11:11,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. 243 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases in Armenia to 346,224, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
5906 tests were administered (total 2,614,055).
132 people recovered from the disease (total 333,117).
2 people died, raising the death toll to 8006.
As of January 11 the number of active cases stood at 3589.
14:41,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Kazakh Scat airline is resuming Aktau-Yerevan-Aktau flights, the Embassy of Armenia in Kazakhstan said in a statement.
The Embassy said that the Aktau-Yerevan flight will be carried out today, on January 10, at 18:00-18:20.
On January 2, protests sparked in several cities of Kazakhstan. In several days, they escalated into mass riots and assaults at the bodies of authority in many cities. Thousands of people were injured, and there were casualties. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev asked the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for assistance. CSTO peacekeepers have already commenced their mission in Kazakhstan. Airlines had to change their flight schedules. Several airlines even canceled their flights of coming days.
17:16,
YEREVAN, 30 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 30 December, USD exchange rate up by 1.50 drams to 480.14 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.70 drams to 542.61 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.08 drams to 6.42 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 4.22 drams to 646.17 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 81.98 drams to 27697.58 drams. Silver price up by 3.72 drams to 352.5 drams. Platinum price down by 92.10 drams to 14850.26 drams.
Armenia lacks not only a vision of economic development, but also of the country in general, Doctor of Economics, Professor Tatul Manaseryan told Panorama.am in an interview on Thursday, summing up the economic year.
According to him, development tendencies have been observed in the country this year, but they do not stem from the socio-economic policy of the state.
“The development is mostly due to the consistent efforts made by the private sector in these difficult times… In other words, the private sector is paving the way for itself,” said the economist, adding that the economy is mainly developing by inertia.
According to him, although Armenia is in the process of recovery after the 2020 Artsakh war, the authorities still have no idea how to get the country out of the current situation.
He also denounced the economy minister’s unrealistic economic growth forecasts for the next year.
“In fact, we need to restore the economy, and clear priorities must be set for it. First of all, bonuses, representation expenses and car purchases for officials must be ruled out for the time being. Until the country stabilizes, let the officials go to work on foot or use public transport. It has always been the case in Artsakh, that’s why there are no rifts between officials and the people, as in Armenia,” Manaseryan said.
The economist considers the rule of the current leadership a “bigger disaster” for the country, than the war and the earthquake. He expressed surprise at the silence of the intellectuals, who do not react to the developments taking place in the country.
“Those who remain silent are no less accomplices than those, who are in power today,” the economist said.
The photo collection titled ‘Lost War’ by famous Czech photographer and editor Lenka Klicperova won silver at Tokyo International Photo Awards (TIFA 2021) in the category of Editorial/conflict. As orer.ru news portal reports, Lenka Klicperova with her colleague Marketa Kutilova visited Artsakh during the war and after it for three times to cover for the Czech television not only the sufferings of the local Armenia population during the intense bombardments of Stepanakert but also the tragedy of the displaced people who had to leave their houses.
The authors had earlier published a book “The Last One Sets the Village on Fire”.
Famous Armenian conductor and pianist Constantine Orbelian has extended New Year greetings.
“Dear friends, at the end of every year we sum up our activities of the past 12 months, the failures and achievements. I hope that in spite of all the difficulties, we still managed to find the most effective solutions to certain issues,” he said in a message on Saturday.
“I am convinced that difficulties are a thing of the past. Most of all I wish Peace to my homeland, unflagging patience to our compatriots and all the prerequisites for work and creation. In loving memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the homeland, I bow down before their mothers.
“Each of us must contribute to the development and strengthening of our homeland through our hard work. Each of us has dreams related to Armenia and the world, which we will definitely realize together. May 2022 be a fruitful year and may the breath of art be everywhere. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!” reads the message.
President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Arayik Harutyunyan today attended the regular session of the National Assembly during which the bill on the 2022 State Budget of Artsakh was considered in the second reading.
In his concluding speech, President Harutyunyan touched upon the activities carried out in 2021, noting that the relative stability that is being maintained through the Defense Army and the Russian peacekeeping contingent has provided the opportunity to solve a number of vital issues and launch projects that will help ensure progress.
Harutyunyan also talked about the mid-term expenditure programs for 2022-2025 and stated that the key issue of Artsakh has been and remains demography, adding that improvement of the demographic situation will be the aim of all the programs to be implemented in the coming years. The head of state also touched upon the launched and future housing projects and added that his ‘apartment for each family’ program is still in effect.
