Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

European Women’s Individual Chess Championship: Armenia’s Maria Gevorgyan 2nd in standings after 8th round

 09:49,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. At the 8th round of the European Women’s Individual Chess Championship in Prague, Team Armenia’s Maria Gevorgyan, Elina Danielyan, Mariam Mkrtchyan, Lilit Mkrtchyan and Susanna Gaboyan all recorded victories while Anna Sargsyan lost.

Maria Gevorgyan is ranked 2nd in the standings with 6,5 points.

Poland’s Monika Soćko is leading the ranking with 7 points.

Elina Danielyan and Lilit Mkrtchyan have 6 points each.

125 chess players are competing in the 11-round tournament which will end on August 31.

 10:25, 25 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS. The level of air pollution in Yerevan has reached the red zone. The worst air pollution after the capital is recorded in the cities of Vanadzor, Alaverdi and Gyumri.

Deputy Director of the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center Gayane Shahnazaryan told ARMENPRESS that this isn’t a new problem and it is associated with the widespread construction in Yerevan, increase of mining industry and open burning of landfills, while the gases in the atmosphere are a result of car emissions (automobile transport is the main movable source of pollution in Yerevan, while the natural gas consumption in households and gas-powered thermal power stations is considered the main immovable source).

“I’d like to mention that the dust-caused air pollution in conditions of absence of precipitation is seen acutely in Yerevan but we are recording the pollution throughout the entire year and there are no significant differences compared to the previous year. The pollution recorded in Yerevan was this high and concerning in the last years as well,” Shahnazaryan said.

Shahnazaryan said it is highly important for the public and construction companies to display responsibility. The construction planning licenses already stipulate the required steps which construction companies should adhere to.

A monitoring conducted August 8-14 in Yerevan showed that the dust levels exceeded the admissible concentrate by up to 3,5 times.

“According to our monitoring results the most polluted areas in Yerevan were Arshakunyats Avenue and the adjacent area to the Circus. After Yerevan, the cities of Vanadzor, Alaverdi and Gyumri have the most pollution with dust, where the levels have exceeded the admissible concentrate levels from time to time,” Shahnazaryan said.

Nitrogen dioxide levels in Yerevan exceeded the levels again in the area of the circus. Results showed day-to-day changing data elsewhere in the city.

Meanwhile, Armen Lablajyan, the Director of the Yerevan Department of the Environment and Subsoil Inspection Agency said the pollution is caused by the construction boom, mining exploitation in Yerevan, as well as improper and uncovered cargo transportation of materials such as sand.

Lablajyan highlighted that construction companies must adhere to the safety regulations and adhere to the rules and use new technologies: water the construction sites to avoid emissions, keep sand and other similar materials in closed spaces, etc.

“We frequently organize meetings with businesses for preventive purposes and we involve relevant government agencies, for example city hall, as well as inspection agencies in charge of construction. We record the frequent violations and give instructions and then monitor their implementation,” Lablajyan said.

According to Lablajyan, they’ve recently received positive response from citizens who’ve noted that the levels of dust have decreased.

In one year, 29 construction companies were fined a total of 4,5 million drams for violations, with an additional 1,2 million drams fines for damages.

9 mines were monitored in 2022 and administrative penalties of 2,5 million drams were issued, while damages to the state were estimated to be over 23 million drams.

Gayane Gaboyan

 16:51,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. The team of the Armenian Armed Forces participated for the very first time in the Elbrus Ring tournament of the International Army Games 2022 together with servicemen from 10 other countries, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said.

Participants completed 15 special tasks, overcoming obstacles and ice in mountainous terrain in difficult climate and psychological conditions, conducting live-fire marksmanship exercises and marching around Mount Elbrus.

The final and most difficult task was ascending the 5642 meter high Elbrus.

 17:42,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Alexander Burkov, Governor of Omsk Oblast of the Russian Federation, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister welcomed the delegation’s visit to Armenia and noted that the allied relations with the Russian Federation are developing dynamically. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the periodic mutual visits and active discussions of representatives of Governments and regions contribute to this. The Prime Minister emphasized that there is a clear agenda for the development of cooperation in the economy, investments and other spheres, in the direction of which the two countries continue to cooperate closely.

Alexander Burkov thanked for the warm reception and noted that the Russian President has repeatedly mentioned the importance of developing allied relations with Armenia, so they are interested in further expanding ties with the regions of our country. According to the Governor of Omsk, interregional cooperation has great potential for development.

Cooperation in economy, trade, industry, aviation, education, culture and other spheres were considered promising.

The Prime Minister emphasized the steps towards the development of cooperation in the above-mentioned directions and emphasized the need for regular contacts and interactions.

 17:25,

YEREVAN, 23 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 23 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.53 drams to 404.93 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 4.10 drams to 401.85 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 6.76 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.49 drams to 476.32 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 257.66 drams to 22564.84 drams. Silver price down by 4.69 drams to 245.99 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 12:21,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of Georgia in Armenia expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the Yerevan market explosion.

“The Embassy of Georgia in the Republic of Armenia is expressing deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who died in the powerful explosion which happened Sunday in the Surmalu trade center in Yerevan. At this difficult time, we express our solidarity to our Armenian friends,” the embassy said.

Nagorno Karabakh conflict: United States reiterates need for a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement

 08:50,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. The United States continues working to facilitate a comprehensive long-term peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said when asked about the process during the August 17 press briefing at the State Department.

QUESTION: …the Secretary was involved in, well, very active Karabakh diplomacy while he was traveling. And I also remember a couple weeks ago behind this podium, you mentioned – you were talking about historic opportunities. I’m just wondering what was driving your optimism back then because it was followed by ceasefire violations and we just got (inaudible). And how much of your optimism is still there given the recent developments in the region?

PRICE: Well, we are still working to do what we can to facilitate what we hope to see, and that is a comprehensive long-term peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. You know that Secretary Blinken recently had an opportunity to engage with the leaders of these countries. We did so, registering our deep concern about the recent fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, including the casualties and the loss of life that had resulted from that. We urged immediate steps to reduce tensions and to avoid further escalations between the parties. And the recent increase in tensions underscores, we believe, the need for a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement of all remaining issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. So while we’ve seen an intensification of tensions resulting in some violence, we are going to remain committed to working with the parties. We will continue to do so bilaterally, but also with likeminded partners in the EU and through our role as an OSCE Minsk co-chair to help the countries find that long-term comprehensive peace.

QUESTION: But do you still see the same level of historic opportunities you were seeing three weeks ago? How much it has faded away?

PRICE: We absolutely still see an opportunity here despite the setbacks. We always recognized this was never going to be a linear process. We believe that through continued dialogue, continued engagement, including at the senior levels, we will be in a position to do everything we can to help advance that long-term comprehensive peace.