Author: Maral Chavushian

Council of Europe
Sept 17 2021

Congress works on public ethics in Armenia

 ARMENIA 17 SEPTEMBER 2021

“Public procurement deserves special attention in the fight against corruption since it is an essential part of public service delivery,” stressed Amelie TARSCHYS INGRE (Sweden, ILDG), Congress rapporteur on “Making public procurement transparent at the local and regional levels” at a workshop on public ethics on 13-14 September. She called on Armenian local authorities to fight and prevent corrupt procurement practices in order to ensure the efficient delivery of local public services while building public trust.

This event concluded a series of workshops organised by the Congress in 2021 focusing on the principles of open government, fight against corruption and transparent public procurement procedures.

The workshops brought together representatives of Armenian local and national authorities to share their experiences with their peers, members of the Congress from the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Sweden and Ukraine, and to discuss public ethics issues in the light of relevant European standards and practices.

The workshops were organised within the “Strengthening the Communities Association of Armenia and Transparent, Participatory Local Governance in Armenia” project, which aims to improve the quality of local democracy in Armenia, enhance citizens’ confidence, and trust in local authorities through greater voice, accountability, effectiveness and inclusiveness of the local self-government bodies. It is implemented by the Congress, with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland, within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2019-2022.

 16:06,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The government today approved decisions according to which Chairman of the Special Investigation Service Sasun Khachatryan was relieved from the position and appointed Chair of the Anti-Corruption Committee for a 6-year term.

During today’s Cabinet meeting chief of staff at the Prime Minister’s Office Arayik Harutyunyan said this is an important step on the government’s anti-corruption policy path. He also presented the procedure of the election to the Cabinet members. Harutyunyan informed that the competition for the election of the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Committee was held on September 10, and Sasun Khachatryan received most of the scores as a result.

“The creation of a united anti-corruption body is one of the government’s priorities. Given that different agencies have dealt with corruption disclosure works, we are now creating a united body, and I am sure that it will make the ongoing works more effective”, Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:04,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Finance Tigran Khachatryan received Ambassador of India to Armenia Kishan Dan Dewal on September 10, the ministry told Armenpress.

The minister introduced the government’s 2021-2026 action plan to the Ambassador, as well as the strategy of the reforms of public finance management system.

The Ambassador in turn congratulated the minister on appointment and presented the framework of the issues over which it would be possible to develop the economic cooperation between India and Armenia. He expressed confidence that India is ready to continue the cooperation with Armenia in all possible directions.

At the meeting the officials also discussed issues relating to attracting economic, business investments, developing the economic relations between the two countries and establishing stable partnering ties.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 11:34, 8 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. During today’s Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan talked about the possibilities of deepening and normalizing the relations with bordering states.

Pashinyan stated that while he was recently introducing the government’s action plan to the Parliament, he has recorded that the deepening or normalization of the relations with bordering countries will be one of the key directions of the government’s foreign policy.

“And this has been recorded in the action plan which has been approved by the Parliament, and the implementation of this action plan has become a working agenda for us. As you know, after my reappointment as Prime Minister I have already managed to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran, and today I am departing for Georgia. The topic of development of regional communications plays a key role in the agenda of our discussions with both Iran and Georgia, and in this context I attach importance to the North-South project, which connects our border with Iran to our border with Georgia.

The establishment of a railway communication with Russia and Iran is highly important for us. In order to solve this issue we are discussing the re-opening of communications within the Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan trilateral format. Here we are determined to make efforts to achieve concrete results, of course, understanding that in its turn Azerbaijan is expecting communication between its western regions and Nakhijevan. I would like to remind again that we are inclined to restore the peace process with Azerbaijan within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship”, the PM said.

He also highlighted the agenda of carrying out demarcation and delimitation with Azerbaijan. “And we continue working on creating necessary conditions for this. We hope to quickly end the process of returning our captives, hostages and other persons held [in Azerbaijan] to Armenia”, Pashinyan said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

CIVILNET.AM

 15:29, 7 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan held a meeting with World Bank Regional Director for South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus and the new World Bank Country Manager for Armenia Carolin Geginat.

