Author: Tambiyan Samvel

 15:21, 6 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. The session of the Council of Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) launched in Yerevan’s Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex on June 6, Armenpress correspondent reports.

The session is attended by 128 delegates from the CSTO member states.

During the session Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, who is also the chair of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, will present Armenia’s activity in resisting the challenges and security threats in the context of the fulfillment of its presidency priorities. In his turn Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan will touch upon the implementation process of the decisions approved at the September 2021 session of the CSTO Collective Security Council and the activity of the organization in the reporting period.

CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas will talk about the measures to improve the legal insurance of the peacekeeping activity of the CSTO member states.

The 2021-2025 strategy, the funding of the CSTO PA activity and a number of other issues will be discussed during the session.

 18:50,

YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Artur Bazeyan, a member of the Armenian boxing team, became the vice-champion of the European Championship.

ARMENPRESS reports in the 57 kg weight category final of the European Championship taking place at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex, Artur Bazeyan competed with Vasile Usturoi, representing Belgium. The Armenian boxer lost 3: 2.

 18:21,

YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRES. Real economic growth in Armenia in the first quarter was 8.6%, despite the geopolitical situation and crises, ARMENPRESS reports Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said at the National Assembly during the parliament-Cabinet Q&A session, answering the question of MP from Civil Contract Party Gevorg Papoyan.  

Papoyan reminded that in January-April the economic activity index increased by 9.4%, which he considered quite satisfactory, especially against the background of worse forecasts due to the situation in Ukraine. He inquired what actions the government is going to take to maintain that pace.

According to the Prime Minister, the index of economic activity is transformed into economic growth by certain formulas. But at this stage, the economic growth of the first quarter is summed up. "And we have 8.6 percent real economic growth. This shows the economic resilience of Armenia. In April, we set an absolute record for the highest number of registered paid jobs in the history of the Third Republic. According to the results of April, the number of paid jobs registered in Armenia is by over 120 thousand more than in 2018. According to the data of the first 4 months, this year trade turnover was by 570 billion AMD more than last year," Pashinyan said.

According to him, this means that despite the crises, the geopolitical situation, 7% economic growth must be ensured this year, which requires a lot of effort. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the peace agenda of the Armenian government will improve the economic mood, and that it will be possible to achieve that goal.

Referring to the question, what are the reasons that despite the pessimism, the economy shows such resistance, the Prime Minister said, "It's because there is no corrupt system to take that money away from the economy, put it in some shelves, put it in offshore accounts. This is a very important fact. Business today knows that it has no relationship with anyone else, its relationship is with itself, with the competitive field, it is with its tax obligations and law. And this is first of all connected with this, and also with the economic policy pursued by the government."

 16:08,

YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Central Bank could revise the 1,6% growth projection.

Cenbank Governor Martin Galstyan said it is a “rather possible scenario”. However, inflation can also grow.

Lawmaker Gevorg Papoyan (Civil Contract) asked Galstyan whether or not the cenbank’s raising of the refinancing rate by 1,25% was appropriate given that the developments unfolded positively.

“The positive direction of the developments will contribute to stronger inflation background,” Galstyan answered. He said that the economy could grow in higher paces compared to the 1,6%.

“This is a rather possible scenario, at this moment looking at the preliminary figures we have a picture that compared to 1,6% we could have higher economic growth. And, if this higher economic growth will have the spending made by international visitors in its base, which create additional demand, the inflation background will not weaken – which would allow us to lower the rate – but it will actually get stronger, coupled with inflation pressures from the foreign sector, as well as the risks. In this case a certain revision of growth could happen,” he said.

He said the increase of the refinancing rate by 1,25% in March wasn’t only proportionate, but also mild.

 12:14, 17 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) took place on May 16.

ANIF management presented the new investment projects of ANIF launched in the reporting period, and discussed the implementation of existing programs. The details of several new projects in the preparatory stage, which will be announced in the near future, were presented to the Board of Directors.

ANIF Board of Directors consists of independent members with high international standing in various fields, whose presence ensures a comprehensive, impartial evaluation of ANIF's activities, transparency of projects, and objective evaluation of their efficiency.

In the coming days, ANIF will present to the public the comprehensive report of the organization and will summarize the results of the activity 2019-2021.