Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

“New Karabakh peace deal is condemned to fail”։ POLITICO

June 13, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

Inflation to continue slowdown, says researcher

June 13, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

10:00,

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. Inflation is slowing as the year-on-year inflation (May 2023 compared to May 2022) comprised 1,3% in the consumer market, while a 1,8% decrease was recorded compared to April. The inflation rate is expected to continue slowing down in the next months, according to Hayk Bejanyan, an expert at the Amberd Research Center.

Food and non-alcoholic drink prices decreased 2,1% in May of this year compared to May of 2022. Food prices alone dropped 2,3%.

But liquor and tobacco prices grew 7,8%, while clothing and footwear prices grew 6,2%.

Flour and other cereal prices dropped 12%. Egg prices grew 18,9%. The price of butter and sugar dropped 2,9% and 6,6% respectively, while the meat price grew 5,8%. The price of vegetable oil grew 3,3%.

Bejanyan believes that the inflation rate will continue to slow down in the next months.

”Last year we had a rather high inflation indicator. And as a result of this year’s relatively stable international, stable economic developments, this year’s inflation pace is expected to be lower on the high base of last year. This forecast is substantiated when we see the trend of decrease, which is regularly dropping monthly, and not displaying an independent behavior. We will continue to witness this process during the year,’ Bejanyan said.

The currency exchange rate also plays an important role in the formation of inflation.

Furthermore, the expert doesn’t predict a decrease in the consumer demand, on the contrary, it was preserved and has gotten more active due to more inbound tourists. The preserved demand was also one of the reasons behind the stabilization of the inflation environment.

“The inflation rate will continue to slow down in the next months, and the average inflation indicator at yearend will be close to the target level, in my opinion,” the expert added.

The inflation in April was 3,2% and in March 5,4% compared to the same period of 2022.

Anna Grigoryan

Azerbaijani forces shell Armenia positions with mortar, small arms fire

June 13, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

15:04,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani military units opened fire at Armenian military positions near Sotk at 14:15, June 12, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in a statement.

The Azerbaijani forces used small arms and mortars in the shooting, the ministry added.

The Armenian side did not suffer casualties.

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister meets Siemens regional executive to discuss cooperation

June 13, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

15:39,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan has met with Siemens Sub-Region Vice President for Turkey and Central Asia Maxim Zubov.

Siemens Armenia representative Armen Berberyan, Minister of High Tech Industry Robert Khachatryan and Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Hakob Vardanyan also attended the meeting, the deputy prime minister’s office said in a readout.

Deputy PM Khachatryan attached importance to the intensification of activities in Armenia by reputed organizations like Siemens.

The parties discussed promising projects carried out by Siemens in Armenia, especially in the areas of high technologies and energy infrastructures. The officials once again reiterated readiness to continue and develop cooperation.

HRDs of Armenia and Artsakh and American Armenian lawyers emphasize the need to ensure the continuity of cooperation

June 13, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

19:58,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan and Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan had an online discussion with representatives of the Armenian Bar Association of America, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh.

During the meeting, information was provided on the fact-finding activities carried out by the Human Rights Defenders’ institutions regarding human rights violations in Artsakh and border communities of Armenia as a result of the crimes committed by Azerbaijan, as well as information on the work carried out on the international platforms regarding the humanitarian conditions created in Artsakh under the ongoing blockade and existing problems.

Representatives of the Armenian Bar Association presented the Association’s work aimed at raising international awareness on human rights violations in Armenia and Artsakh and ensuring international engagement.

The necessity of using legal instruments for the protection of human rights and ensuring the continuity of effective partnership was mutually emphasized.

Ukraine says heavy battles ongoing after first counteroffensive gains

June 12, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

10:25,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine’s military command said on Monday its forces were engaged in heavy battles in frontline hot spots, after pushing back Russian forces from several villages in the opening phase of the counteroffensive.

