Author: Emil Lazarian

 16:13, 4 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. On November 4, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan received the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of obligations and commitments by Armenia Kimmo Kiljunen and Boriana Åberg, the Parliament’s press service said.

Welcoming guests, Alen Simonyan has noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s joining the Council of Europe. He greatly highlighted the cooperation with the Council of Europe, as well as the support of the organization in the process of the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia. The work of the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee was highly evaluated. The Speaker underlined the importance of the political agenda of the democratic reforms, affirming that Armenia would continue to move with that agenda.

At the meeting issues related to the post-war realities, themes on democracy in Armenia, the human rights and the legislative reforms were discussed.

The effective implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2019-2022 was in particular highlighted.

The co-rapporteurs informed that discussions were held with their colleagues of Armenia, distinguishing some priorities of cooperation.

The interlocutors touched upon the necessity of restoring the negotiation process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Ideas were exchanged over the journalists’ work in parliament.

The parliamentary government system, as well as the current state of the power-opposition parliamentary format were also discussed.

Russian, Azerbaijani FMs discuss implementation process of trilateral agreements

 19:08, 2 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the interlocutors discussed issues of bilateral relations, as well as the regional-international agenda.

The sides exchanged views on the implementation of the agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, taking into account that it’s already a year since the establishment of the full-fledged ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

The Foreign Ministers of the two countries exchanged approaches on the issues of easing tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, unblocking all transport and economic ties in the South Caucasus, and creating a favorable atmosphere for regional cooperation.

Sergey Lavrov stressed the need to continue efforts aimed at the comprehensive settlement of all of political-diplomatic issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

 19:48, 2 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received the newly appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Erika Olson, who is in Armenia on a regional visit. FM Mirzoyan congratulated her on assuming the post and wished success in her responsible mission, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Olson exchanged views on regional security and stability, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the framework of the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. In this regard, the five-party meeting with the participation of the Co-Chairs and the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York in September was highlighted.

The humanitarian situation created by the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh was also discussed. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the need for the unconditional repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees, as well as the need to preserve the Armenian religious, historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh in the territories that have appeared under Azerbaijani control.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Erika Olson also discussed a wide range of issues related to Armenia-US relations, expressing satisfaction with the positive dynamics of the dialogue at different levels. The interlocutors discussed the effective cooperation in the areas of democratic development, strengthening the rule of law, protection of human rights, and the fight against corruption.

The sides also referred to the joint steps to be taken within the framework of the US-Armenia Strategic Dialogue (USASD) and the programs of the USAID in Armenia.

Earlier the US Embassy in Armenia informed that the new Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Erika Olson will travel to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to “promote regional cooperation and discuss bilateral issues”. While in Yerevan, Olson will participate in a regional Chiefs of Mission meeting in November 2-4, joining U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly C. Degnan, and U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lee Litzenberger, as well as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Andrew Schofer and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Alexander Sokolowski.

 19:58, 2 November, 2021

YEREVAN, 2 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. Member of boxing team of Armenia Davit Chaloyan secured at least a bronze medal at the World Championship.

ARMENPRESS reports Davit Chaloyan competed with Lazizbek Mullojonov representing Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals of the +92 kg weight category at the World Championship in Serbia, winning 3: 2. Chaloyan reached the semifinals, securing at least a bronze medal at the World Championship.

Earlier it was reported that the bronze medalist of the Olympic Games in the 63 kg weight category Hovhannes Bachkov will compete in the quarterfinals with the representative of Thailand Somchai Wongsuvan.

 10:22, 3 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The 2022 state budget draft envisages a 34,5% drop of funding for the Prime Minister’s Office, while the budgets of the President’s Office and the Parliament Staff will remain unchanged, finance minister Tigran Khachatryan said at a joint parliamentary committee discussion on the 2022 state budget draft. 

By the 2022 state budget, the President’s Office will have a 1 billion 602,5 million dram budget against the 2021’s 1 billion 601,2 million.

The parliament staff’s funding will comprise 5 billion 992 million drams. In 2021 the parliament staff had a 6 billion 90 million dram budget.

Speaking about the cuts of the Prime Minister’s Office budget, the finance minister said this is because numerous projects which were being implemented by the Prime Minister’s Office previously will now be implemented by other government agencies. The PMO will have a 19 billion 675 million dram budget against the 30 billion 24 million of 2021.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:04, 3 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received today head of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Armenia Mission Nathan Porter and IMF Resident Representative in Armenia Mehdi Raissi, the PM’s Office said.

Pashinyan highly appreciated the Armenian government’s and Central Bank’s cooperation with the IMF. “The partnership and targeted programs with the IMF, especially in the post-war period, have demonstrated their importance and contributed to the preservation of macro-economic stability in Armenia. We are inclined to continue the mutual partnership with the same spirit and are ready to discuss the future joint actions”, PM Pashinyan said.

The IMF Armenia Mission head thanked the PM for the appreciation and stated that their organization attaches importance to the cooperation with Armenia and reaffirms its readiness to expand the collaboration. He added that the IMF will continue assisting the Armenian government’s reforms aimed at improving the monetary-credit and fiscal policy, strengthening the public-private investment system and the business climate, improving infrastructures, conducting education field strategy, raising governance transparency, developing mining industry, etc.

Pashinyan said that the government is taking active works in all directions. He touched upon the ongoing reforms in education, infrastructure, investment, mining, fiscal and other sectors, providing the guests with details about the ongoing activities and outcomes.

He stated that all these reforms are inter-connected, and the successful process of each of these reforms depends on the effective implementation of all of them. The PM said the education reform is the basis of reforms. “We are planning to build/renovate 300 schools and 500 kindergartens in the next 5 years. Our main goal is to make high-quality education available for all children living in Armenia. In this context we also develop the remote learning system”, he said.

As for the investment climate, the Armenian PM said that works are being done to introduce effective assessment system.

The sides stated that their visions on the further process of the Armenia-IMF partnership are overall the same and agreed to continue the productive cooperation.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 18:26, 3 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is ready to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions, which is enshrined in the Government’s Action Plan, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan told Nouvelles d’Arménie, commenting on the position of the Armenian side on relations with Turkey and possible developments in the future.

“The lack of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey, the closed borders, as well as Turkey’s open involvement in the 44-day war, the recent statements from Turkey about the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” have a negative impact on regional stability.

Nevertheless, in his public speeches, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed the view of the Armenian side that in case of Turkey’s readiness to normalize relations, and adequate measures in that direction, Armenia is ready to discuss the possibilities of building bilateral relations”, Mirzoyan said.

He also added that “at the moment, there is no negotiation process with Turkey”.