12:53, 4 June 2022
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Armenia will convene an emergency session on June 9, at 11:00.
The session will be convened at the initiative of the government.
14 items will be on agenda, including the package of bills on making amendments to the Law on Administrative-territorial division, the Law on Social Assistance, the Land Code, etc.
8 project ideas advance to incubation phase out of the 12 competing projects from Armenia’s six marzes
YEREVAN, 31 May 2022 – Five Armenian startup teams of adolescents advanced to implementation stage in the Generation Unlimited imaGen Ventures Youth Challenge concluding the weekend bootcamp in Dilijan and each receiving seed funding in the amount of US$1000, equivalent to 444,280 Armenian drams.
Launched in early March by UN Armenia, including UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, and AYB Educational Foundation, the GenU Challenge received 109 submissions from young people of 14 to 24 ages, representing Armenia’s six marzes and the capital city of Yerevan. The submissions presented a variety of ideas, ranging from how to raise the quality of education, encourage civic activism, boost employment or combat climate change, raise awareness of media literacy and mental health.
The GenU Challenge is supported by the Minsitry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Synergy Armenia and BodyShop. Out of the 109 submissions, the selection committee of all partners chose 12 promising ideas to compete in a weekend bootcamp in Dilijan on 28-29 May. As a result of the bootcamp, the following eight teams were selected to proceed to incubation phase:
In the next few months, the project teams will use the awarded seed funding and get additional mentorship from industry experts to put their ideas to practice.
“GenU is about giving opportunities to young people to contribute to the society, about unleashing their potential in entrepreneurship and creativity, as well as about listening to the voices of young people. It’s their time and their turn to proactively tackle social issues in their own communities and, as we saw during the application stage, Armenian youth have no shortage of ideas when it comes to the development of their country and their own future,“ state the organizers.
In July 2022, two of the most promising solutions from Armenia will be submitted to a global judging process. These projects will receive further funding, along with a tailored global incubation programme from Generation Unlimited partners to support them to scale.
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Generation Unlimited: Generation Unlimited is a global public-private-youth partnership working to prepare young people to become productive and engaged citizens. It connects secondary-age education and training to employment and entrepreneurship, empowering every young person to thrive in the world of work.
The challenge calls on young innovators across Armenia and 35 other countries to design solutions to accelerate the SDGs, for example to improve education, employment, civic engagement or tackle issues in climate change, media literacy or mental health. As of 2021, with presence in over 43 countries, reaching over 15 million young people, and involving over 200 organizations, the Youth Challenge is truly a global initiative meeting young people where they are and working with them in supporting the realization of their full potential.
https://www.undp.org/armenia/press-releases/5-armenian-startup-teams-adolescents-receive-seed-funding-generation-unlimited-imagen-ventures-youth-challenge
15:32,
YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. Team Armenia’s light welterweight Hovhannes Bachkov defeated Petr Novak of Czech Republic 5:0 at the quarterfinals in the Yerevan EUBC Men’s Elite European Boxing Championships, entering the semifinals and securing at least a bronze.
ArmInfo.Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
As Aram I himself informs, the President of Syria welcomed the visit of His Holiness and the delegation accompanying him to the SAR. During the conversation, Assad recalled the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman state and stressed that history continues in Syria. He noted the contribution of Armenia to the development and progress of Syria and stressed that the Armenian community is an integral part of the Syrian society.
Aram I, in turn, highly appreciated the support of the Syrian state for the restoration of the Armenian community. His Holiness assured that the Armenians of Syria will support the restoration and prosperity of Syria at any cost. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the concerns and problems of the region. Assad was then briefed on the difficulties faced by the Armenians in Syria. As part of his visit to Syria, Aram I also met with Syrian Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed, Prime Minister Hussein Arnus and head of the Assyrian Orthodox Church Aphrem II Patriarch (Meetings with the leaders of the Greek Orthodox and Catholic Churches did not take place due to the absence of the latter in the country).
The attitude of Artsakh authorities to negotiations in different platforms is unequivocal. Artsakh President’s spox.
18:06,
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. The attitude of the authorities of the Artsakh Republic to the statements made about the fate of the Artsakh Republic and the people of Artsakh in the ongoing negotiations and discussions taking place in different platforms has been expressed several times by the President and the National Assembly of Artsakh, ARMENPRESS reports spokesperson of the President of Artsakh Lusine Avanesyan told ARMENPRESS, reminding some of the provisions published by President Harutyunyan in December 2021.
