Category: 2018

ArmenPress, Armenia
Oct 12 2018
Armenia will bring forward a number of initiatives during its
chairmanship over Francophonie summit – FM Mnatsakanyan
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. During the chairmanship over
Francophonie summit Armenia will bring forward a number of
initiatives, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab
Mnatsakanyan said about this during the press conference summarizing
the 17th Francophonie summit. “In line with the economic strategy of
Francophonie we will organize an economic forum in Armenia over the
cooperation between Francophonie and regional integration processes”,
Mnatsakanyan said.
The Armenian FM emphasized that it’s a great honor for Armenia for
serving as a platform for a key international gathering. “The Armenian
people are faithful towards the traditions of hospitability of their
ancestors. We welcomed with open-arms representatives of countries
from different continents. The Armenian youth participated in the
events with great enthusiasm and love towards the French language and
the Francophone culture. I would also like to recall the moments of
grief that we lived as a result of the demise of Charles Aznavour”, FM
Mnatsakanyan said, thanking French President Macron for involving
Armenia in the ceremony of national tribute to Charles Aznavour on
October 5.
The International Organisation of La Francophonie represents one of
the biggest linguistic zones in the world. Its members share more than
just a common language. They also share the humanist values promoted
by the French language. The French language and its humanist values
represent the two cornerstones on which the International Organisation
of La Francophonie is based.
The International Organisation of La Francophonie was created in 1970.
Its mission is to embody the active solidarity between its 84 member
states and governments (58 members and 26 observers), which together
represent over one-third of the United Nations’ member states and
account for a population of over 900 million people, including 274
million French speakers.
IOF organizes political activities and actions of multilateral
cooperation that benefit French-speaking populations. Its actions
respect cultural and linguistic diversity and serve to promote the
French language, peace and sustainable development.
IOF has concluded 33 cooperation agreements with international and
regional organisations and has established permanent dialogue between
the major international linguistic zones (the English, Portuguese,
Spanish, and Arab-speaking zones).
The IOF has its head office in Paris as well as four permanent
representations in Addis Ababa (at the African Union and at the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa), in Brussels (at the European
Union), in New York and in Geneva (at the UN). It has three regional
offices (West Africa; Central Africa and Indian Ocean; Asia-Pacific)
located respectively in Lomé (Togo), Libreville (Gabon) and Hanoi
(Vietnam) and two regional antennas in Bucharest (Romania) and in
Port-au-Prince (Haiti).
Alongside the IOF, the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie and
the four direct operators are responsible for implementing the
programs decided at the Summits. The four direct operators are: the
Academic Agency of La Francophonie, TV5Monde, the International
Association of Francophone Mayors and The Senghor University of
Alexandria.
61 Member States and Governments: Albania, Principality of Andorra,
Armenia, Kingdom of Belgium, French Community of Belgium, Benin,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Canada-New-Brunswick, Canada-Quebec, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon,
Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Laos,
Lebanon, Luxembourg, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco,
Niger, New-Caledonia, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Säo Tomé
and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia,
Vanuatu, Vietnam, UAE, Kosovo, Serbia.
29 Observers: Argentina, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Canada-Ontario, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Dominican Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia,
Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro, Mozambique, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Thailand, Ukraine,Uruguay, Gambia, Ireland, Louisiana (USA),
Malta.
Armenia has assumed the chairmanship over the organization’s summit
for the period until 2020.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

ArmenPress, Armenia
Oct 12 2018
Armenian-Canadian friendship has great potential for future –
President Sarkissian receives Justin Trudeau
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian
received Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau on October 11, who is
in Armenia on a state visit.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian
President’s Office, Armen Sarkissian welcomed the Prime Minister of
Canada in Armenia’s capital city and the temporary capital of
Francophonie.
“Our people are well aware of your family. Canada is a very friendly
country for Armenia. We have always appreciated the warm attitude of
the people and Government of Canada towards the Armenians who are in
need. Armenians will never forget your act when you personally greeted
our compatriots from Syria. These are not just good words, but are
words of deep appreciation.
Of course, we also greatly value what your father did. When you
visited Armenia in the past it was the period after the earthquake and
the country was standing on the threshold of independence. But it was
also a period when Karabakh movement started, which turned into an
independence movement”.
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau said, “I am glad to be back to
Armenia. It’s a pleasure to talks about the Armenian-Canadian
friendship, which has a good background, but a greater potential for
future”. According to him, Armenia is in a wonderful political
situation at the moment, which leads to a more realistic and deeper
democracy and greater economic opportunities.
The Canadian PM highly appreciated the contribution of over 60
thousand citizens of Armenian origin in the success story of Canada.
The Canadian PM also hoped that Armenia and Canada will manage to
shape a firmer future, noting that Armenians are a unique people and
wherever they live they preserve their national identity, language and
culture.
The interlocutors shared the opinion that the two countries can
successfully cooperate in education and IT.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