Some 25 battles had taken place over the past day near the eastern town of Bakhmut, and further south near Avdiivka and Maryinka, all in the Donetsk region, but also near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, Reuters reported citing Ukraine’s armed forces general staff.

Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar posted on Monday a photo showing soldiers hoisting the Ukrainian flag at what she said was the village of Storozheve in Donetsk, and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it.

On Sunday, Ukraine said its troops had made advances on three villages in Donetsk: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. Storozheve is located between Blahodatne and Neskuchne.

Both sides have said their forces had inflicted heavy personnel and equipment losses on their enemy over the past week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine had failed to breach Russian defenses, while the Russian defense ministry said it had destroyed several Leopard battle tanks and other equipment that Ukraine had received from the West.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it has repelled 8 attacks and that its defense lines were not breached.

According to reports, a prisoner swap has also taken place, with Russia releasing 95 Ukrainian troops and Ukraine releasing 94 Russian troops.

Foreign direct investments comprise 5,1% of GDP in 2022, says finance minister

June 12, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

10:45,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. A big inflow of foreign direct investments was recorded last year in Armenia, comprising 5,1% of the GDP, Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan told lawmakers at the Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Committee during debates on approving the 2022 state budget report.

“We have a big inflow of foreign direct investments, which comprised 5,1% of the GDP. This is a very high indicator compared to the past years,” the minister said.

The capital accumulation indicator is also very high, he added, explaining that businesses in Armenia have invested their income in developing their own capital capacities. “We are sure that we will notice in the first years the positive impact of these investments on the potential of our economy,” Hovhannisyan added.

Parliament committee OKs government’s 2022 budget report

June 12, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

12:20,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. The financial-credit and budgetary affairs committee of parliament has approved the bill on confirming the 2022 government budget report.

The bill will be debated at the plenary session in parliament.

The report was presented to lawmakers at the committee by finance minister Vahe Hovhannisyan.

“We had a forecast of 1 trillion 947 billion drams in revenues in the beginning of the year, the revenues increased by 110 billion drams during the year. Spending was forecast at 2 trillion 184 billion and increased by 103 billion drams. As a result, the planned deficit dropped 6,5 billion drams. Factual spending planned under our adjusted program was executed 100,2% in terms of revenues and 98% in terms of spending, which resulted in a 78% execution of the deficit, that is, by 56 billion less, in total 179 billion,” Hovhannisyan said.

Speaking about the increase of revenues, the minister said that tax revenues stood at 81 billion drams, while other revenues at 51 billion drams. Official grants were reduced by 21,9 billion drams.

A drop in customs duties was recorded, which is related to the decrease of imports in the overall EEU area.

The state debt stands at 10 billion 637 million USD (4 trillion 186 billion drams). The debt has decreased in drams but increased in dollars.

“The government debt-GDP ratio, which was planned at 58,4%, dropped to 46,7%. If we were to neutralize the dram valuation factor our debt would have been around 53%,” Hovhannisyan said.

Bahrain wins bid to host 2024 IWF World Championships

June 12, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

13:23,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Manama, the capital of Bahrain, will host the IWF World Championships 2024 edition.

Bahrain’s bid received more support from the IWF Executive Board in Havana than the two other candidates for next year’s IWF top-event, Armenia and Albania.

Armenia hosted the 2023 EWF Weightlifting European Championships.

PM Pashinyan felicitates President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. of Philippines on National Day

June 12, 2023March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

14:02,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on the occasion of the national holiday.

“Your Excellency, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, I congratulate you and the friendly people of the Philippines on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of the Philippines, the125th anniversary of Independence,” PM Pashinyan said in the letter. “I would like to note with satisfaction that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Philippines, the relations between the two countries have developed in a regular manner, both on bilateral and multilateral platforms. I am confident that with joint efforts we will contribute to the further development and deepening of relations between Armenia and the Philippines in areas of mutual interest for the benefit of the peoples of our two countries. I wish you good health and new success, and prosperity and peace to the friendly people of the Philippines,” Pashinyan said.