Author: Jagharian Tania

Armenpress: Nearly 3.1 trillion AMD deposits in Armenia’s banks: 1 trillion AMD are non-resident deposits

Jagharian Tania

Nearly 3.1 trillion AMD deposits in Armenia’s banks: 1 trillion AMD are non-resident deposits

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 11:32, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The volume of deposits in Armenia continues growing, last year it increased 19%. Moreover, this year 1 trillion from the nearly 3.1 trillion AMD loans are non-resident deposits, Andranik Grigoryan – head of the department of financial stability and development at the Central Bank, told Armenpress.

“We have approximately 3.1 trillion drams in deposits, of which nearly 1trillion drams are non-resident deposits. Only in 2019 we had a nearly 19% growth in deposits which is quite a good dynamics. Even during the deep economic crisis we haven’t had decline in deposits, we also had growth, even in 2009, 2014 and during the political processes in 2018”, he said.

There was a nearly 10.7% growth in deposits in late 2018.

Commenting on the reports according to which during the 2018 Revolution days some people withdrew their deposits from banks, Girgoryan said in the beginning of 2018 when the political movements started there was a certain outflow. “But these could have been the deposits of non-residents. These deposits were not withdrawn and taken to other place, they again returned back in 3-4 months. And at that time we even had a 10% growth. This was quite a good figure and speaks about the trust towards the financial system and the banking sector”, Grigoryan said.

The CBA official said everything can have an effect on the financial stability, but it doesn’t mean that Armenia has a financial instability. “Our feature is that we had quite a good capitalized financial system, and the banks were enjoying trust among investors and clients. And this trust helped our financial system to easily overcome the year of 2018, and not only that year, in 2009 we had a nearly 23% devaluation, in 2014 nearly 15% devaluation”, he said.

Grigoryan said the financial system’s average capital adequacy ratio in Armenia is approximately 17% which is quite high. The minimum is set at 12%. The minimum level in Europe is 8%. The CBA official assures that Armenia’s financial system is quite liquid to serve every demand of clients, at the same time in case of losses it has quite a big capital to absorb potential losses.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia Justice Minister responds to MPs criticizing amendments to Judicial Code

Jagharian Tania
News.am, Armenia
March 4 2020

15:45, 04.03.2020
                  

In his closing speech during a discussion on the draft law on making amendments to the Constitutional Law “Judicial Code” and the attached draft laws in parliament today, Minister of Justice of Armenia Rustam Badasyan stated that the draft laws will provide the opportunity to fight against corruption in the judiciary effectively and not undermine the independence of the judiciary at the same time.

Touching upon the observation of head of Bright Armenia faction Edmon Marukyan and the faction’s MP Taron Simonyan that this draft law will lead to the creation of a judiciary dependent on the government, the minister asked the MPs to state which body the judiciary will be dependent on when judges comprise the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, the Supreme Judicial Council and other bodies.

Badasyan addressed the opposition MPs and independent MP Arman Babajanyan and stated the following: “During the first-second readings, bring a version that will solve the problems facing the judiciary better, and the ruling party will definitely accept it, but under the condition that it doesn’t contradict the Constitution,” Badasyan said.

Turkish host tells foreign nationals, including Armenians, to get out of Turkey

Jagharian Tania
Panorama, Armenia
March 4 2020
Politics 14:52 04/03/2020Region

The host of one of the local television stations in Turkey’s Urfa Province has made xenophobic statements.

Trying to justify the Turkish military operations in Syria’s Idlib, he called on foreign nationals living in Turkey, including Armenians, to get out of the the country, Ermenihaber reported.

“There may be people who think that this country is not their homeland and they don’t belong to this nation. This is a wonderful opportunity for them. As long as the borders are open to refugees, you, too, can disguise as refugees and leave the country,” he said.

“You can say: I am not the son of this country, I am a Russian grandson, a son of a German, a grandson of an Englishman, an Armenian… If so, the borders are open, get out of here, go!” he said.

Pashinyan gets top breed puppy as gift from Georgian leader

Jagharian Tania

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 23:50, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received a premium breed puppy as a gift on Tuesday from Georgian leader Giorgi Gakharia while on an official visit to Tbilisi.

