Author: Emil Lazarian

 18:39,

YEREVAN, 13 APRIL, ARMENRPRESS. In the framework of the visit to the Russian Federation, Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan and deputy minister Narek Teryan met with Minister of Industry and trade Denis Manturov of Russian Federation.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, the sides discussed the state of the trade cooperation between Armenia and Russia, as well as priority directions of common activities.

“In 2021 the mutual trade between Armenia and Russia increased by 12.7%, amounting to 2.5 billion dollars. The export of Russian industrial production on a yearly basis increased by 14%, and the import of Armenian goods also increased by 10%.

During the meeting Vahan Kerobyan gladly emphasized the fact of the significant increase of trade turnover and expressed concern with the noticeable decrease of indicators in March, offering to carry out work on urgently eliminating the reasons for the decrease and restore growth”, the message says.

The interlocutors referred to a number of common programmes in different fields. Denis Manturov highlighted the development of cooperation in mining, metallurgy, chemical industry and agricultural machine building.

At the end of the meeting Denis Manturov invited Vahan Kerobyan to participate in the upcoming “INNOPROM. Central Asia” international industry exhibition in Tashkent.

 09:57,

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Despite the current economic crisis and complex situation in Lebanon, the local Armenian community is going to hold a big march on April 24 – the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Editor-in-Chief of the Lebanon-based Azdag daily Shahan Gantaharyan said in an interview to Armenpress, adding that a program of Armenian Genocide commemoration events has been prepared.

The march is being organized by three Armenian parties. It will start early morning on April 24, from Bourj Hammoud district to Antelias – the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

“It is a march for demand, for protection of rights, dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. The march will be followed by a mass in the Catholicosate where Catholicos Aram I is expected to deliver remarks. An event is also planned on April 23. The youth and student unions of the community will gather near the chapel dedicated to the Genocide victims. There will be speeches and artistic program during the event”, he said.

In their April 24^th addresses, Lebanese-Armenians will not only remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, will not only talk about Turkey’s denialist policy, but also will raise the issue of ongoing encroachments carried out by Azerbaijan against Armenians of Artsakh.

“Of course, the speeches will also focus on Artsakh. Today we are witnessing a policy of ethnic cleansing against Armenians living in Artsakh, as well as border encroachments. The Armenian National Committees are working actively to present the danger of ethnic cleansing to international organizations. Today Artsakh is facing a serious security problem”, Shahan Gantaharyan said.

April 24 marks the 107^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide organized and committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

 10:30,

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Both opposition blocs of the Armenian parliament announced that they are boycotting the parliament session and will instead travel to border towns of Armenia and to Artsakh.

Hayastan faction leader Seyran Ohanyan said that Armenia and Artsakh are facing the most serious challenges and cited the “red lines” which they had stated during their latest rally in Yerevan.

“The provisions stipulated in the Consitution of Armenia, our territorial integrity, sovereignty, are not for bargain, we find unacceptable any option of resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict that would make Artsakh part of Azerbaijan,” Ohanyan said.

Ohanyan accused the Pashinyan administration in being incapable of solving numerous foreign and domestic issues. He said the latest developments show that everything is proceeding by the “Azeri-Turkish agenda”.

“Based on this situation, the parliamentary opposition announces that it won’t participate in this week’s sessions and votes, we are going to Artsakh and to border provinces of Armenia,” Ohanyan said.

Secretary of Pativ Unem bloc Hayk Mamijanyan also announced that they won’t participate in the sessions. He said their lawmakers are also traveling to Artsakh.

Meanwhile, ruling Civil Contract bloc lawmaker Vagharshak Hakobyan accused the opposition MPs in “endangering the citizens of Artsakh and Armenia” by traveling to Artsakh.

“A narrative was voiced here, that they are traveling to Artsakh to follow the most important agenda and to protect the citizens of Artsakh. I’d like to argue the contrary, by traveling to Artsakh now they are endangering the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh and the citizens of the Republic of Armenia. Take this into consideration,” Hakobyan said.

 18:01,

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan introduced the newly appointed Minister Armen Pambukhchyan to the staff of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister wished success to Mr. Pambukhchyan in his important work and expressed hope that during his tenure the efficiency of the Ministry of Emergency Situations will increase.

