Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger talked about Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan ahead of the Milan clash.
“We adapted and integrated very quickly. Certainly the fact has players like him have great qualities helped. As well as the fact that he is playing abroad for a long time and knows how to behave. I believe the styles of Mkhitaryan and Arsenal are in line with each other,” Wenger said.
Arsenal will clash with Milan in the Europa League 1/8 round on March 15.
Russian Red Wings Airlines received a permission from Armenia’s General Department of Civil Aviation to operate Moscow-Yerevan-Moscow (Domodedovo Airport) regular flights, the General Department of Civil Aviation reported.
The flights will launch on March 18 and will operate four times a week until April 2.But starting from April 3 the flights will be carried out seven times a week.
The new novel The Flight Attendant is a page-turner thriller — and the 20th book by Vermont's own Chris Bohjalian.
In the book, protagonist Cassie Bowden finds that the man she slept with after a blackout night of too much booze has been murdered in the very bed she shared with him overnight. Things escalate from there.
VPR's Mitch Wertlieb spoke with Bohjalian about his newest book.
Wertlieb: "Before we get into the meat of the plot that drives The Flight Attendant, what made you choose a character who works at that job to be the focal point of your story?"
Bohjalian: "The book had its origins in March of 2016. I had just flown from Yerevan, Armenia to New York City via Moscow. And I was meeting a friend for dinner at 7:30 — I didn't have time to take a catnap, So I went straight to the restaurant, dropped off my bags and I went to the bar.
"I come from a family of alcoholics on both sides, so I'm never going to glamorize alcoholism, but the reality is that a beautiful bar is, aesthetically, a beautiful thing — the balustrades, the bottles, the glasses, the way everything is lit. And I was thinking about the beauty of the alcohol, I was thinking about Russia and I was thinking about the miracle of aviation — the fact I had breakfast in Armenia and I'm having dinner in New York City. And I asked the bartender for scrap paper and I started to write frantically over the next 45 minutes.
"Now, well that's when the book really began. It might have been gestating a long time. When I was a little boy, my uncle had five wives — not at the same time; he'd got divorced four times. His second wife was a flight attendant, or what we called then a 'stewardess.' And even as a little boy I understood the waft of scandal that permeated his divorce and the aroma of glamour that surrounded his new bride. She was young, she was beautiful, she went everywhere with this little dachshund under her arm, and she flew internationally.
And my parents used to always joke, 'You know she's a spy.' I have no idea if my Aunt Liz was a spy, but that night in the bar when I was thinking about aviation and flight attendants, I thought to myself, 'Why have I never written about these amazing women and men, and what they do?' And I was off and running."
Wertlieb: "We're not giving away too much here by saying that she does wake up with this murdered person in her bed, but we know right away who the killer is. This is not a 'who-done-it.' But because of her alcoholism and the blackouts that she has, she's not even sure herself if she may have murdered the man.
"It's a very Hitchcockian device, which is wonderful and gets the plot off and running. Why was it important for you to create a character in Cassie Bowden who's acting badly, but also elicits a lot of sympathy from the reader?"
Bohjalian: "First of all, I love the fact that you mentioned Hitchcock, and the fact that it's really not a 'who-done-it,' but a 'why-done-it.' One of my favorite movies is Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest from 1959 with the functional alcoholic Roger Thornhill. I was thinking a lot of Roger Thornhill when I was creating Cassie Bowden, a functional alcoholic who in the midst of her blackouts is capable of virtually anything she fears. That's what I was after.
"The other thing that was important to me is that I love Cassie. She is so flawed but she is such a wounded bird. I really care about her so very much, and as glamorous as her outer life is, her inner life is a mess. Every day when I started writing this book, I would watch a video of Sia's song "Chandelier" — that remarkable video, that remarkable song about one party girl's reckless self-disregard, incredible self-loathing and inability to escape the allure of alcohol and binge-drinking."