Sanosyan briefed the World Bank officials on the priorities of the new government program, main goals and directions of cooperation. He underscored that the government has set ambitious projects before itself and plans to make efforts with international partners to implement them, the ministry of territorial administration and infrastructures said in a press release.

Minister Sanosyan said the cooperation with the World Bank is multi-layered and there are many ongoing projects, and highlighted the vitally-significant roads programs, the programs directed for territorial development, water supply, tourism and the construction of the North-South road.

Carolin Geginat said that the World Bank is ready to support the Armenian government in the planned projects, especially in the water sector, the land exploitation sector, tourism and road construction. Geginat attached importance to cooperation in renewable energy for making the sector more attractable for private investors.

An agreement was reached to organize individual discussions in an expanded format to specify future actions.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:45, 7 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received today Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacôte on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Pashinyan stated that Mr. Lacôte’s tenure in Armenia coincided with the period full of various developments for Armenia and the region.

“That period not only did not leave a negative impact on the Armenian-French unique relations, but also made the bilateral partnership more closer”, Pashinyan said.

He added that there are broad opportunities for developing the partnership between the two friendly countries in different areas.

Pashinyan noted that the governments of Armenia and France are interested in developing and expanding the cooperation which is based on centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and French peoples.

At the same time, he highlighted the key role of France as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country.

Touching upon Armenia’s chairmanship at the International Organization of La Francophonie, Pashinyan said that the challenges caused by the pandemic and the war didn’t allow Armenia to be active within the organization. However, he expressed confidence that the cooperation within the organization will become more effective and closer.

“All these difficulties have not put a shadow on our relations with France, and we should highlight your personal contribution to this. We will view you as friend of Armenia and will be happy to see you again in our country”, Pashinyan told the French Ambassador.

The Ambassador thanked the Armenian PM for the appreciation and stated that his tenure was marked by both heavy and happy moments for Armenia.

“I have emotional memories from the peaceful revolution held in Armenia. The recent events in the country showed that democracy is irreversible in Armenia, and that the Armenian people could be proud of it”, Jonathan Lacôte said, adding that France will continue the close cooperation with Armenia in different areas, including in promoting the reforms.

The meeting also touched upon the process of joint programs and the future activities.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 08:55, 2 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Artsakh Davit Babayan has commented on the recent statements of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made in the occupied Shushi, stating that “these statements are gross violation of international law, manifestation of Nazism and terrorism”.

In an interview to ARMENPRESS, Mr. Babayan said first of all it is necessary to thank Aliyev for such statements because it shows his main goals. “Countries spend huge sums of money to know the intentions of the enemy, but this one says everything. I have repeatedly stated that Aliyev is the most honest enemy, he has never hidden his intentions. Of course, what Aliyev says is a gross violation of international law, is Nazism and terrorism, and we must never be cut off from reality, we must understand who we are dealing with. All these statements once again prove that we will never be part of Azerbaijan. And what he is saying is his business. The important for us is to be able to recover and create a reliable future for our generations”, Davit Babayan said.

On August 30 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a number of anti-Armenian statements in the occupied town of Shushi. In particular, the Azerbaijani leader stated that “there is no such concept of a Nagorno Karabakh Republic”. Aliyev also said that “the current course of events, the second Karabakh war and the actions of international role players show that the [Nagorno Karabakh] issue could never be solved through negotiations”. Aliyev claimed that all norms and principles of the international law, in particular the UN Charter, the resolutions of the UN Security Council, the “historical justice”, have given a right to Azerbaijan to solve the issue with military means, if it is not solved peacefully. However, the experts note that the norms and principles of the international law, including the UN Charter and the resolutions of the UN Security Council do not give a right to any subject to solve conflicts by force.

 

Interview by Aram Sargsyan

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan