The Civil Contract faction will nominate Anna Vardapetyan for the post of Prosecutor General, head of the faction Hayk Konjoryan told journalists at the National Assembly.
“With both her professional qualities, high moral and value features and the requirements of the law, Mrs. Vardapetyan corresponds to the key mission, which, in our view, the future Prosecutor General of Armenia should have,” he said.
The delegation led by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan was hosted by President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi.
The meeting focused on Armenia-Iran multilateral cooperation, which is based on the centuries-old friendship between the two peoples, close historical and cultural ties.
Outlining the ways to promote cooperation, the parties expressed readiness to continue the dialogue through joint efforts and to further enrich the agenda of bilateral cooperation.
President Riaisi highlighted the cooperation of the legislatures in strengthening the existing warm relations between Armenia and Iran.
The interlocutors touched upon bilateral economic relations and implementation of joint infrastructure projects, the development of which has many preconditions.
Alen Simonyan said the Armenian side attaches great importance to the signing of mutual agreements in the fields of energy and transport.
“In the context of development of regional transport communications, the establishment of railway connection between Armenia and Iran is among the most important issues on our agenda,” said Alen Simonyan.
The Speaker briefed the Iranian President on the situation after the war unleashed by the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem against Artsakh, the humanitarian issues and the issue of preservation of the Armenian historical and cultural heritage of Nagorno Karabakh, which are currently under the control of Azerbaijan.
Alen Simonyan said that Azerbaijan is destroying its valuable heritage at the state level, and Iran can serve as an example for Azerbaijan in this regard.
The meeting highlighted Iran’s consistent efforts to establish peace and stability in the region.
Expressing gratitude for the reception, the Armenian Parliament Speaker expressed conviction that the Armenian-Iranian cooperation has a great potential for development and expansion and pledged his willingness to support the development of mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of two friendly peoples.
“We are friends of difficult days for all our friends, this is what we are guided by. On happy days, everyone can be by anyone’s side, but real friendship is shown in times of difficulty,” said Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi.
Alen Simonyan conveyed the warm wishes of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and an invitation to pay an official visit to Armenia.
The Speaker also informed the Iranian President that a working group has already been set up in the National Assembly to simplify the legislation on the implementation of the joint work of the Armenia-Iran agenda.
The President noted that he had given relevant instructions to his staff to present initial proposals for establishing closer ties with Armenia.
14:45, 16 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan on the sidelines of her official visit to pay tribute to the memory of the Genocide victims.
Marija Pejčinović Burić laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and then toured the Armenian Genocide Museum.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe arrived in Armenia on an official visit on June 16-17.
On June 17 she is scheduled to meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. Within the framework of the visit, meetings with the President, the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia and the Minister of Justice are planned.
15:35, 16 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan hosted today Armenian-American scientist, Nobel Prize laureate and molecular biologist Ardem Patapoutian, who arrived in Armenia on the sidelines of Science and Business Days 2022 forum organized by the Ministry of Economy, the PM’s Office said.
“Dear Mr. Patapoutian, I am glad to welcome you and to getting acquainted with you. I welcome your visit to Armenia.
Yesterday I carefully listened to your speech during the graduation ceremony in the Yerevan State University and I am very impressed. I think that Armenia and the entire Armenian people consider your achievements as their own. Of course, it’s a great occasion of pride for us that finally we have also our compatriot among the Nobel laureates.
I also want to thank you for your readiness to support the development of science and education in Armenia. Making tangible reforms in this area is one of our key strategic directions, and we think that science, education reforms are of strategic significance and should determine our country’s future. Of course, it’s important for us to engage the potential of our compatriots in this process, if there is such a readiness.
I want to once again welcome you and I would like to hear from you about your visit, how is it going and how do you spend your time in Armenia”.
In his turn, Ardem Patapoutian said:
“It’s a great honor for me to meet with you and be here. I had a wonderful visit, I am impressed by the welcome you and the government showed to me, but most importantly, by the welcome of the nation.
The happiness of the students I met is really shocking, and I think that even the United States does not appreciate its young scientists in this way. I will be very happy to help in any way, within my capacities. I already met many ministers, education and science sector representatives and the people who have established high-tech companies.
I share your view that science and technologies are very important for the next stage of the life of Armenia, not for the economy, the military field only, but for all areas.