Wertlieb: "I've read a lot of your books, but this one in particular seems ready-made for a movie version. I mean, there is a ruthless Russian assassin who's on Cassie's trail, which she doesn't even know about through most of the book. It's only towards the end that she realizes, 'Oh my gosh, my life is in danger here, never mind who killed this guy that I slept with.'
"That assassin though has a conscience of her own. It makes her something more than just a cold-hearted killer, which I think is also remarkable that you were able to work that into the book. There's international intrigue, FBI probes that have to deal with possible chemical weapons disposal and who has these secrets — there are twists galore. Did you write this novel with your own ulterior motive for getting it to the big screen?"
Bohjalian: "No. And I also didn't realize how in the midst of the zeitgeist I would be. In 2016, two narrative gifts fell into my lap. The first were allegations of Russian meddling in the presidential election, allegations we now know are fact.
"And the second was I went back to Armenia in late August of 2016 to go to the line of contact between the Armenians and the Azeris to write a story for The New York Times about this world where the trenches of the First World War meet the drones of the present, where these soldiers face off a half-mile apart.
"And I was standing there in my flak jacket and helmet, and I was chatting with a British-Armenian philanthropist about projects he desired to create to jumpstart the Armenian economy. And suddenly we were talking about what happens when a deal goes bad with Russian oligarchs in Dubai. And it was chilling, and I knew this was material I just had to use.
"And so yeah, it's a thriller certainly, but I hope it's also about drones, chemical weapons, Syria, social media manipulation and social media terrorism — all current topics of conversation today. And yes, it does have a movie deal, you're absolutely right. I'm thrilled to tell you that Kaley Cuoco, Penny of The Big Bang Theory, has optioned it and it is set up with Warner Brothers Television for a limited series a la The Handmaid's Tale or Big Little Lies."
Wertlieb: "Wow. That's big news. OK. I had two long plane trips recently to take, to California, so six hours on a plane. I read the bulk of this book with flight attendants really walking up and down the aisles there. They've always had a hard job to do. You're dealing with anything from screaming kids to people who've had too much to drink themselves from the drink cart, people may be getting sick. Was this book also an attempt to let people know, 'Hey look, your flight may have gone bad, but please, be nice to your flight attendant'?"
Bohjalian: "The stories they told me about passenger misbehavior were absolutely incredible: naked passengers, passengers trying to climb over the beverage cart, A-list celebrities telling them never to make eye contact. And the reality is they are always civil, and they are always going to have their act together when the worst that can happen suddenly happens.
"For example, we've often seen a female flight attendant apply lipstick before beginning the final descent. Those are called her 'landing lips.' But that isn't aesthetics, that isn't vanity. In many cases it's because the flight attendant knows that if there's an emergency evacuation or a crash landing and she needs to give instructions, if she has her lipstick on it will be easy for the hearing-impaired to read her lips. If those orange oxygen masks ever fall, it's all of us who will be screaming into them, not the flight attendants."
