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

Armenian pensioners to receive cashback for using cards

Emil Lazarian

May 20 2022


  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Cashback for non-cash transactions

In Armenia, pensioners and socially disadvantaged families receiving benefits will receive a monthly 10% cashback for non-cash transactions, that is, if they use a bank card for to pay for goods and services. The government has already approved this decision, it will come into force on July 1, 2022. The program will be implemented in cooperation with private banks. The project is pilot and will last six months until the end of the year. The decision on the extension will be made after an analysis of its effectiveness.

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This initiative was announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs last week. However, originally, it referred to the provision of cashback only when buying food and medicine. In the final version, which was adopted by the government on May 19, there is no such restriction․ Project beneficiaries will be able to count on cashback in case of any non-cash purchases.

“The decision will also apply to utility payments if they were made through the ATMs of the bank that issued this pension card”, added Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan.

The list of beneficiaries has also expanded. In addition to pensioners, according to the final version of the decision, it will also apply to those who receive benefits not in cash, but via a bank card.

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan said that at the moment there are only 1,000 such people in the country. And the government expects that the decision to provide cash back will become an incentive for the rest to switch to cashless payments.

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The rationale for the project states that it

  • serves as a tool to mitigate the negative effects of inflation,
  • increases the volume of non-cash transactions, which will have a positive economic effect,
  • increases consumer knowledge about modern financial instruments and technologies and expands the scope of their application.

Pensioners and those who receive benefits will receive a cashback of 10% of the amount of non-cash payments, but not more than 5,000 drams ($11) per month, given that the average pension in Armenia is just under 50,000 drams ($90).

According to the Prime Minister of Armenia, the limit was set due to the fact that there are pensioners in the country who receive a pension of 200,000 drams ($440) or more.

The state has agreed to implement the project with private banks. Partners will participate in it equally, that is, in a ratio of 5%. Until June 1, the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will publish a list of banks that have agreed to become government partners in this program.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan asked the authors of the project: “If a pensioner finds out that the bank serving him is not on the list of government partners for this project, can they apply to another bank?”. The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs replied that from June, when the list of banks will be published, until July, when the decision comes into force, the beneficiaries will have a month to obtain a card from another bank.

The peculiarity of these cards is that it will be impossible to transfer any amounts on them, therefore all beneficiaries should be careful: they should not withdraw the entire amount at once, otherwise they will not be able to use the program during this month.

Speaking about the effectiveness of the project, Prime Minister Pashinyan suggested that it would benefit pensioners, banks, and businesses in general. According to him, at the beginning of the month, pensioners immediately cash out the entire amount of their cards, and now it will remain on their accounts, which will create a short-term cash reserve for banks – from several days to 3-4 weeks. This will be beneficial for banks, since the total amount of pensions paid per year in Armenia is about 500 billion drams (more than $1 billion), not counting benefits.

As for the beneficiaries of the project, the government is going to analyze what they acquire the most in order to fight inflation in a targeted manner, if necessary, precisely for these goods.

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The implementation of the project will increase state budget expenditures for 2022 by 5.66 billion drams ($12 million). Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan stressed that the program will also increase the costs of private banks, but this is justified for both structures. According to Grigoryan, this initiative is of strategic importance and should be treated as a developing infrastructure:

“If we make a cashless chain worth tens of billions of dollars, after some time it will really become a matter of commercial logic, after which the government will, of course, at some point withdraw from the program. But I’m sure the project will continue”.

According to Prime Minister Pashinyan, the pilot phase of the program will provide an opportunity to collect data on beneficiaries, analyze it and revise the state policy accordingly,:

“It was written in the programs of all our previous governments that social assistance should be as targeted as possible. But we cannot achieve it because we do not have the proper level of research. We have the person’s address, but we don’t have the “address” of their needs”.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs also believes that the implementation of the project will help overcome the “inertial logic” of targeted programs. Narek Mkrtchyan said that the ministry is developing a new vulnerability assessment system, which involves not providing assistance, but providing services based on people’s needs. It will be launched in 2023.

Vilnius supports closer EU-Armenia integration – Lithuanian president

Emil Lazarian

May 20 2022


  •  2022-05-20

    •  

  •  BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Lithuania supports closer integration between the European Union and Armenia, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Friday. 

As part of his official visit to Yerevan, Nauseda met with his Armenian counterpart, Vahagn Khachaturyan, to discuss bilateral cooperation, the security situation in the Caucasus region, democratic reforms in Armenia, and EU-Armenia relations, the Lithuanian president’s office said in a press release.

“Especially now, when Ukraine is fighting not only for its sovereignty but also for European values and democracy, keeping the EU’s Eastern Partnership policy active is essential,” it quoted Nauseda as saying.

“Closer cooperation between the EU and Armenia and the implementation of democratic reforms will contribute to the country’s resilience, security, social and economic prosperity,” he said. 