The full recognition of the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to self-determination is not subject to reservation or concession. The exclusive owner of that issue is the people of Artsakh.
The international recognition of the independence of the Artsakh Republic remains the guideline of the authorities. Any status within Azerbaijan is unacceptable.
Returning to the past, not only in terms of status, but also in terms of demographics, is unacceptable. The Artsakh Republic has a task to restore its territorial integrity.
According to the spokesperson of the President of Artsakh, the Artsakh government develops and implements its policy in accordance with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, in cooperation with all partners.
Armenia’s currency, the dram, is taking a hit as a result of Russia’s military action in Ukraine
Economic experts in Armenia are sounding the alarm on the potentially severe downturn in the Armenian economy as a result of the impact on the Russian economy because of the crippling Western sanctions.
Hayk Bejanyan and Narek Karapetyan from the Amberd Analytical Center explored various scenarios, reported Armenpress.
They said that the Russian ruble fluctuations, which is directly impacting the Armenian economy, was among the factors in the study.
“And we shouldn’t forget that Russia is our main trade partner. That’s why negative effects in Russia are directly impacting our foreign trade turnover and subsequent economic developments,” Bejanyan said.
In the event of a zero growth in Russia, the 5.7 economic growth registered in Armenia in 2021 will shrink to 1.9 percent. Exports growth will comprise 8.4 percent, money transfers to Armenia would grow 12.1 percent, while the Armenian dram will appreciate by 2.1 percent.
In the event of a five percent economic decline in Russia, the Armenian real gross domestic product will drop 2.1 percent in 2022 and will lead to 0.7 percent drop in exports, 7.5 percent drop in remittances and 1.1 percent devaluation.
In the event of 10 percent decline, the economic losses will be more severe. In this case, the Armenian economic decline could reach 6.1 percent, while exports would drop 9.8 percent. Remittances would decline 27.1 percent and the dram would devaluate 5.1 percent.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Russian central bank projected an eight percent decline for the Russian economy in 2022. If this happens, the Armenian economy will record a 4.5 percent decline, according to the experts. Exports could drop 6.2 percent, remittances to 19.3 percent and the dram would lose value by 3.5 percent.
The experts emphasized that the growing economic crisis in Russia is creating “significant risks” for the Armenian economy, jeopardizing its chances of potential growth.
According to the scenario, devaluation and economic decline should be expected in Armenia, mostly due to the decline in exports and money transfers. However, these assessments aren’t taking into account the possible positive developments, such as the inflow of Russian labor to Armenia, new exports opportunities, positioning as a logistic hub, new opportunities for financial service growth.
Bejanyan said that the Russian ruble has already strengthened its position within the new reality of sanctions after the nearly 50 percent devaluation in suffered at the onset of the sanctions.
Because Russia is Armenia’s main trade partner, the developments taking place around the Russian ruble are impacting the Armenian dram. However, in the recent period the dram regained some of its losses, with Bejanyan attributing this to several facts, among them a robust tourism flow.
He said that the main income of visiting foreigners is in dollars or euros. “This led to significant changes in our currency circulation. This is a component that strengthened the dram.” The other factor is the cenbank’s policy, he said.
The Armenian government’s initial forecast for 2022 was seven percent growth. However, the central bank already revised this projection, lowering it to three percent.
“This will naturally lead to a cut in state budget revenues. And if we take into account the finance ministry’s statement that no changes are planned in budget spending, this means that the government is inclined to compensate for the less collected revenues by involving additional state debt. And if we were to be guided with this scenario, then, if in the beginning of the year the state debt-GDP ratio was projected to be around 62 percent, in case of these projected developments it is very possible for this figure to be up to 68 percent,” the expert said.
Armenia expects EU supports peace process according to mandate of OSCE Minsk Group Co- Chairmanship – FM
09:58, 19 May, 2022
YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenia-EU Partnership Council is, indeed, a unique platform, where we have in-depth discussions and exchange of views on various topics, ranging from specific aspects of our Armenia-EU bilateral agenda, to regional affairs, to political matters, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan told reporters in Brussels ahead of the session of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council.
“It is a great pleasure to be here today in Brussels to chair the fourth meeting of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council. It is highly satisfying that despite the current circumstances and challenges for all of us, we manage to ensure the continuity of our talks and cooperation on various levels.