Chris Bohjalian will be reading from the book, along with a talk and signing,
ՀՀ Արարատի մարզի դատախազության կողմից կատարված ուսումնասիրությունները ցույց են տալիս, որ վերջին շրջանում նկատելիորեն ավելացել են «Խոր Վիրապ» վանական համալիրի տարածքում կատարվող հանցագործությունները: Այս մասին հայտնում են Գլխավոր դատազխության մամուլի ծառայությունից:
Մասնավորապես 2017թ. հոկտեմբերի 1-ին արձանագրվել էր Արարատի մարզի Ուրցաձոր գյուղի վարչական տարածքում գտնվող «Վայրի կենդանիների փրկարար կենտրոն» կոչվող տարածքում «Խոր Վիրապ» վանական համալիր այցելած ՉԺՀ քաղաքացուհու նկատմամաբ բռնություն գործադրելով սեքսուալ բնույթի գործողություններ կատարելու դեպք, որի առթիվ 2.10.2017թ. ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգրքի 139-րդ հոդվածի 1-ին մասի հատկանիշներով հարուցվել էր քրեական գործ: Նախաքննության ընթացքում կատարված քննչական և դատավարական այլ գործողությունների արդյունքնում ձեռք բերված բավարար ապացույցների համակցությամբ 2017թ. հոկտեմբերի 5-ին ՉԺՀ քաղաքացուհու նկատմամաբ վերջինիս կամքին հակառակ բռնություն գործադրելով սեքսուալ բնույթի գործողություններ կատարելու համար ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգրքի 139-րդ հոդվածի 1-ին մասով մեղադրանք է առաջադրվել ՀՀ քաղաքացի Խ.Տ.-ին, ում նկատմամբ որպես խափանման միջոց է ընտրվել կալանավորումը: Քրեական գործն այժմ գտնվում է դատաքննության փուլում:
Բացի այդ, 2018թ. փետրվարի 12-ին արձանագրվել են նաև օտարերկրյա զբոսաշրջիկներին կողոպտելու փորձի դեպքեր: Մասնավորապես քաղաքացի Ա. Դ.-ն ուրիշի գույքի բացահայտ հափշտակություն կատարելու դիտավորությամբ «Խոր Վիրապ» վանական համալիրի տարածքում առանձին-առանձին մոտեցել է ԱՄԷ երկու քաղաքացիների, որոնց ցույց տալով Հայ-ռուսական կազակական միավորման իր վկայականը, ներկայացել է որպես ոստիկանության աշխատակից: Ժեստերով հասկացնելով, որ ցանկանում է անձնական խուզարկության ենթարկել զբոսաշրջիկներին՝ նրանց ուղեկցել է մի դեպքում եկեղեցու պարսպի մոտ, մյուս դեպքում՝ եկեղեցու տարածքում գտնվող զուգարան, զննությամբ նրանց գրպաններից, դրամապանակից հանել զգալի չափերի գումարները, ապա հարմարեցնելով պահը՝ փորձել է բացահայտ հափշտակել ամբողջ գումարը և դիմել է փախուստի: Սակայն երկու դեպքում էլ հանցագործունթյուններն իր կամքից անկախ պատճառներով ավարտին չի հասցրել. մի դեպքում զբոսաշրջիկը հասցրել է բռնել նրան և ամբողջ գումարը հետ խլելով՝ հեռացել, մյուս դեպքում քաղաքացուն բռնել են եկեղեցու այցելուները:
Դեպքերի առթիվ Վեդիի քննչական բաժնում 12.02.2018թ. ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգրքի 34-176-րդ հոդվածի 1-ին մասով հարուցվել է երկու քրեական գործ, որոնք միացվել են մեկ վարույթում: Նույն օրը Ա.Դ.-ն ձերբակալվել է և որպես կասկածյալ հարցաքննվելիս տվել խոստովանական ցուցմունք: 2018թ. փետրվարի 15-ին նրան մեղադրանք է առաջադրվել 2 դրվագ ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգրքի 34-176-րդ հոդվածի 1-ին մասով և նույն օրը նրա նկատմամբ որպես խափանման միջոց է ընտրվել կալանավորումը: Փետրվարի 20-ին քրեական գործը մեղադրական եզրակացությամբ ստացվել է ՀՀ Արարատի մարզի դատախազությունում:
Հաշվի առնելով այն հանգամանքը, որ զբոսաշրջային գրավչություն ներկայացնող հոգևոր կենտրոններում նման հանցավոր արարքների կատարումը էական վնաս է պատճառում ՀՀ զբոսաշրջային հեղինակությանը, և կարող է հանգեցնել զբոսաշրջիկների հոսքի նվազմանը, հետևաբար առկա է այցելուների և զբոսաշրջիկների նկատմամբ կատարվող հանցագործությունները բացառելու, հանցագործությունների կատարմանը նպաստող հանգամանքները վերացնելու ուղղությամբ միջոցներ ձեռնարկելու հրատապ անհրաժեշտություն՝ ՀՀ Արարատի մարզի դատախազ Սևակ Հովհաննիսյանը միջնորդագիր է ներկայացրել ՀՀ ոստիկանության Արարատի մարզային վարչության պետին:
Մարզի դատախազը, մասնավորապես, նշել է ՀՀ զբոսաշրջային հարավային ուղղության կարևոր կանգառներից մեկը հանդիսացող համալիրի տարածքում ոստիկանական մշտական հենակետ տեղակայելու և պատշաճ հսկողություն իրականացնելու համար ոստիկանության՝ բավարար թվով ծառայողներով ապահովելու անհրաժեշտությունը:
Wednesday, February 7, 2017 Armenian Lawyers Strike Again . Nane Sahakian Armenia - Lawyers meet in Yerevan to protest against government plans to allow judges to fine them for contempt of court, 7 February 2018. Hundreds of Armenian lawyers staged a fresh strike on Wednesday in protest against government plans to allow judges to fine them for contempt of court. The one-day strike organized by the Chamber of Advocates led to the cancellation of court hearings across Armenia. "Our actions are approved by many of our international partners," said Ara Zohrabian, the chairman of the national bar association. "We will publicize their positions soon." Government-drafted amendments to Armenia's Judicial Code passed by the parliament in the first reading in November set the maximum amount of such fines at 100,000 drams ($210). They triggered vehement objections from lawyers fearing that judges would use the new power to limit their rights during court hearings. A large group of them already went on a one-day strike in December. Justice Minister Davit Harutiunian, the key author of the controversial amendments, said last week that they have been removed from the Judicial Code before being passed in the final reading. But he made clear that the amendments will be incorporated into another code which the Armenian authorities plan to amend later this year. The postponement failed to satisfy the lawyers. They insist that the authorities have failed to substantiate the need for financial penalties against purportedly unruly attorneys. Lawyers representing radical opposition activists currently standing trial feel that they are the main target of the proposed penalties. They frequently argue with judges and are sanctioned by the latter during those trials Harutiunian has defended the fines sought by the authorities, saying that they are needed to increase public respect for the Armenian judiciary. Baku Slams Swiss Speaker For `Pro-Armenian' Statement Armenia - Dominique de Buman, the speaker of the Swiss National Council, gives a speech in the Armenian parliament in Yerevan, 6 February 2018. (Photo by Parliament.am) Azerbaijan on Wednesday condemned the speaker of Switzerland's lower house of parliament for voicing support for the right to self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh's predominantly Armenian population. "The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to choose their destiny just like other peoples," Dominique de Buman said during an official visit to Armenia on Tuesday. Addressing the Armenian parliament, he also called for a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Reacting to that statement, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry accused Buman of trying to "justify Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan." A ministry spokesman, Hikmet Hajiyev, said he thus "inflicted damage" on efforts to end the Karabakh dispute. According to Azerbaijani news agencies, Hajiyev also pointed to Buman's "illegal" visit to Karabakh in 2012. Buman, who was elected speaker of Switzerland's National Council last November, travelled to the Armenian-populated territory together with another Swiss lawmaker. Baku sent a note of protest to the Swiss Foreign Ministry at the time. Karabakh peace proposals made by the United States, Russia and France over the past decade have been based on a combination of the internationally recognized principles of self-determination and territorial integrity of states. The three mediating powers have repeatedly cited both principles in their joint statements on the Armenian-Azerbaijani disputes. Press Review "Everyone is convinced that Serzh Sarkisian's becoming prime-minister is a forgone conclusion but they won't announce it now so that the public mood does not deteriorate," writes "Zhamanak." "But seriously speaking, the situation is simply weird because we have a party that won the [2017] parliamentary elections but that party still has no answer to the question of prime minister. But this weird, in the classical sense, situation is totally normal from the standpoint of Armenia's realities. The circle of decision-makers is very narrow while that of factors behind decisions very broad here." "Haykakan Zhamanak" recalls in this regard Sarkisian's April 2014 declaration that he will not seek to become prime minister if Armenia is transformed into a parliamentary republic. The paper accuses him of breaking that pledge. "It's a fact," it says, adding that as prime minister Sarkisian will be "the country's full-fledged monarch." "Zhoghovurd" writes about controversy sparked by Prime Minister Karen Karapetian's use of a private jet during his recent trip to Davos, Switzerland. The paper publishes a government document which it says disproves a government claim that Karapetian's travel expenses were not covered from the state budget. "Aravot" reacts to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili's pledge to crack down on reputed crime figures commonly known as "thieves-in-law" in the former Soviet Union. "Many of our compatriots have seized upon that, saying that `this is the way to go' and `we had better do the same,'" writes the paper's editor, Aram Abrahamian. "I like many things happening in Georgia. But this particular statement is populism and empty talk and/or a promise of illegal measures. No criminal code in the world legally defines a thief-in-law. There are individuals who are suspected, accused, wanted or sentenced for concrete crimes. If a reputed thief-in-law has committed a crime then they must be prosecuted on charges defined by the law. If they have not or if they have been convicted [of a crime] and have already served a prison sentence then they have the same rights as all other citizens." (Tigran Avetisian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Statement by Serzh Sargsyan on the results of his meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland
