy, that genocide, was the first of the deplorable series of catastrophes of the past century, made possible by twisted racial, ideological or religious aims that darkened the minds of the tormentors even to the point of planning the annihilation of entire peoples,” said Pope Francis in Armenia.
16:49,
YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian hosted Ambassadors of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy and Lithuania to Armenia, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.
The meeting was also attended by Armenia’s deputy foreign minister Avet Adonts.
The Armenian President in particular touched upon the situation with the novel coronavirus, speaking about several challenges, including the economic difficulties, the food safety issue, the recent events in the Republic, as well as the Constitutional reforms. He also answered the questions of the guests about these matters.
Speaking about the Constitutional reforms, the President said: “The Constitution should be balanced based on the mechanisms of restraint and counterbalance. I am happy that the government has already started the works on this direction. I support the implementation of Constitutional reforms”, he said.
President Sarkissian also thanked the international partners for assisting Armenia in this difficult period. He highlighted the importance of mutual support, joint work and efforts. “If we do not work jointly, we will limit our achievements”, the Armenian President said. “Thank you for our friendship”.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
13:47,
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen addressed a joint letter to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.
Armenpress presents the text of the letter:
“Mr. Prime Minister, let us thank you for your congratulation on the Europe Day.
The European Union and Armenia are using the opportunity that they managed to establish close ties within the frames of the Eastern Partnership and the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. The European Union and Armenia did that based on strong common values for both sides such as democracy, the rule of law and respect to human rights. We encourage you to continue your reforming activity on these firm bases.
Unfortunately, this year we have to face the coronavirus challenge, it’s a disaster relating to all of us. We were informed that you have also been infected with the virus and are happy that you have already recovered. This is a moment of solidarity and close international cooperation. The European Union has already provided its concrete support to Armenia to overcome this crisis, in particular mobilizing 92 million Euros from the European funds, and the European Union will continue to be engaged for the benefit of your country. This support applies not only to the healthcare, but also the social and economic parts of the crisis. Together we can get out of this crisis stronger for building a better future”.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
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-
15:25,
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s minister of education, science, culture and sport Arayik Harutyunyan addressed a congratulatory message on the International Olympic Day, the ministry told Armenpress.
“Dear athletes, representatives of the sports world,
I congratulate you on the occasion of the Olympic Day. This year we were going to watch the performances of our strongest athletes at the Tokyo Olympics, but the coronavirus pandemic didn’t allow to enjoy your performances. We are looking forward to the Games which will be held next year, with the hope to record our best result in the Olympics.
The achievements of our athletes in the international arena, in addition to being as their personal achievement, that of their coaches and schools, also give moments of happiness to all of us and are also the victory of Armenia and its people.
I wish new victories, new opportunities and achievements in proudly raising the Armenian flag”, the minister said in his address.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
18:35,
YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. During the session of the Armenian parliamentary standing committee on State and Legal Affairs, the lawmakers made changes to the Constitutional amendments bill which proposes to replace the Constitutional Court President and CC judges who have served no less than 12 years in their position.
The bill has been drafted by the ruling My Step faction MPs.
My Step faction MP Suren Grigoryan presented the proposal for change. “I propose to make a change in the bill according to which the nominations for vacant positions of CC member will be made after the vacant position is available not within one month, but within a two-month term”, he said.
Some technical changes were also made by the lawmakers.
The committee approved the bill.
According to the bill, the powers of Constitutional Court members or judges will be suspended if they had been in office for not less than 12 years before the entering into force the 7th chapter of the Constitution. In case a Court member of judge has not been in office for 12 years before the entering into force of the 7th Chapter of the Constitution, he or she will remain in office until the 12 year-term is completed.
If the bill is approved, the tenures of Constitutional Court Judges Alvina Gyulumyan, Feliks Tokhyan and Hrant Nazaryan will be suspended, while the present President of the Court Hrayr Tovmasyan will become Constitutional Court member.
Earlier it had been planned to hold a Constitutional referendum scheduled on April 5, which suggested to suspend the tenure of Constitutional Court President Hrayr Tovmasyan and 6 members of the Court. The referendum did not take place due to the state of emergency declared as a result of the coronavirus.
Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
20:10, 19 June, 2020
YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will participate in the military parade dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow headed by Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan, ARMENPRESS reports Mane Gevorgyan, spokesperson of Prime Minister of Armenia, wrote on her Facebook page.
”As many of you learned today, PM Nikol Pashinyan will not participate in the events dedicated to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. At the same time I would like to inform that a unit comprised of 75 servicemen will participate in the parade headed by Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan”, Mane Grigoryan wrote.
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin informing that he cannot take part in the celebrations in Moscow dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The letter says:
“Dear Mr. President,
I regret to inform you that I will not be able to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. As you know, I accepted your invitation to attend the ceremonies with pleasure. However, as later was revealed, the current coronavirus-related situation doesn’t allow me to carry out that trip. Based on this I decided to refrain from my visit to Moscow, which, as you know, has been discussed in detail and agreed upon between our administrations.
It would have been a great honor for me to attend the Victory Day Parade. I am confident that millions of citizens of our countries will follow that event, going back to the 1945 in mind when our grandfathers were proudly passing through the Red Square. The victory in the Great Patriotic War is our common heritage. The memory on it unites our peoples and creates a firm base for the friendship of future generations.
I am expecting our meeting in the nearest future which will enable to discuss the agenda issues of the allied relations between our countries.
Mr. President, accept my best wishes for good health and success in your activity”.
Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 20
Trend:
Provocative statements of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan destroy format and essence of the negotiation process on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Assistant to Azerbaijan’s president, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.
He made the remark commenting on Pashinyan’s speech at the Summit of the Eastern Partnership countries held recently in the format of a video conference.
Hajiyev reminded that in October 2019 during the Summit of CIS heads of state in Ashgabat, President Ilham Aliyev exposed the policy of Armenia towards the Armenian Nazi collaborator Garegin Nzhdeh.
“Pashinyan, hysterically trying to defend Nzhdeh during the summit, put himself in a ridiculous position,” he said. “Then, in February 2020, at the Munich Security Conference, Pashinyan, after being smashed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev before the eyes of Armenia, world Armenians and the international community, was again discredited.”
“After that, Pashinyan exposed himself, propagandizing his grandfather, a Nazi criminal, just like Nzhdeh.
“The Armenian prime minister, who did not recover from these blows, faced another defeat during a video conference of the heads of state and government of the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries on June 18, 2020,” Hajiyev continued. “Trying to respond the fact-based position of President Ilham Aliyev, Pashinyan responded with his speech in Armenian and funny English, which was met with irony and create confusion.”
“His statements were repeatedly given a restrained, at the same time weighty and decisive response from President Ilham Aliyev. The president, noting that Varoujan Garabedian (diseased leader of Armenian ASALA terrorist organization), who committed a terrorist act at Orly Airport in France [bomb attack in 1983, which killed 8 and wounded nearly 60 people], was extradited to Armenia and announced as hero there, said that Armenia should not talk about issues such as racism and terrorism,” Hajiyev noted.
“Pashinyan, as the only masked head of state who participated in the videoconference, made a laughing stock of himself. And this demonstrated that his words about coronavirus infection are just populism.”
“Having confused the streets of Yerevan with international events, the Armenian prime minister again put forward charges against Azerbaijan and came up with a populist speech to justify his failure.”
“Pashinyan is currently in a stalemate. He basically established revolutionary dictatorship in Armenia. The arrest of opposition representatives, journalists and judges, coercion of silence and blackmail of people who express any dissenting opinion, the death of an opposition representative in prison – widespread practices in the country.”
“Obviously, his fight against coronavirus is doomed to fail. Embarrassed Pashinyan makes numerous provocative and contradictory statements for domestic audience,” Hajiyev said.
“With provocative statements, Pashinyan destroys the format and essence of the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated that the format of negotiations cannot be changed. There is no such concept as “the people of Nagorno-Karabakh,” as Pashinyan claims. Nagorno-Karabakh is the historical land of Azerbaijan. As President Ilham Aliyev emphasized at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow in October 2019, “Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan and an exclamation mark.”
“Azerbaijan will liberate all its lands occupied by Armenia and restore its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. All responsibility for the potential aggravation of the situation lies entirely with Pashinyan,” Hajiyev concluded.