In a video shared online, Prime Minister Gakharia is seen giving the puppy – a purebred Kazbek shepherd dog – to Pashinyan in the evening after the official meetings.

“This is an honor”, Pashinyan told his Georgian counterpart after taking the puppy into his arms.

“This is going to be our fifth dog”, Pashinyan said.

“We must think of a name. Or maybe he already has a name?” – the Armenian PM asked. “He does have a name by his birth passport, but as Mr. Prime Minister you will like you will name it” – Gakharia responded. But the Armenian PM insisted the puppy to keep its birth name, which Gakharia said was Bonbor.

PM Pashinyan then shared on Facebook a photo with the pup, and wrote “My friend, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s dearest gift, Bonbor – a purebred Caucasian shepherd. He will be our fifth dog, after Kaylo, Arjuk [Bear], Ampik (Cloudy) and Molly. Thank you”.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Armenia airlines temporary cancel round trip flights from Yerevan to Tel Aviv

Jagharian Tania
Panorama, Armenia
March 2 2020

Armenia airlines issued a statement on Monday about cancellation of flights from Yerevan to Tel Aviv. As the company detailed in its statement, the decision came amid the recent developments with the return of bought tickets as well as the travel alert issued by Israeli authorities.

The cancelation will affect all flights scheduled by March 22 inclusive. The source added that a full refund will be granted to all passengers who have canceled their flight.

Flowers laid in memory of victims of March 1, 2008 events on behalf of Armenia President

Jagharian Tania
News.am, Armenia
March 1 2020
(PHOTO) (PHOTO)

14:24, 01.03.2020

This morning, on behalf of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, flowers were laid near the statue of Myasnikyan as a sign of tribute to the victims of the tragic events that took place on March 1, 2008 in Yerevan, as reported the Staff of the President of Armenia.

Exactly 12 years ago, tragic events took place in central Yerevan, taking the lives of 10 citizens.

In the wake of the presidential elections that took place on February 18, 2008, the supporters of first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan gathered at Liberty Square with the demand for a recount of the votes and held round-the-clock rallies at Liberty Square for ten consecutive days.

On the morning of March 1, police dispersed the crowd by force, after which people started gathering near the statue of Myasnikyan. On the evening of the same day, President Robert Kocharyan declared martial law. The clashes took the lives of 10 citizens, including two police officers, and another 200 received injuries of various degrees.

The ten victims were Gor Kloyan, Davit Petrosyan, Tigran Abgaryan, Tigran Khachatryan, Armen Farmanyan, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Hamlet Tadevosyan, Grigor Gevorgyan, Samvel Harutyunyan and Zakar Hovhannisyan.


Electronic scammers managed to steal from ATMs in Armenia 34.8 mln drams

Jagharian Tania
Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 18 2020

ArmInfo.The criminal case of theft of ATMs committed by a group of people has been sent to court. It is reported by the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

According to the source, in August 2018, a message was received that  a theft had been committed using computer technology on the Kievyan  street in Kievyan, and a criminal case was opened, which was then  added by several more cases related to thefts from other ATMs , as  well as committing theft in one of the apartments and attempted theft  from another.

As a result of the operational-search measures undertaken, two  persons were identified who were suspected of having committed these  crimes – residents of Yerevan, born in 1986 and 1976. Using a  malicious program, they illegally were able to withdraw significant  sums of 34.8 million drams from ATMs, involving a group of persons  that had not yet been identified, with which a preliminary agreement  had been reached, in illegal actions.

In addition, it turned out that one of the attackers had stolen in  one of the Yerevan apartments in the Nor- Nork quarter, from where he  took out 2.4 million drams, $ 120, as well as watches and jewelry  worth 700 thousand drams. Thus, the total amount stolen amounted to  3.158 million drams. Then, using technical means, he managed to open  the electronic lock of another apartment – on Komitas Street, but he  was forced to leave on his own, because there was neither money nor  valuables in it.

Cases against both suspects were sent to court. Actions are being  taken to identify other individuals not yet identified.