“Usually, on similar occasions, we appoint a new minister, see off the old minister, thank him for the work done. You know that in this case we have a slightly different, unusual or even unprecedented situation. And I have to tell you honestly and sincerely that I am very sorry for such a development. Personally for me what happened is very painful in terms of both morality and politics. You know that after the 44-day war, I offered Mr. Piloyan the post of Minister of Emergency Situations, I entrusted that post, and we worked during this period in an atmosphere of mutual respect. But I think we must clearly state that finally the rule of law in the Republic of Armenia should not be just words, equality before the law should not be just words, after all, it’s the case now and was that before these events. I hope that we all understand this message very clearly and directly”, the Prime Minister said.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, it is clear that nowhere in the Republic of Armenia there is a very high level of welfare. “Moreover, we are a country that has problems with poverty, social problems, and serious security challenges in general. We must understand that each of us is required to make great efforts, and yes, to go through great deprivations in order to be able to solve the challenges facing our country, to solve the problems in the public administration system, to increase its efficiency, and finally make our service to the people more and more effective. I think this should be today’s main message.

Mr. Pambukhchyan, I wish good luck to you and the entire staff of the Ministry. And I want to say that talking about the rule of law, let’s not forget about the presumption of innocence, because according to the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, any person is innocent until his guilt is confirmed by a verdict that has entered into force. Let’s be guided by this presumption,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

Armen Pambukhchyan thanked the Prime Minister for the great confidence and assured that he will spare no effort and energy to justify the expectations of the PM and the society. “I am not new to this ministry, I am fully aware of all the tasks and priorities. I would like to note that during my tenure I will be guided by the agenda and values adopted by the Government and the political team,” the newly appointed Minister of Emergency Situations said.

 12:30,

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. During today’s session in the Parliament, Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia Rafayel Gevorgyan presented the draft on ratifying the 2020 financial cooperation agreement between the Armenian and German governments.

Gevorgyan said that Armenia will be provided with 116 million 400 thousand Euro financial aid.

“This assistance consists of two main parts. 70 million Euros will be provided for the development of small and medium enterprises, and 40 million to development loans in renewable energy sector. The mechanism through which that assistance will be provided is the country’s banking system. There is an Armenian-German fund through which the sums will be distributed to Armenia’s banking system”, the deputy minister said.

He informed that it is also planned to provide 3.4 million Euro financial aid to Armenia for implementation of biodiversity and sustainable development programs and to provide 3.4 million Euro financial aid for the necessary measures aimed at the implementation and technical support of the program.

 13:43,

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan and his deputy Narek Teryan are in Russia since April 10 on a three-day visit. During the visit the Armenian delegation was hosted by Russia’s Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Volvach, the Armenian ministry said in a news release.

Thanking for the welcome, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said Armenia is interested in deepening and expanding the cooperation with Russia in industry, trade and mutual investments, taking into account the targeted and successful work aimed at improving the bilateral business environment.

“Depending on the location and targeted direction, foreign investors could register a company and conduct an effective activity in Armenia in the fields of energy, light and heavy industry, pharmaceutics, telecommunication, jewelry or diamond production, logistics and transport, as well as IT”, the minister said.

The Russian deputy minister of economic development said the trade turnover between Armenia and Russia in 2021 increased by almost 13% and has reached 2,6 billion dollars, whereas the mutual trade only in January 2022 has increased by 50% compared to the same period of the previous year.  

“These are high figures, and today, in new conditions, we continue the mutual cooperation for keeping our partnership rates. There is a big potential for that. We don’t want to stop on the existing achievements and are interested in searching for new joint projects and developing the investment potential”, Dmitry Volvach said.

He also said that there are more than 40 large Russian companies operating in Armenia. Russia has invested around 2 billion dollars in the real sector of Armenia’s economy.

For the development of commercial partnership, the Russian side made effective proposals for the development of transport, energy, social infrastructure, implementation of prospective investment programs in Armenia.

The inter-regional cooperation was also touched upon during the meeting. Today Armenia maintains relations with more than 70 regions of Russia. Moreover, it is planned to organize works to select inter-regional cooperation projects and assist their implementation.

The activities being implemented within the Eurasian Economic Union were also discussed. At the moment the focus is on the macro-economic situation and the sustainable development of the economies of the Union’s member states.

 19:08,

YEREVAN, 11 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan on April 11 received Ambassador of India to Armenia Kishan Dan Dewal.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the President of Armenia, at the beginning of the meeting Ambassador Kishan Dan Dewal presented the President with the book of the Minister of External Affairs of India Subrahmanyan Jaishankar “The India Way: Strategies for and Uncertain World”.

At the meeting the sides exchanged thoughts about the prospects of development of Armenian-Indian relations, new directions of partnership.

The interlocutors mentioned that Armenia and India have great potential for deepening cooperation and can implement mutually beneficial programmes in a number of fields, in particular high technologies, education, healthcare, transportation, air communication, culture and tourism.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and India and the sides emphasized that based on 30 year of interstate relations, opportunities for implementation of more ambitious programmes should be created.