The joint Armenian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation resumes activities after a long break. The agreement was reached on July 30 during the meeting of the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Marina Lazebna and the RA Ambassador to Ukraine Tigran Seyranyan.
As the Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy reported in a release, the interlocutors agreed to activate the cooperation in spheres of bilateral interest and outlined the upcoming activities.
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCIO) Andrzej Kasprzyk welcome the relative stability along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border since 16 July.
In a released statement on July 25, the mediators appeal to the sides to take advantage of the current reduction in active hostilities to prepare for serious substantive negotiations to find a comprehensive solution to the conflict. “The Co-Chairs stress once more that refraining from provocative statements and actions, including threats or perceived threats to civilians or to critical infrastructure, is essential during this delicate period,” the Co-Chairs said, according to the statement posted on the official website of the OSCE.
The Co-Chairs note that recent public statements criticizing the joint efforts of the co-chairing countries, and/or seeking unilaterally to establish new “conditions” or changes to the settlement process format are not conducive to resuming a constructive dialogue. The Co-Chairs reiterate that political will to achieve a lasting peaceful settlement is best demonstrated by refraining from maximalist positions, adhering strictly to the ceasefire, and abstaining from provocative statements and actions.
The Co-Chairs and PRCIO express appreciation for the strong engagement by leaders of international organizations including the United Nations, OSCE, and European Union, whose calls for strict adherence to the ceasefire and renewed dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs have aligned with and supported the Co-Chairs’ own intensive mediation efforts. “We note as especially positive the impartiality of such interventions, which have urged the sides to focus on reducing tensions rather than on assigning to others the sole responsibility of causing the recent escalation. The Co-Chairs welcome the growing international consensus calling for de-escalation and a swift return to negotiations in good faith without conditions,” the statement read in part.
The Co-Chairs next reaffirm that the principles and elements as laid out in their statement of 9 March 2019 continue to form the basis of their mediation efforts. The Co-Chairs are prepared to meet with the leaders or their designees at any time. The Co-Chairs also emphasize that OSCE monitors should return to the region as soon as possible.
14:53,
YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament Sergey Bagratyan has submitted a notice to the Speaker of Parliament on leaving the Prosperous Armenia faction, the Parliament said.
The MP informed the Speaker that he is leaving the faction.
Sergey Bagratyan is serving as Member of Parliament since 2017. He has been member of the Tsarukyan faction in 2017-2019.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
17:29,
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today chaired the session of the Digitization Council at the government, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
Armenia’s 2020-2025 digitization strategy draft was discussed at the session.
Deputy minister of high technological industry Stepan Tsaturyan introduced the goals of the strategy and their implementation roadmap. He said Armenia is capturing leading positions in terms of the development of e-governance and digital technologies, and the successful initiatives carried out so far are a good base for the future digital transformation. According to the digital strategy, it is planned to carry out a digital transformation of the state, economy and society with the development of innovative technologies, cyber-security, data policy in the public administration system, the introduction of united standards, the implementation of education programs, as well as with the promotion of digital tools in the private sector.
The strategy is expected to be implemented at 2 phases – in 2020-2021 and 2022-2025.
PM Pashinyan said the digitization is a revolutionary process, and the work must be done both at the content and technical directions. According to him, in addition to the technical criteria, the digitization strategy should also set clear political goals and visible bars so that the public will be able to have an understanding about the goals and results. In this respect he highlighted the active public communication, broad awareness on the digital transformation processes and gave instructions to the responsible officials.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
On July 9 the Television and Radio Commission of Armenia has held a meeting, during which the members of the commission have discussed the matter of license for cable TV and radio broadcasting, requested by TEAM Telecom Armenia LLC.
According to the statement issued by TEAM, the commission has considered the company’s request and granted the license.
12:17, 9 July, 2020
YEREVAN, JULY 9, ARMENPRESS. Georgia confirmed 5 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past one day, bringing the total number of cases to 968, the authorities said, RIA Novosti reports.
844 people have already recovered.
The death toll is 15.
4,425 people are quarantined.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:33,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. On June 17, Tigran Mkrtchyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Lithuania met with Aurelijus Veryga, Minister of Health of Lithuania, the Armenian Embassy told Armenpress.
During the meeting, Ambassador Mkrtchyan thanked the Lithuanian government for the decision to send medical staff and essential medical supplies to Armenia, noting that this assistance will contribute to mitigating and stabilizing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Veryga briefed Ambassador Mkrtchyan on the preparations for the mission and noted that after overcoming the pandemic, Lithuania is ready to continue the close cooperation with Armenia in the field of healthcare and share its best experience.