Thank you, Distinguished Secretary General,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am glad to get again hosted at the Council of Europe. I consider this visit of mine to be symbolic one since tomorrow, on January 25th, we will mark the 17th year of Armenia’s accession to the Council of Europe. The Armenia of 2018 was completely different from the Armenia of 2001: our country has registered significant achievements in the consolidation of democracy, human rights and rule of law, to which a substantial contribution was made through our long-standing and valuable cooperation with the Council of Europe. We thank you for the cooperation we enjoy.
As always, we had a noteworthy discussion with the Secretary General Jagland. I am glad to register that we shared close views on the numerous issues we discussed. We agreed that especially in the course of the past decade multifaceted reforms took place in Armenia for safeguarding fundamental freedoms, introducing more open and effective governance, developing a dynamic civil society. It was also recognized through the reports of the Charter-based and monitoring bodies of this organization. The primary recipient and beneficiary of this cooperation is the citizen of the Republic of Armenia: it is the point of departure for the proper implementation of the vision that we have undertaken vis-à-vis Council of Europe.
Now Armenia is smoothly undergoing through a transition towards the parliamentary form of governance. We are grateful to the Council of Europe for its valuable contribution to this process. Of course, we continue multifaceted legislative reform under the provisions of the amended Constitution in cooperation with the Venice Commission and independent monitoring committees of the Council of Europe.
We, of course, also discussed the issues connected with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I expressed our gratitude to Mr. Jagland for the support extended to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which is important for the advancement of the negotiating process. I reiterated support to the views that Secretary General expressed on numerous occasions that there should be no “grey zones,” when it comes to the human rights protection in Europe. That means that the Council of Europe should also equally consider the rights of the citizens residing in the conflict areas being led by the “status-neutral” approach.
We agreed on the need to distinguish powers of the various international structures and “division of labour” between them. With this in mind we registered that the Council of Europe priority area should be the protection of human rights. As regards the resolution of the conflicts, that issue should be pursued by the powers of the internationally agreed and mandated structures and formats for a given conflict.
I am glad that despite all difficulties Mr. Jagland manages to effectively move forward the Council of Europe agenda and bolster the high prestige it enjoyed. We strongly believe that dialogue is the prerequisite on the path towards finding solutions for the challenges our organization is facing, and throughout that dialogue the voice of all member States should be heard without any discrimination in order to safeguard the integrity and unity of the Council of Europe.
I also reiterated the invitation I had extended to Mr. Jagland to visit Armenia in order to continue with our open and constructive dialogue, move forward our joint agenda, as well as to provide him with an opportunity to assess the results of the constitutional reform, to which, as I have already underlined, the Council of Europe made its specific contribution. Thank you.
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Statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland on the results of his meeting with Serzh Sargsyan
Ladies and gentlemen
It is a great honor and pleasure to invite the President of Armenia Mr. Sargsyan here today.