Nauseda noted that bilateral relations between Lithuania and Armenia have “untapped potential” and “expressed his hope that both the direct flight between Vilnius and Yerevan and the political will at the top level will boost bilateral cooperation”.

The president expressed his support for Armenia’s efforts to carry out democratic reforms and noted that the country has already made progress, but it is important to continue the reforms.

He said that “Lithuania is ready to share its experience and help Armenia on the path towards democratic reforms”.

The Lithuanian and Armenian leaders also discussed the security situation in the Caucasus region.

In the fall of 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-week war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh that killed more than 6,500 people.

Hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire deal under which Armenia ceded several areas it had controlled for decades and Moscow deployed a peacekeeping contingent in the region.

Nauseda “stressed that Lithuania stood for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and welcomed the direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan with efforts to normalize bilateral relations”, according to the press release. 

Tatoyan: Azerbaijanis fired from positions that have been on Armenia sovereign territory for over year

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
12:19, 22.05.2022

Azerbaijanis fired yesterday and a few days before mainly from positions that have been on the sovereign territory of Armenia for more than a year, Ex-Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan wrote on his Facebook.

Shots, officially confirmed yesterday, May 21, by Armenia, due to which the Armenian serviceman was wounded, were fired in the neighborhood of the village of Norabak.

Ombudsman: The people of Artsakh will not accept a document providing for autonomy within Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
14:50, 22.05.2022

No autonomy is acceptable for the people of Artsakh, Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan told reporters, answering a question about the possibility of signing an agreement between the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to which Nagorno-Karabakh can be granted the status of cultural autonomy.

Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev are scheduled to meet in Brussels today.

“This is not an end in itself and not a whim. The people of Artsakh already know what autonomy is within Azerbaijan. He knows by clear demographic indicators, by the discriminatory policy pursued by the leadership of the AzUSSR. The number of the Azerbaijani population in the NPO was growing, the number of the Armenian population was declining. The Azerbaijani way of life, culture and so on were imposed on the people of Artsakh. We have repeatedly said that we will not be part of Azerbaijan. No matter who accepts, we will not be part of Azerbaijan,” he said.

Asked if the document nevertheless becomes a reality, the Ombudsman noted that the people of Artsakh will not accept it.

“The statements of the National Assembly, the daily statements of the Foreign Minister testify that the authorities and the people of Artsakh unanimously say: there are red lines that cannot be crossed, Artsakh will not be part of Azerbaijan. The fate of the people cannot be decided without taking into account their will. The person sitting in Brussels and Washington cannot decide how a resident of Stepanakert or Martuni should live. This is absurd,” he said.

Gegham Stepanyan noted that following the results of meetings in various formats, he also got the impression that under the guise of introducing international mechanisms for the protection of rights, involvement in Azerbaijan is being dragged through.

“Our clear answer was make no mistake, it’s impossible. We see a discriminatory policy, then there were 30 years of Azerbaijan’s policy of hatred towards Armenians. What rational person would think after that that Artsakh can live as part of Azerbaijan or that the rights of Artsakh people can be protected in Azerbaijan?”

Gegham Stepanyan recalled that 80 civilians were brutally killed by the Azerbaijanis.

“Azerbaijan systematically destroys Armenian cultural monuments in the occupied territories. What kind of autonomy can we talk about? concluded the Ombudsman.

Signing of any document is not planned in Brussels: Armenian Security Council Secretary

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Charles Michel are not planning to sign any document at their upcoming trilateral meeting in Brussels, the  Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan said in  response to a query from Armenpress news agency.

The Secretary of the RA Security Council also touched upon the  criticism that the agenda of the meeting is classified. “That’s to  say the least a strange criticism because the current agenda of our  discussions with Azerbaijan is well known. These are: the points  presented by us and by Azerbaijan for the normalization of relations  or launch of peace talks, which are also disclosed and include the  topic of the NK conflict settlement, issues of return of captives and  revealing the fate of those missing, issues relating to opening of  regional connections, delimitation and demarcation of borders, as  well as issues relating to the launch of the work of the trilateral  commission dealing with border security. This is the same agenda that  was discussed during the previous meetings.” 

Armen Grigoryan stated that there are no plans to sign any document  in Brussels, because, for example in the issue of opening regional  connections a working group co-chaired by deputy prime ministers is  active and discussions on agreements reached on the highest level  must continue in that format. “The same can be said on the other  issues which are being discussed more in detail in working formats.  Therefore, no document is planned to be signed in Brussels.  Presumably there will be a press release on the results of the  discussions,” he pointed out.

The citizen is the key guarantor of democracy in Armenia – PM Pashinyan

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –
, 15:25

 1 minute read

The citizen is the key guarantor of democracy in the Republic of Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Armenian Forum of Democracy.

He noted that Armenia is the right place for holding the forum.

“The citizen of the Republic of Armenia knows that he is a decision-maker, that he is the main, key subject as provided by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia,” PM Pashinyan stated.