The Armenia-EU Partnership Council is, indeed, a unique platform, where we have in-depth discussions and exchange of views on various topics, ranging from specific aspects of our Armenia-EU bilateral agenda, to regional affairs, to political matters. And I anticipate that in line with the already established tradition we will have an open and engaged dialogue.
Notably, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union, and it is symbolic that this year also marks the 1st anniversary of the entry into force of the CEPA – the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union.
And of course, we will also reflect on the implementation of this agreement.
Today we also will speak about the situation in the South Caucasus and the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and also about the process of the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. And here we expect that the European Union supports the peace process according to the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.
Also, the remaining humanitarian issues – the particular issue of the release of the Armenian POWs and detainees, the protection of Armenian cultural heritage and other remaining issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be discussed as well.
All in all, I would like to state that today’s meeting will be a huge step towards a better understanding, a higher level of partnership and also a higher level of peace and prosperity for our citizens”, the FM said in his remarks and then answered to the questions of reporters.
Question: Let me, please, clarify one moment. Yerevan proposed its vision of peace with Azerbaijan, suggesting to discuss also the rights and security of those people living in Nagorno-Karabakh. Talking about the readiness of Azerbaijan – is Baku ready to start negotiations based on that?
Ararat Mirzoyan: Well, actually, as you said, we published our vision of the peace process. And at first, we said that in the points suggested by Azerbaijan there is nothing unacceptable for the Armenian side but these points do not address the whole agenda, the whole spectrum of the existing issues of the potential and expected peace treaty. And here for us is crucial to discuss the rights and issue of security in Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. We also think that it is important to continue these negotiations on the peace treaty in the frame of and according to the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. So far, we haven’t heard a positive reaction from Azerbaijan to these points. But you know that efforts are being made in order to have these negotiations possible. So I can only stress our readiness and our commitment to have peace and stability in our region. But to have this we need two sides.
Question: One follow-up question: You said that the first meeting between Armenia and Azerbaijan on demarcation will be scheduled for May. Yesterday and before yesterday, on May 16-17, but finally this meeting did not take place. May I ask why?
Ararat Mirzoyan: You are right, the meeting didn’t take place but I can assure you that we will continue our talks about organizing this meeting. There are some technicalities to be agreed by the sides. And hopefully, in the upcoming days and weeks, we will finally have this meeting.
Organizers seek to set new bar with EUBC Men’s European Boxing Championships in Yerevan
15:20, 19 May, 2022
YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office Arayik Harutyunyan, who is the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the EUBC Men’s European Boxing Championships in Yerevan, says they want to set a new bar for European championships with the Yerevan event.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve hosted such a major sports event in Armenia, and both the government and the [boxing] federation and our other partners are doing their best to organize the championship on the highest level. The assessments we get from our international partners are very positive. We want to set a new bar for European championships,” Harutyunyan said, adding that all participating delegations and athletes are taken care of.
The EUBC Men’s European Boxing Championships in Yerevan will take place May 21-30.
Team Armenia earlier its lineup for the championship.
The Armenian Ministry of Defense has refuted a fresh misinformation by the Azerbaijani side.
“The statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan claiming that last night units of the Armenian Armed Forces fired from different caliber firearms at the Azerbaijani military positions located in the eastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is misinformation,” the Armenian Defense Ministry said.
It noted that the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively stable and is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces.
11:07,
YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The recent flow of international visits to Armenia has contributed to the increase in demand. However, these flows also had an inflationary effect from the perspective of the increase in demand, devaluation of the dram has been observed, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia Hovhannes Khachatryan said during the session of the parliamentary standing committee on financial-credit and budgetary affairs.
Speaking about the expectations in 2022, he said: “In the beginning of the year we were forecasting 6.5% inflation and 1.5% economic growth”. He said that the CBA doesn’t have updated forecasts, the last ones were made in March.
“The main reason, which is both inflationary and contributes to some extent to the economic growth, is the external environment. We have a significant growth in external demand. International visitors have created both demand and increased the inflationary pressures. The inflationary pressures increase also under the growth in uncertainties due to the drastic increase in risk premiers and the increase in international prices which happened because of the drastic disruption of international value chains”, he said.
He said that the CBA still keeps the uncertainties in the forecasts, depending on how long the effects of demand and capital inflow by non-residents will last.
As for the international prices, Hovhannes Khachatryan said they have less doubts that the prices of food and energy prices will be at a high level. The CBA made its last forecast in the period of the maintenance of the geopolitical pressure.