The President of Artsakh also talked about foreign policy and security issues. “I believe the presence of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh needs to be guaranteed and termless until there is no longer a need for its presence, and the need and opinions of the people of Artsakh need to be key factors since we the people of Artsakh are the main beneficiaries of the peacekeeping mission,” Harutyunyan said, noting that the consistent capacity-building and strengthening of the Defense Army, police and the National Security Service are another major direction on the path to ensuring proper security.
The head of state said Artsakh will continue the struggle for unconditional recognition of the exercise of the right of the people to self-determination and the return of the seized territories. “We support a peaceful settlement of the conflict where our major and unwavering goal is to achieve international recognition of Artsakh’s independence based on the right to self-determination, and this will pave the way for implementation of the ultimate goal of the Artsakh movement,” he said.
The law on the 2022 State Budget was adopted with 18 votes ‘in favor’ and 11 votes ‘against’.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered remarks during the 11th sitting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and Georgia. The Prime Minister touched upon the cooperation between the two countries in various spheres, as well as regional processes.
Prime Minister Pashinyan, in particular, said,
“Honorable Mr. Prime Minister,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am glad for the opportunity to discuss the issues and programs on the agenda of cooperation between our countries.
First of all, let me state that the further development and deepening of relations with Georgia is among the important priorities of our country’s foreign policy. I am more than convinced that there are all the prerequisites for that.
There is no doubt that the friendship coming from the depths of the centuries, which is anchored on common values and historical heritage, creates a solid foundation and fertile ground for our further cooperation.
However, I have to state that in the recent years the pandemic has created the most difficult challenges for the whole world, and the Armenian-Georgian trade and economic relations are no exception. In addition to the pandemic, additional complications have been created for the Armenian economy – the latest developments in our region, the war. However, our cooperation has not stopped, we have continued to work towards the implementation of the agreements enshrined in the minutes of the 10th sitting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and Georgia.
Dear colleagues,
The current level of Armenian-Georgian trade and economic relations does not reflect the potential of the two countries. It is obvious that in this respect the bilateral cooperation has not yet reached the desired level, there is a need to expand it. There are opportunities to expand cooperation in industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, information technologies and communications, transport, energy, tourism and and other areas. In this regard, this session of the Intergovernmental Commission should become a platform for discussing opportunities to further expand bilateral cooperation in various directions of economic relations. Within the framework of the session, I hope we will also outline concrete steps to achieve our goals.
Transport infrastructure and logistics are of key importance for the development of trade and economic relations.
Bilateral cooperation between Armenia and Georgia in the transport sphere is a priority for us. We cooperate within the framework of a number of international transport structures, attaching great importance to the implementation of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea international transport route and other initiatives in the field of transport. It is worth mentioning that the route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea can really boost regional cooperation. By the way, I would like to mention an important circumstance that Prime Minister Garibashvili stressed that we consider the relations with Georgia not only in the bilateral dimension, but also in the context of regional cooperation. This is very important in the context of our relations. Yes, Armenia and Georgia have a serious field of cooperation, and we can provide mutual assistance to each other.
By the way, talking about the Persian Gulf- Black Sea route, I want to emphasize that there are two projects here: road and rail routes. For the development of the road route, we are implementing the construction of the North-South road, which connects the Armenian-Georgian border with the Armenian-Iranian border. We are in active discussions with our Iranian and Georgian partners for the most effective operation of the road, and it is very important that we reach a full understanding here. By the way, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that if we manage to reach an agreement with Azerbaijan on Armenia-Azerbaijan road communication, this project will significantly transform, becoming the North-South, East-West route.
In this regard, I would like to inform you that based on the results of the meetings mediated by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in Sochi on November 26 and the President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels on December 14, an opportunity has emerged to reach an agreement with Azerbaijan on the resumption of road communication. And we have already reached a solid agreement with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the resumption of railway communication. I am talking about the restoration of the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway, and we hope to complete that work during the next 2-3 years. Of course, we must work so that our agreements are clearly recorded.
I also want to honestly say that some experts express opinion that this project may not be beneficial for Georgia, I mean the opening of the railway communication. I must strongly disagree with that position, because if the Armenia-Nakhichevan- Islamic Republic of Iran railway is opened through Julfa, we will have the most efficient and optimal railway communication between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea, and that railway will pass through the territories of Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, becoming a key factor not only for economic development, but also for regional security.