ArmenPress, Armenia
Oct 12 2018
Nikol Pashinyan, Justin Trudeau discuss future development of
bilateral relations
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol
Pashinyan received Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, who is in
Armenia on an official visit.
An official welcoming ceremony took place followed by a narrow-format
meeting of the two Prime Ministers. As ARMENPRESS was informed from
the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, PM Pashinyan
said in his welcoming speech,
“Honorable Mr. Prime Minister,
I am glad to welcome you in the capital city of Armenia. You are the
first Prime Minister of Canada to pay an official visit to the
Republic of Armenia and this is a historical event. I think you have
already felt the positive attitude in our country towards your country
and personally you and I hope that the already established relations
will help to raise the friendly relations between our countries to a
new level. I once again welcome you and I am glad to see you in
Armenia”.
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau said in his speech, “Mr. Prime
Minister, I am very grateful to you for the reception. It’s a great
honor to be in Armenia. I think you know that years ago I had the
honor to visit Armenia with my father on summer holidays. He was no
longer the Prime Minister of Canada at that time, which means I am the
first Prime Minister of Canada to pay an official visit to Armenia.
But even at that time I felt the friendship between Armenians and
Canadians and the reception I received in Armenia today and in the
previous days was great. It just an honor to be here. I am thankful”.
PM Pashinyan presented his Canadian counterpart with the Armenian
translation of the book “Common Ground” authorized by Justin Trudeau.
“This is another proof that you have a unique place in the perceptions
of the citizens of Armenia and this is the Armenian translation of
your book which I am glad to present to you”.
Justin Trudeau thanked for the gift, noting that he was not aware
about the translation and is very happy for that.
The interlocutors discussed a number of issues of bilateral interest,
including the political changes in Armenia. Justin Trudeau noted that
when developments jeopardizing democracy were taking place throughout
the globe, Armenia served as an example for the entire world, which
was excellent not only for Armenia, but for the entire world. The
Canadian PM emphasized that he has visited Armenia also for the reason
to show the readiness of his country to support Armenia’s development.
“The democratic developments of Armenia are a reason of pride not only
for Armenians, but the entire world”, Justin Trudeau emphasized,
adding that Canada is ready to support Armenia in the directions of
economic development, attraction of investments, improvement of
infrastructures and so on.
Speaking about the economic development of Armenia, PM Pashinyan
emphasized that the goal of the Government is to change the economic
structure of the country, making Armenia a technological country, and
expressed confidence that there is the potential necessary for that.
The PM added that the Government of Armenia has achieved serious
success in the direction of fighting corruption and expressed
confidence that it will foster the improvement of business environment
and economic progress of the country.
Nikol Pashinyan and Justin Trudeau referred to other issues of
development of Armenian-Canadian cooperation in various spheres.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

ArmenPress, Armenia
Oct 12 2018
Pashinyan gifts archived photos, Armenian designer made socks to Trudeau
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. During a state dinner hosted by Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinyan in honor of Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau, the Armenian Premier gifted his Canadian counterpart a framed
photo collection of Trudeau’s father, taken by the Soviet Armenian
State Security Committee, and socks.
“There is much talk about this in Armenia, and Mr. Prime Minister
himself noted that in 1984 he had an occasion to visit Armenia with
his father Pierre Trudeau. And I hope that Mr. Trudeau understands
that during that Soviet period he and his father weren’t alone,
weren’t alone, weren’t alone. And the national security service of our
country found this photograph from the state security committee
archives. What’s interesting? Since Mr. Trudeau was a child at that
time and wasn’t of interest of the state security committee, he didn’t
anyhow appear before the camera. I am pleased to gift this to my
friend.
But this isn’t all. I was thinking – what is Mr. Trudeau known for,
and what am I known for, and with what can I compete with our dear
Prime Minister. I think I am known with my selfies, and Mr. Trudeau
with his socks. And there is a [designer] company in Armenia, that
decided to make a special gift to both of us – perhaps laying the
foundation of a good friendship with this. One [pair] of these socks
is mine, Mr. Prime Minister, and the other [pair] is yours,” Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinyan said while making a toast.
The socks are in the colors of the Armenian flag.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Baltic News Service
Oct 12 2018
 Estonian, Armenian presidents discuss Yerevan's reforms
Tallinn, 11 October: Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, who is
currently on a visit to Armenia, on Thursday [11 October] met with
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian [Sargsyan] and discussed the
Armenian reform process as well as increasing cooperation between the
two countries in the digital and tourism fields.
"The cooperation between our countries is good and has also increased
in recent years," Kaljulaid said after the meeting. "Armenia is
experiencing winds of change and we are following the reforms with
great interest and keeping our fingers crossed that the momentum does
not fade," the president said.
Topics discussed at the meeting of the two heads of state included
Armenia's reform processes and the fight against corruption. Kaljulaid
expressed hope that Armenia will continue strengthening relations with
the European Union, the basis for which was laid with the EU-Armenia
partnership agreement.
Cooperation between Estonia and Armenia in the digital field has been
close, foremost with Estonia's e-Governance Academy. The heads of
state also expressed hope for further close communication and exchange
of experience in this field. The presidents also discussed cooperation
in tourism and the possibility of increasing those contacts, while
security issues and developments in the region were also touched upon.
President Kersti Kaljulaid will be on a working visit to Armenia on
Thursday and Friday. During the visit, the president is scheduled to
meet with the president and prime minister of Armenia and participate
in the international Francophonie Summit in Yerevan where she will
give a speech at the plenary meeting. Estonia is an observer member of
the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the summit will
be attended by approximately 30 heads of state. The main aim of the
visit is to introduce Estonia's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on
the UN Security Council for 2020-21.

Russian Government News
 Friday 9:28 AM EEST
Over 2,500 Russian troops alereted in Armenia and relocated to
assigned area for examination
Russian military base in Armenia was alereted within the final
examination for 2018.
During a week, staff officers of the Southern Military District will
check the combat readiness of units, combat duty and combat training,
weapons and military equipment, the morale and psychological state of
servicemen, and military discipline.
In particular, during the final exercises in field conditions,
servicemen will demonstrate skills of performing test exercises from
standard weapons and driving combat vehicles during day and night.
The final test for the past training year in the military district is
conducted under supervision of Colonel General Alexander Dvornikov,
the Commander of the Southern Military District.
In total, over 2,500 troops take part in the verification activities,
about 500 pieces of military hardware are involved, including T-72B3
tanks, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, fighter, army and unmanned
aircraft.
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