Recognition of Armenian Genocide by Syrian parliament sign of friendship – MFA Armenia

Jagharian Tania

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 21:06,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide by the People’s Council of Syria is a brilliant evidence of the centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. It’s an important contribution to the restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides, reads the statement issues by the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

“We highly appreciate the adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire by the People’s Council of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The genocide unleashed by the government of the Young Turks a major part of which was carried out in the territory of Syria that was under the Ottoman rule at that time, is a part of the shared memories of the Armenian and Syrian peoples.

The Syrian people, witnessing the calamity facing the Armenian people, were one of the 1st to extend a helping hand to the genocide survivors. Thousands of survivors re-found their new motherland in Syria, establishing one of the most flourishing Armenian communities and had their contribution to the development of Syria.

This resolution is a brilliant evidence of the centuries-old friendship and reciprocal sympathy between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. It’s an important contribution to the restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides”, reads the statement, expressing solidarity with the Syrian people, who currently face challenges.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Asbarez: Fresno State Armenian Studies Program to Host Musical Heritage Event

Jagharian Tania

Fresno State’s event highlighting Armenian-American music of the San Joaquin Valley will be held on Feb. 29

California State University, Fresno’s Armenian Studies Program will be hosting a special event titled “Armenian-American Musical Heritage of the San Joaquin Valley.” The event will be held on Saturday, February 29 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the University Business Center on the Fresno State campus, located at 5241 N Maple Ave, Fresno, CA 93740.

The Armenian Studies Program was recently awarded a California Humanities grant of nearly $5,000 for “Amplifying Community: Recording the History of the San Joaquin Valley Armenian Music Production,” which is dedicated to recovering the history of Armenian-American music production in the San Joaquin Valley during the first half of the 20th century. Drawing upon the reminiscences and expertise of local musicians, “Armenian-American Musical Heritage of the San Joaquin Valley” will provide a forum for the community to contribute their own recollections, contextualizing and bringing to life the little-studied early musicians, recording labels, and venues in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

The event will have two segments, with the first segment to be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will bring historic photographs, sheet music, promotional materials, and ephemera relating to Armenian music production for scanning. The digitized files will be added to the Armenian Studies Program Music Archive, which will eventually be available to the public.

Oud master Richard Hagopian and Dr. Yektan Türkyilmaz will have a discussion about the Armenian Music of the San Joaquin Valley, which will include a performance of traditional Armenian music by Hagopian, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

After a highly competitive process, California Humanities announced $397,496 in awards to 37 new projects through the final round of 2019 and Humanities for All Quick Grant and Humanities for All Project Grant programs. The 20 Humanities for All Quick Grants, totaling $98,239, include a range of locally-initiated public humanities projects, from a teen-focused writing workshop series that will share speculative writing and reading techniques and help catalyze supportive and creative teen communities in the San Diego area, to a month-long presentation of multimedia arts celebrating Black empowerment and possibility in San Luis Obispo for Black History Month.

The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in Fresno State Lots P6 and P5, near the University Business Center, Fresno State. Parking permits are not required on Saturdays.

For more information about the presentation, contact the Armenian Studies Program at 559.278.2669, visit their website, or visit their Facebook page.

Armenia and Serbia are abolishing visas

Jagharian Tania
PanArmenian, Armenia
Jan 30 2020
January 30, 2020 – 12:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – to facilitate the free movement of people in the two countries.

The government in Armenia on Thursday, January 30 approved a Foreign Ministry proposal to lift visa requirement for the citizens of Serbia.

On October 25, Serbia unilaterally decided to remove visa requirements for holders of Armenian passports. According to a document approved by the government, Armenians are allowed to enter, transit and stay in the territory of Serbia for a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days.

Deputy Foreign Minister Avet Adonts said Thursday that once the draft is approved in Armenia, the same rules will apply for Serbian citizens.

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/277410/Armenia_and_Serbia_are_abolishing_visas

Armenia and China officially abolished visas in January. The deal is expected to boost trade, business and tourism exchanges between the two countries.

According to Henley Passport Index, which measures which passports are the most powerful based on the countries its holders can enter without prior visa approval, holders of Armenian passports can now visit 62 countries visa free.