Dear Colleagues,
Continuing the topic of transport communication, I must note with satisfaction that this year the regular direct flights and passenger transportation between Armenia and Georgia have increased, the cargo transportation has also increased. We will continue to make additional efforts in these directions to ensure further sustainable growth. In this context, I would like to once again emphasize the opportunities of expanding the railway transport cooperation and the further growth of passenger and cargo transportation by this route.
Armenia and Georgia have extensive experience in energy cooperation. Georgia, as a transit country, has a great role in terms of reliable and secure supply of energy resources to Armenia.
I would like to inform you that the Armenian side is ready to support the development and signing of all technical annexes to the current construction agreement on the Armenia-Georgia high-voltage power transmission line, as well as the start of construction of new networks and the HVDC converter station in the north of Armenia.
Our countries have great potential to expand cooperation in the fields of digitalization, telecommunications, high technology, cyber security, postal services and startups. We offer our Georgian partners to examine the opportunities of opening a branch of “TUMO” Center for Creative Technologies in Georgia.
Speaking about cooperation in the field of healthcare, I must mention that Armenia and Georgia have been actively cooperating since the beginning of the pandemic. Due to the exchange of experience, we managed to carry out a number of joint preventive actions. I think that in this area it is necessary to continue to develop the partnership between the two countries’ emergency management systems in the field of healthcare and cross-border cooperation, as well as the provision of mutual assistance in emergency medical cases.
I am pleased to note that active contacts in the fields of education and science are entering a practical phase. Based on the proposal of the Georgian side, the Armenian side has already begun to carry out relevant work, which will facilitate the inclusion of teachers teaching Armenian language and literature in Georgian secondary schools in the certification process, which aims to improve the qualification of specialists. In turn, we will consider the possibility of implementing joint Georgian language programs in Armenia, expecting the support of Georgian partners in this issue. We are interested in increasing the scope and volume of Georgian language teaching in Armenia, we think that it will be a very logical continuation of our relations if we achieve concrete results in this area.
At the same time, I would like to emphasize the importance of developing opportunities for the implementation of joint educational and research programs in the field of education, particularly in the field of higher education, both in bilateral and international cooperation formats. I hope that we will be able to cooperate effectively on the maintenance and development of the physical infrastructure of public schools teaching in Armenian. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that it is very important for us that the Armenians of Georgia fully master the Georgian language, as our perception is that the Armenian community of Georgia must continue to remain a factor contributing to stability, unity and solidarity in Georgia. The stability and development of Georgia is more than important for us.
It is important for our countries to expand cooperation in the field of culture, as our peoples can present rich cultural heritage and potential to each other, while cooperation in the humanitarian field is particularly important for ensuring the continuity of friendly traditions between the two peoples. At the same time, I am convinced that we need to develop a qualitatively new agenda for Armenian-Georgian cultural relations, that is, to shift from a purely participatory framework to the field of joint cultural initiatives, including the joint applications for cooperation with international organizations. I am glad that there is already an active dialogue in this direction.
Speaking about cultural cooperation, I would like to thank our Georgian colleagues for the renovation of the new building of the Petros Adamian State Armenian Drama Theater in Tbilisi, as well as for the continuous support to the troupe.
Considering the already signed “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of Georgia on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism”, the structures responsible for tourism development of the two countries should continue their efforts to ensure effective cooperation, in particular, through developing joint packages by travel agencies. In this context, we offer our Georgian partners to develop an action plan to strengthen the Armenian-Georgian cooperation in the field of tourism. This idea is not new, we have talked, we should encourage our tourism organizations to introduce joint packages to the market, that is, the direction should not be Armenia or Georgia, but the direction should be Armenia-Georgia, Georgia-Armenia at once. With a record high in 2019, our experience showed that this type of cooperation is very effective, can bring results.
In order to further develop cooperation in the field of sports and youth, it is necessary to intensify the organization of joint training camps for national teams of different sports, joint trainings in Armenia and Georgia, and seminars for sport doctors and coaches.
Decentralized cooperation between the regions of Armenia and Georgia also has great opportunities for development. In this context, the possibility of further involvement in various cross-border cooperation programs funded by international organizations should also be considered.
Mr. Prime Minister, if you are not against the idea, I think, for example, that at the level of the heads of our border regions, we can also create an opportunity for some cooperation, trying to ensure the development of our relations at all levels.
I also see great potential in the field of ecology, given that global environmental challenges are transnational in nature. Addressing them requires expanding international cooperation, joining efforts at the global and regional levels.