As you know we have a very broad cooperation between Armenia and Council of Europe. We have seen that Armenia has got a new constitution, a new electoral code, elections have been held under new electoral code, all the reform processes are on and we have had a very thorough cooperation on all these things. I’m very glad that the President is coming to visit us in order to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the entering into force of the European Convention on Human Rights. We have had a very interesting exchange on many topics, but I would also mention before I give you the floor, Mr. President, I appreciate very much all the treaties that you signed today.
I have never been signing that many before, together with the head of state and with a foreign minister doing the work together with me. I have never seen so many conventions and treaties being signed at the same time. So, it tells a lot of the progress that Armenia has gone through. So, now I would like to give the floor to you.
Moscow considers it important to calm down the situation at the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters on Monday.
This problem cannot be solved in one document, said the minister, adding that this issue needs a step-by-step approach that will determine ways to work on the matters that require additional discussion to achieve a final settlement, including the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, TASS reported.
According to the minister, Russia cannot have precise plans to resolve this conflict, because only the parties themselves can solve the conflict. According to the minister, Russia, together with other participants in the process, creates conditions for such a settlement, comparing the positions of the parties to seek coinciding approaches.
“We are waiting for a positive impetus to come from both countries,” he added.
Germany was one of the EU members that has traditionally supported Eastern Partnership program and deepening of the EU relations with the neighboring countries. Armenian News-NEWS.am interviewed Ambassador of Germany to Armenia H.E. Mr. Bernhard Matthias Kiesler to ask him about the EU-Armenia deal signed in Brussels on November 24 and development of Armenia-Germany relations.
How do you think the signing of EU-Armenia agreement will affect development of relations between Germany and Armenia? What are your expectations?
November 24 was indeed a very important day in the history of Armenia-EU relations, relations with not only Brussels, but also separate relations between Armenia and all EU member countries. Both the EU and the Federal Republic of Germany have actively participated and assisted Armenia in the course of transitional reforms over the last 25 years, and with the launch of this new comprehensive and enhanced partnership, we open up a new chapter that will enable to support Armenia's further and stronger modernization.
I am convinced that reforms and comprehensive modernization only can lead to a steady development of Armenia, and in this regard, I believe that both Germany, EU member states and the European Union as a whole offers Armenia the best proposals. We are showing interest, and this concerns not Armenia only, but also other Eastern Partnership countries so that people in these countries could live more prosperously. I think that although this agreement is only a framework agreement, but if breath is given to this agreement, we can expect mutually beneficial cooperation. As regards the German-Armenian bilateral relations, I think the signing of this agreement is a signal that Armenia is at the stage of modernization, and this can be an important signal for investors. Now it is important for the Armenian National Assembly and the parliaments of the EU member states to ratify the deal. As far as I know, an agency or a so-called working group will be formed to coordinate and sum up all the proposals and approaches of all the ministries to establish a joint action plan to implement this agreement as soon as possible.
How do you see the future of Eastern Partnership summit amid the challenges that Europe is faced with, given Brexit, migrant crisis and growing Euroscepticism?
A declaration on further steps for the Eastern Partnership has been recently adopted in Brussels. The Brussels Eastern Partnership Summit was a very important event during which 20 deliverables were created to further deepen the Eastern Partnership. But, as we can see, there are six different partnerships, that is, six different states, and the Eastern Partnership should take into account and use the six models, given the peculiarities of any of these countries. You mentioned the challenges: Brexit, the migration crisis and Euroscepticism, but it should be underlined that on November 24, a signal was given in Brussels that the EU remains committed to the deepening and strengthening of the Eastern Partnership program and the EU is pursuing a united policy within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.
How do you see Armenia’s potential to intensify its presence in the European market? What are the obstacles to develop this potential?