I visited Synopsis, TUMO, and these are two wonderful examples of Armenian ingenuity, which are useful not only for the industry but also contribute to education, improve education which will later nourish and help the economy. I hope I can be useful in the field of healthcare and informatics that has a mathematical basis. I think it will have a major place in future biology.
With its limited budget Armenia could show a strategic approach to those areas where there is an opportunity to reach the maximum in a short period of time. I think there are some directions where we can compete, there are also directions where, I think, it is meaningless to become the best one. I repeat that I will be glad to help within my capacities. I am very excited for the general anti-corruption movement that you have started which is already reflected in the academic field”.
Thereafter, Nikol Pashinyan and Ardem Patapoutian discussed the problems in the fields of science and education in Armenia and the government’s ongoing reforms.
PM Pashinyan said the government is planning to increase the funding for science by 2026 and added that it has already been raised by 80%. He attached importance to Mr. Patapoutian’s observations, recommendations and proposals for promoting the reforms. Pashinyan said that Patapoutian’s example is encouraging for the youth, expressing confidence that his visit will inspire them.
The Armenian-American scientist said he is ready to contribute to the development of science and education in Armenia with his knowledge, experience and potential.
At the end of the meeting, Pashinyan awarded Patapoutian with the Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots for his significant achievements in the field of biology.
09:45, 17 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The session of the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) launched in Yerevan on June 17, Armenpress correspondent reports.
Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan announced the opening of the session.
The session is attended by Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Alexander Volfovich, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolay Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Kazakhstan Gizat Nurdauletov, Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan Marat Imankulov, Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan Nasrullo Mahmudzoda and CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas.
After the announcement of Chairman Armen Grigoryan, the session continued in a closed format.
Armen Grigoryan and CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas will make a joint statement after the session.
Reporting by Aram Sargsyan
11:13, 17 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia commented on the statement of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev according to which Armenia rejected the proposal to hold a trilateral meeting in Tbilisi at the level of foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
“We not only have not rejected, but also have always positively reacted to such a possible meeting, at the same time noting that work needs to be done to ensure the efficiency of the meeting”, MFA spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said in response to query of ARMENPRESS.
11:30, 17 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a decision on setting up an inter-agency commission to coordinate the organization works of the STARMUS VI Festival which will take place in Yerevan this year on September 5-11.
The commission will be co-chaired by Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office Arayik Harutyunyan and Vice Speaker of Parliament Hakob Arshakyan.
Officials from other agencies are also involved in the commission.
12:16,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. On the initiative of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD), 91 organizations active in the EU Member states sent a letter to the President of the European Council Charles Michel, expressing profound discontent with his statement following the trilateral meeting with the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev dating to 23 May 2022, Armenpress reports citing the EAFJD website.
“The organizations welcome Charles Michel’s efforts for peace negotiations. Nevertheless, they emphasize the importance of ensuring that peace is negotiated based on justice and not by sacrificing the fundamental rights and needs of the Armenian side which has been a victim of vicious aggression of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem in 2020.
The organizations regret that the press statement of 23 May disregards key principles of EU’s documented approach towards the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and overall endorses the Azerbaijani stance on the conflict resolution in some crucial aspects. This includes using the wording “Karabakh” while referring to the conflict, instead of “Nagorno Karabakh” which is a political entity with a defined territory. The letter further elaborates that using the term Karabakh by the Azerbaijani authorities is a part of the ongoing state policy of ethnic cleansing against the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh.
Referring to the statement by the spokesperson of Charles Michel on 31 May 2022, the organizations express appreciation that it introduced important clarifications and emphasized key principles. The organizations express hope that EU’s future mediation on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict does justice to negotiating an equitable and lasting peace. For this purpose the call on the President of the European Council to base the mediation on six concrete aspects”, the statement says.
12:36,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan met with Armenian-American scientist, Nobel Prize laureate and molecular biologist Ardem Patapoutian, who arrived in Yerevan within the framework of the Science and Business Days 2020 forum.
“We talked about the current situation, achievements of the healthcare system and the systematic reforms that have entered a new phase. Patapoutian was interested in the activities being carried out to overcome the pandemic and the consequences of the war and made valuable observations on the field.
Highlighting the ongoing reforms in the sector, particularly the programs in fighting cancer, he expressed readiness to support our programs in fighting the disease, stating that the system is open now more than ever, and today he feels himself closer to the Armenian land, culture and homeland”, Anahit Avanesyan said in a statement on social media.