Author: Emil Lazarian

 12:26, 1 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. PM Nikol Pashinyan says he believes that the launch of reforms in higher education can no longer be delayed.

“The embarrassing statistics of admission exams must become a strong signal for this,” the PM said at the Cabinet meeting. “This year over 60% of admission seat in universities remained vacant. Furthermore, in state universities more than 40% remained vacant while in private universities over 98%. Although there are some state universities where the statistics is similar to the private [university] indicators. We have state universities where the state allocated seats and 90, 92, 94 or 98% of these seats remained vacant,” Pashinyan said.

“There are no university standards or are non-functioning ones in the country. People with higher education diplomas are very often not competitive in the job market,” the PM said.

He said that the government plans to consolidate universities through integrating with certain scientific-research institutes, and to have maximum 8 state universities in the country. “These universities will be in line with international standards will full state funding, starting from educational, research, sports, dormitory infrastructures up to international educational programs and qualified and properly remunerated academic staff,” the PM said.

 15:34, 1 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 49,761 over the past day to 19,445,581, TASS reported citing the Russian Anti-Coronavirus Crisis Center.

In absolute terms, the number of daily cases has been the highest since March 11. A day earlier, 46,321 daily cases were recorded.

As many as 4,128 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Russia over the past day, down 2.5% from a day earlier. The number of hospitalized patients increased in 37 regions, while in 46 regions the figure decreased. The situation remained unchanged in two regions. A day earlier, 4,232 people were rushed to hospitals.

Moscow’s COVID-19 cases surged by 7,242 over the past day versus 8,518 cases a day earlier, reaching 3,036,347, according to the anti-coronavirus crisis center. St. Petersburg’s COVID-19 cases increased by 3,152 over the past day versus 3,247 a day earlier, reaching 1,661,577.

COVID-19 recoveries

Russia’s COVID-19 recoveries rose by 38,940 over the past day, reaching 18,635,574, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday.

A day earlier, some 39,054 patients recovered.

COVID-19 death toll

Russia’s COVID-19 death toll rose by 95 over the past day, reaching 384,441, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday.

A day earlier, 92 COVID-19 deaths were registered.

 12:38, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. A military helicopter and over 100 firefighters are deployed near the town of Ijevan to tackle a grassfire that’s been burning for already 3 days, authorities said.

Around 7 to 8 hectares of grass area is burning.

The grassfire is close to the Ijevan Wine Factory.

On September 2, the Tavush provincial rescue department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations dispatched additional fire brigades to the scene.

No injuries are reported.

 13:01, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the course of implementation of the trilateral agreements ( 2020 November 9, 2021 January 11 and November 26) on Nagorno Karabakh and prospects during a September 1 phone call, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“An agreement was reached to continue contacts soon,” the Russian foreign ministry added in the readout.

 19:54, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. 50 Diaspora-Armenian specialists received certificates during the closing ceremony of the iGorts 2021 program in the government of Armenia. 

The ceremony was attended by High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan, deputy ministers, program participants who arrived in Armenia from abroad a year ago for working in a public sector.

Zareh Sinanyan thanked the participants for the dedicated work in their fields.

“Within the framework of iGorts program, projects were implemented in healthcare, education, culture, social, labor, territorial administration, economy and investment sectors. All our participants are amazing specialists in their spheres. Most of the participants, nearly 70%, have made a decision to repatriate, some part will stay in the public administration and others will start working in the private sector”, he said.

“We have selected the participants with special criteria, as the applicant must have had a Master’s or a higher degree and been ready to live and work in Armenia for a year”, Sinanyan said.

Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ruben Sargsyan stated that Armenia highly needs the professional and human resource that this program provides. iGorts program is also a good opportunity for exchange of experience and introduction of a new culture.

Vahan Mkrtchyan, who was born and lived in Russia for many years, told ARMENPRESS that this program was the best mean of returning back to the homeland. “I was working at the Yerevan City Hall through the program. It gave me a great circle, ties, friends and enabled to understand how the Armenian government is working today”, he said.

 20:13, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The units of the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire in the direction of an Armenian defense ministry vehicle in the eastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Armenian ministry of defense said. 

No casualties are reported on the Armenian side. 

 “At the same time, the Azerbaijani ministry of defense spread disinformation, claiming that the units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions and military vehicles in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border”, the ministry added.

Garo Paylan studies condition of Armenian churches, monasteries that are under danger of destruction in Van province

 20:52, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Ethnic Armenian lawmaker of the Turkish Parliament Garo Paylan studied the current conditions of churches and monasteries in Van province which are facing a danger of elimination because of destruction, Arti Gercek reports.

At first, Paylan visited Varagavank monastery. The monastery has suffered great damages and if not restored it may collapse in several years.

“Why is Varagavank, one of the key structures of the province, not being restored? Because we see the following response from the ministry of culture and tourism to the application sent for the restoration of the monastery: “It is a private property. We can’t take steps”. It turned out that the monastery’s ownership certificate belongs to journalist Fatih Altayli”, Garo Paylan said.

He reminded that Varagavank has a history of 1200 years and has 7 churches. He called on Fatih Altayli to refuse from the ownership right in order for the monastery not to be collapsed.

“This is a very important religious complex where thousands of clergymen could be prepared. This monastery is in an isolated condition. If Mr. Fatih Altayli transfers this place to the Armenian Patriarchate or the culture ministry as soon as possible, that site will be restored”, he said.

He reminded that 100 years ago every 5th of the people living in that region and 2 out of 3 living in Van were Armenians. 

“The Armenian people have created a very serious civilization. They have thousands of cultural values, monasteries, churches, schools and hospitals. Unfortunately, these cultural values have been destroyed by a planned policy after the massacres of the Armenian people. Under the conditions of the vandalism organized by the state, few traces of these thousand-year-old cultural values remained”, Paylan said, adding that if an interference is not made for saving these monuments, nothing will remain from what has been maintained as well.

Garo Paylan said that he will deal with this issue after returning to Ankara.