Dear Colleagues,
Concluding my speech, I would like to thank all the participants of the session of the Intergovernmental Commission for making the session a reality and for the effective work. I am convinced that the agreements reached based on the results of the session will give a new impetus to our bilateral cooperation in all possible directions.
Thank you.”
14-year-old Maléna representing Armenia has won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021, giving her country its second win and first since 2010. Maléna stunned the millions watching around the world on TV and online with an incredible performance of “Qami Qami*, finishing with an impressive 224 points.
Armenia first took part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 and has finished in the Top 3 seven times in total.
Maléna from Yerevan is a talented cellist, and has dreamed about representing Armenia for many years; she participated in her nation’s selection competition back in 2018.
Sara James from Poland, received 218 points to finish in 2nd place with “Somebody”. Frabce’s Enzo singing “Tic Tac” was 3rd with 187 points.
EBU Members and Associates from 19 different countries took part in the annual competition for talented youngsters aged 9 to 14.
The 19th edition was organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), hosted by France Télévisions (FTV) with all artists performing live on stage at La Seine Musicale in Paris, despite the challenges faced by the ongoing pandemic.
A strict health protocol kept artists and delegations from the 19 participating countries safe with regular testing and other precautionary measures such as mask wearing and social distancing.
Viewers in the 19 participating countries and a further 180 nations helped decide the winner by voting online.
Juries made up of three industry experts and two children from each participating country provided 50% of the scores.
4.3 million valid votes were received in the online poll which was split into two rounds; one before the show based on preview clips and a second that opened after the last live performance, allowing viewers to cast their votes based on what they saw on stage.
This year’s show was hosted by former French Junior Eurovision participant Carla and French TV presenters Élodie Gossuin and Olivier Minne.
The Christmas themed show also saw performances from French dance duo Ofenbach and both last year’s winning singer, Valentina, and songwriter, Barbara Pravi, who also sang France to second place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam.
Martin Österdahl, the Contest’s Executive Supervisor, said “I would like to express our gratitude to the team at France Télévisions, and our 19 delegations, who not only made the 19th Junior Eurovision Song Contest happen under very challenging circumstances but created an incredible experience for everyone here in Paris and the millions watching around the world.
“Congratulations to our super-talented winner Maléna who gave a fantastic performance of “Qami Qami” and to all the great young artists who illuminated the stage here in the City of Light.
As the pandemic continues this year’s show has allowed us to “imagine” a better day and a brighter future. The dedication of the production team and all the delegations involved made this Contest the best yet.”
Alexandra Redde, Executive Producer of the Contest for France Télévisions added: “A very nice adventure is coming to an end tonight. Congratulations to all the talents who made this Junior Eurovision a success and congratulations to Maléna for this magnificent victory.
“We are so proud to have organized this show in France. Thank you to all the teams of the EBU, France Télévisions and all the French delegation who have mobilized themselves in the past year. It is an incredible memory that we will never forget. Long live Junior Eurovision!”
The host broadcaster for the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 will be announced in the coming months.
The full show can be streamed on demand on the official YouTube channel.
Catch up with all the backstage fun on our social media channels @JuniorEurovision on TikTok. @EurovisionJr on Twitter, @junioreurovisionofficial on Instagram and Junior Eurovision Song Contest on Facebook.
*Written and composed by Vahram Petrosyan / tokionine / Maléna / David Tserunyan / tokionine
ARMENPRESS marks 103rd birthday
11:15,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the 103rd birthday of ARMENPRESS, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan congratulated the state news agency’s staffers and readers, describing ARMENPRESS as a “unique depository of multi-sector events of Armenia’s historical past.”
ARMENPRESS was founded on December 18 in 1918. Back then, it was known as the Armenian Telegraph Agency.
“For more than a century ARMENPRESS is covering with high professional responsibility the most important issues of public life,” Dumanyan said in a message.
He praised ARMENPRESS for its “dedication and professionalism in fulfilling its mission of documenting the important events of the country and duly presenting to the public the news and issues in politics, economy, education, culture, sports and other areas.”
“ARMENPRESS’s role is invaluable also in presenting Armenia in the information world, in international arenas, reaching our voice worldwide.”
In turn, academician Ashot Melkonyan described ARMENPRESS as the “heavyweight” and one of the most esteemed news agencies in the Armenian media sectors.
Melkonyan, the Director of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences said that ARMENPRESS has become “one of the most important attributes of Armenian statehood.”
He praised the news agency for maintaining its principles and esteem despite the widespread problematic impacts of yellow press and social media in the news media sector.