Author: Chalian Meline

 17:31,

YEREVAN, 16 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.16 drams to 479.13 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.26 drams to 545.06 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 6.38 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.16 drams to 649.84 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 280.71 drams to 28475.78 drams. Silver price down by 6.36 drams to 358.69 drams. Platinum price down by 375.05 drams to 15635.45 drams.

 09:39,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh will be a priority in the activities of the Armenian community of France during 2022, Co-Chair of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), ARF Bureau member Murad Papazian said in an interview to ARMENPRESS.

He said this year as well they will continue their active works towards the recognition of the independence of Artsakh.

Commenting on the recent annual dinner of the Armenian community held in Paris, which was attended also by the top officials of France, Mr. Papazian said it’s an annual good occasion to gather the friends of Armenians.

“We are working with French authorities so that the pro-Armenian position is maintained. It’s known that they have quite a firm stance on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the denialism of genocide. We want to see that pro-Armenian nature of France also over the Artsakh issue. We are working on this direction, and the result was the vote by the French Senate in favor of a resolution calling on France to recognize Artsakh. The same happened in case of various large cities, communities of France. 85 cities, regions voted in favor of the resolution calling on France to recognize the independence of Artsakh. This shows the result of works done over the past years. We have shown to our colleagues, friends that the Armenian community is really strong and is defending the Armenian Cause based on positive principles”, Murad Papazian said.

This year the President of France didn’t attend the annual dinner because of his foreign visits, however, the Prime Minister attended the event instead.

Papazian said that they managed to present the demands of the Armenian community during the event.

“We have addressed strong assessments over the war and its consequences. We presented our views about Artsakh and the preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage. We plan to boost the ties focusing also on cultural issues. UNESCO has a lot to do to ensure the preservation of the Armenian cultural monuments”, he said.

He also highlighted the importance of intensifying activities aimed at the cooperation between France and Artsakh at a political level. According to him, there is a need to adopt a new form of works in legal domain, which will be more secure and the French cities should be encouraged to continue helping the towns of Artsakh.

Murad Papazian said Artsakh is a priority for them, but they also want to boost the Armenia-France economic ties and cultural cooperation.

France will hold presidential elections this year. Mr. Papazian said they have worked with all presidential candidates. The elections will be held at two stages – on April 10 and 24. Candidates passing the second stage will have a chance to present their position to the Armenian community.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

 18:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS.  Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on February 15.

As ARMENPRESS was infomred from the press service of the MFA Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan and Sergey Lavrov referred to the implementation of the agreements reached by the trilateral announcements of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021. The interlocutors highlighted the steps aimed at increasing the level of stability and security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and the establishment of mechanisms for demarcation and delimitation.

During the telephone conversation, the Armenian and Russian FMs referred to the cooperation in bilateral, multilateral platforms, as well as to the issues of regional and international agenda.

The sides exchanged views on the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

 18:53,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. A consultation chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took place, during which the draft strategy in the field of education was discussed, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Referring to the draft, the officials in charge noted that it presents the vision and goals of the development of education until 2026 and 2030. In particular, the draft strategy addresses the services provided from pre-school to higher education. The document also presents the main targets that the Government will pursue in this area during the above-mentioned period.

Reference was made to the educational content, standards, programs and events envisaged in the field of pre-school, general education, secondary vocational and higher education, as well as infrastructure development, harmonization of universities with international standards and establishment of an academic city.

An exchange of views took place over the draft, a number of observations and suggestions were presented.

Summing up the consultation, the Prime Minister noted that the ideas on resolving the raised issues should be enshrined in the strategy. Nikol Pashinyan instructed to put the draft into circulation, at the same time to amend it, taking into account the presented problems and proposals.

 15:44, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Composer, musician, People’s Artist of Armenia, Artur Grigoryan has passed away at the age of 63 following a long illness, Director of the Armenian State Song Theater Armen Sargsyan told Armenpress.

The composer died at a hospital on February 4.

 15:04, 2 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. One athlete and two members of the Armenian Olympic delegation tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their planned departure to Beijing for the Winter Olympics.

Armenian Ski Federation President Gagik Sargsyan told ARMENPRESS that the members of the delegation were getting tested as required, for three consecutive days before departure.

Sargsyan, alpine skier Harutyun Harutyunyan and coach Arsen Nersisyan tested positive.

“We are therefore deprived from the Olympics,” Sargsyan said. “Even if a few days later we test negative we won’t be able to reach Beijing because there’s an issue of flights. Olympic teams fly charter flights and the last flight was on January 31. We’ve asked the National Olympic Committee of Armenia to somehow send our alpine skier to Beijing, whose first performance was scheduled for February 12,” Sargsyan said.

Other members of Team Armenia –  skiers Mikayel Mikayelyan, Katya Galstyan and Angelina Muradyan and coaches Artur Mikayelyan and Alla Mikayelyan are already in Beijing.