In fact, Armenia's trade balance is negative because the country is importing more than exporting which can be linked to system matters. There may be two approaches: firstly, if you increase your export volumes, and secondly, if you cut your import volumes. As regards the increase in exports, there are new opportunities in the newly signed agreement, which facilitates the export of goods from Armenia to European countries. As regards the reduction of import volumes, I see great potential in this area for Armenia to organize its economy so that to reach growth of its own products or processed products. Armenia has great potential from this perspective. Here again, the circle is closing. Modernization processes have to proceed in a way that entrepreneurs get interested in investing, so that the population could also feel the benefit. I see great progress in service sector, where Armenia has made considerable progress, especially in the field of tourism over the last year. We witness a huge flow of tourists not only from traditionally interested countries, such as Russia or Iran, but from EU countries, which speaks of the great potential of tourism in Armenia.
What is the volume bilateral trade turnover between Armenia and Germany?
Trade turnover for the past year amounted to about $ 300 million, which includes exports and imports. At first glance, it seems that we deal with quite good performance, but in fact, this figure is much lower in terms of Germany’s economic standards, which again speaks about the need to develop trade turnover between our countries. Since April last year, the German Business Association (DWV) has been operating in Armenia, with the goal of supporting Armenian and German business circles, establishing business ties. Representatives of agricultural sector paid a very important visit to Armenia in June this year.
Which are the fields where German investors are working in Armenia? Are there any new companies that have recently entered the Armenian market?
The only major German investor is working in the mining field. Investments in other spheres have been made in recent years, mainly in IT. Several German companies have established their affiliates in Armenia and they operate quite efficiently. There are German companies interested in investing in solar energy in Armenia, and currently they deal with obtaining a license for that activity. Large German companies are showing interest in the energy sector.
What progress has been achieved in terms of humanitarian contacts between Germany and Armenia? How will the newly opened Goethe Institute contribute to the development of these contacts?
Germany is well represented in the cultural field in Armenia. DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service has been functioning for many years. Germany is sending German teachers to deepen the teaching of German language in Armenian schools. You are well aware that the Goethe Center was opened in Yerevan last week. The Minister of Education and Science, Foreign Minister of Armenia were present at the opening ceremony. President of the Munich headquarters of the Goethe Institute also visited Armenia. This is a message once again confirming high level of cultural and educational relationships, and it was a long expected event for all of us. Before opening the Goethe Center in Armenia, we have already organizedmany cultural and educational events this year, including hosting musicians from Germany and film screenings. The Goethe Institute participated and supported, among others the Golden Apricot International Film Festival and the High Fest Festival, but we must say that with the opening of the Goethe Center we will have a new format of cultural relations.
Armenia will launch the dialogue with the European Union over visa liberalization in the first half of 2018, President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview to ARMENIA TV.
“I think in the first half of the next year or before that, although it is a thankless work to make a statement on any timetable, but I think we will launch the dialogue during that period. Here as well there are a lot of issues, and it is a long process. If we work hard, I think, we will reach the final goal in 2-3 years”, the President said.
President Serzh Sargsyan said the new agreement is a separate process, and the visa liberalization is another. According to him, they, of course, most likely are linked with each other, but signing a new agreement doesn’t mean that the visa liberalization process also has launched. “Yes, there was an opinion during the summit that it’s necessary to launch the dialogue on this matter”, the President added.
He also talked about the GSP+ regime with the EU, as well as the opportunities of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement signed with the Union and the observation that few use the GSP+ regime.
“Firstly, I wouldn’t say that few are using the regime. 40% of our exports is being carried out by this system. Yes, the product types are a lot, if I am not mistaken, we have privileged terms in the EU for 6200 types of products, this means that they undergo customs clearance at 0 or a very low rate. Of course, the agreement creates more favorable conditions, but the important is the production of goods. We should be able to produce many and high-quality competitive goods, and in this case there will be no obstacle for exporters. Today also there is no obstacle, who exports competitive, quality products, he sells that products in the EU market and the EAEU market, as well as in other markets. Therefore, this system is very useful for us, it is this system that enables us to have such volume, 1/3 of trade turnover in the EU demand market”, the President stated.
On November 24 Armenia and the European Union signed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Brussels.