“The Republic of Armenia went through great shocks after the 44-day war in 2020, and it was the citizen of the Republic of Armenia who prevented the collapse of the statehood of the Republic of Armenia, the loss of sovereignty and independence,” he noted.

He pointed out two key questions – to what extent democracy is able to protect the country’s security and to what extent democracy is able to protect and preserve the sovereignty and independence of the country.

“The answer to the second question is unequivocal: democracy is the most important and key factor in preserving the sovereignty, guaranteeing and preserving the independence of the Republic of Armenia today. Our task is to prove that democracy is able to ensure the external and internal security of the country. In this regard, I would like to emphasize the importance of the peace agenda adopted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, for which the citizen of the Republic of Armenia has given a mandate,” Nikol Pashinyan continued.

In general, he said, “it’s very important to formulate and discuss the peace agenda with the logic that, in the end, the key decisions in the country are made by the citizen in accordance with the rules of democracy, the Constitution and the legislation.”

“It is very important that we provide complete and relevant information to the citizen so that he or she is sufficiently informed in making his or her decisions,” the Prime Minister said.

Humanitarian consequences of Azeri aggression against Artsakh discussed at meeting of Armenian, Irish FMs

Emil Lazarian

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 13:51,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. On May 20, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia, who is in Turin to participate in the 132nd session of CoE Committee of Foreign Ministers, met with Foreign Minister of Ireland Simon Coveney, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a press release.

The interlocutors referred to the issues on the cooperation agenda between Armenia and Ireland at bilateral and multilateral levels.

Minister Mirzoyan stressed that Armenia welcomes the priorities of the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, aimed at protecting human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, and emphasized their importance, especially in the context of conflicts.

Referring to humanitarian consequences resulting from the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the need for the involvement of the Council of Europe.

2021 election gave answers to all questions raised today by demonstrators – Deputy PM

Emil Lazarian

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 14:26,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. The 2021 parliamentary election in Armenia gave answers to all the questions that are now being raised by the protesters in the country, the Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan told RIA Novosti.

When asked whether or not the Armenian government plans to hold snap elections, Grigoryan said: “The absolutely democratic, free and lawful parliamentary election that took place in June of 2021 in Armenia gave the answers to all the questions that are today being circulated by the minority protest movement.”

Armenpress: Representatives of 15 countries to participate in Eurasian Economic Forum in Bishkek

Emil Lazarian

Representatives of 15 countries to participate in Eurasian Economic Forum in Bishkek

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 10:10,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. Around 1700 people from 15 countries will participate in the first Eurasian Economic Forum in Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek, Vice Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Arzibek Kojoshev said at a press conference, reports TASS.

“We expect that a total of about 1700 people will participate in the Eurasian Economic Forum”, he said, adding that as of this moment the representatives of ten countries of Latin America and South-East Asia have confirmed their participation. He informed that all members states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, will be represented at the Forum.

The Eurasian Economic Forum will start on May 26.

The Forum program includes a plenary session involving the Heads of the EAEU States and the Chairman of the EEC Board, as well as six panel discussions:

  • “Eurasian Integration Strategic Development Prospects in the Time of Global Changes”;
  • “Financial Markets and Development Institutions: Opportunities for Macroeconomic Stability and Growth Points of the EAEU Countries’ Economies”;
  • “Manufacturing Industry and Agriculture as Drivers of the Union’s Economic Growth and Ensuring Economic Security”;
  • “Energy and Transport Infrastructure to Promote Economic Development and Integration”;
  • “EAEU Digital Agenda 2.0”;
  • “New Areas of Interaction in the EAEU”.

Ombudsperson addresses urgency of repatriating Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan at meeting with Russian ambassador

Emil Lazarian

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 12:18,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan held a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin, the Human Rights Defender’s Office said in a press release. 

The Russian Ambassador congratulated Grigoryan on assuming office and attached importance to effective cooperation between the embassy and the Human Rights Defender’s Office and emphasized their readiness to continue the cooperation.

Ambassador Kopirkin highlighted the important role of the Human Rights Defender in terms of the development of state institutions and properly reacting to the developments taking place in the country. He appreciated the Human Rights Defender’s efforts aimed at guaranteeing the freedom of assembly taking place during these days and respect and protection of human rights during the rallies.

Grigoryan addressed the urgency of repatriating the Armenian prisoners of war, including civilians, held in Azerbaijan and stressed the important and responsible role of Russia in this matter.

The Human Rights Defender presented the security issues, humanitarian and social issues identified during the regular meetings with the families of the POWs, families of those missing, as well as the residents of border towns.

Grigoryan expressed hope that Russia will continue its important efforts in the direction of repatriating the POWs.

The sides stressed the importance of close cooperation between Armenian and Russian Human Rights Defender institutions both bilaterally and multilaterally, including as part of the Eurasian Ombudsmen Alliance.