Category: 2018

Armenian President delivers remarks before US Congress and Senate members in Washington D.C.

Emil Lazarian
ArmenPress, Armenia
Armenian President delivers remarks before US Congress and Senate members in Washington D.C.


YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who arrived in the US on a three-day working visit, delivered remarks on June 26 at the reception held in the US Senate’s Dirksen building, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia and the Armenian-American diplomatic ties, reports Armenpress.

The event was organized by the joint efforts of the Armenian Embassy in the US, the ARF Eastern Region Central Committee and the Armenian National Committee of Washington D.C..

The event was attended by Armenian-American community representatives, the US Congress and Senate members, top US officials and etc.

President Armen Sarkissian arrived in the US on June 26 to participate in the annual Folklife Festival of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. which will be dedicated to the Armenian cultural heritage.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Earthquake registered in Azerbaijan: Shocks felt in Artsakh

Ekmekjian Janet
ArmenPress, Armenia
Earthquake registered in Azerbaijan: Shocks felt in Artsakh


YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. On June 27, at 02:20 local time, the Seismic Protection Survey Seismological Network of the Armenian ministry of emergency situations registered an earthquake at the northern latitude 38.800and eastern longitude 48.600geographic coordinates (Azerbaijan, 21km north-west from the city of Lankaran) with 4.4 magnitude and 10 km depth, Armenia’s ministry of emergency situations told Armenpress.

The tremor measured magnitude 6 point at the epicenter area.

The earthquake was felt in the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, with 2-3 point at Hadrut town and 2 point at capital Stepanakert.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

European Parliament will ratify Armenia-EU Agreement next month – EAFJD chairman

Greg Madatian
ArmenPress, Armenia
European Parliament will ratify Armenia-EU Agreement next month – EAFJD chairman



YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. The trust towards Armenia by the European Union has reached a new level, Gaspar Karapetian – chairman of theEuropean Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD), said in an interview to ARMENPRESS.

-Mr. Karapetian, how the recent political changes in Armenia are perceived by the European and the international community in general? What are the moods among political, public circles?

-The recent events, developments in Armenia were a progress of people’s values. The reactions of Europe and the international community in general were, of course, positive and welcoming. During numerous meetings, closed-door discussions Europe has repeatedly touched upon the developments in Armenia, gave a positive assessment and stated that the democratic, human rights values are respected in Armenia and more developed civil society is being formed. This fact is welcomed as the EU’s trust towards Armenia reached a new level for the implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and the Agreement must be ratified by the European Parliament within the next month. Moreover, recently the European Commission and earlier the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament have made a quite positive statement on the new situation in Armenia.

-Mr. Karapetian, in the recent period the Artsakh authorities state that movements of the Azerbaijani military equipment are taking place in the frontline. Is there a concern in terms of the escalation of the situation? In your opinion, what is the reason of Azerbaijan’s such activeness at this stage?

-Yes, in the recent period there are many statements on Azerbaijan’s activeness, but it doesn’t mean that accumulations of the military equipment didn’t happen during the past months, which requires a great vigilance. Today Azerbaijan’s activeness is quite often linked with the recent events in Armenia. During that days Azerbaijan perhaps wanted to see the loss of the unity of the Armenian people, who were mainly engaged in domestic problems and would forget about the external threat. But the Armenian people, in particular, the Armenian Army proved the contrary: by feeling the seriousness of the moment, they never yielded their positions. Azerbaijan needs to understand that in such situation when Armenia took one more step towards democracy, the Armenian Army is more willing in its mission.

-Did theEuropean Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy voice issues over Azerbaijan’s activeness in different European circles?

-As the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, we not only voice about Azerbaijan’s activeness for different occasions, but also provide important information about the ongoing ceasefire violations in the line of contact and the human rights violations in Azerbaijan.

-In your opinion, what steps should the international community, the mediators take to prevent the escalation of the situation?

-The international community, as during the April war, is well informed about the situation, Azerbaijan’s intentions since Azerbaijan itself makes its actions known to the external field. The European circles, of course, support the principles adopted by the OSCE Minsk Group which are also reflected in the Armenia-EU Agreement. The mediator side should take measures to apply investigative mechanisms for the situation in the border.

Today the new leadership of Armenia makes statements on bringing Artsakh to the negotiation field which is welcomed by the EAFJD, being considered as of the key preconditions for the peaceful settlement of the Artsakh conflict. Taking into account this the recent visits of the OSCE Minsk Group to Armenia can put a base for the new quality of negotiations. Moreover, the European Union should officially take steps to send its representatives to Artsakh and get first-hand information.

-What are the upcoming programs of the EAFJD? Is the visit of the European lawmakers to Artsakh expected?

-One of the main program priorities of the EAFJD is to continue raising the Artsakh issue and the protection of the principle of the Artsakh people’s right to free self-determination among the European political circles. With its daily activities the Office contributes to deepening and developing the Armenia-EU ties, as well as provides support to the Armenian delegation these days in Brussels on the sidelines of the session of the EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly.

We will continue to organize the visits of the European lawmakers and MEPs to Artsakh in coming months, by this contributing to the failure of Azerbaijan’s policy to keep Artsakh in isolation.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

"Cheerful, open person" – Prominent blogger Alexander Lapshin meets Armenian president in USA

Tambiyan Samvel
ArmenPress, Armenia
“Cheerful, open person” – Prominent blogger Alexander Lapshin meets Armenian president in USA



YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Travel blogger Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli who was arrested in 2016 by Belarus police and extradited to Azerbaijan after the latter issued an international arrest warrant for his visit to Artsakh – something many viewed to be a violation of human rights and international law – has met with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian in Washington D.C., USA.

Lapshin posted a photo with the Armenian president on Facebook.

“I met President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian in Washington. He is a surprisingly open, happy man, without the formalities typical to a country’s first figure”, the blogger said.

He also mocked Azerbaijani media, saying that his post will be likely misinterpreted by them.

The Armenian president is in the US for the annual Folklife Festival of the Smithsonian Institution, which will feature a presentation of Armenian culture.

President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian participated in a reception in honor of the 100th anniversary of the First Armenian Republic in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. on June 26.

The Armenian president is on a three-day visit to the United States.

The event was organized jointly by the Armenian Embassy to the US, the ARF Eastern America Central Committee and the ANCA Washington Office, the president’ office said.

President Sarkissian delivered remarks at the event, namely touching upon the role and significance of the First Republic of Armenia, attaching importance to the friendly relations between Armenia and the United States and the need to deepen them. The president spoke about the need to have a powerful and developed country.

“Our today’s message is clear. We must win. Not only can we build a new Armenia, but also [an Armenia] with which all of us will be proud and will be proud of being Armenian,” he said.

A few hundred Armenian-Americans took part in the event, as well as members of the Congress and Senate, and government officials.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Alexis Ohanian inspired by TUMO students

Kalashian Nyrie
ArmenPress, Armenia
Alexis Ohanian inspired by TUMO students


YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Co-founder of Reddit social network Alexis Ohanian posted a video from TUMO’s garden, saying that he is inspired by the students of TUMO center for creative technologies. ARMENPRESS reports he greets in Armenian and says, “Every time I come to Armenia I get more and more inspired by what happens at TUMO. It’s a world class institution. I am an entrepreneur and investor in the technological sphere and I am proud to see such a wonderful institution here, in Armenia. It’s so good and power like I have seen at Silicon Valley or other major technological hubs. I am so proud and inspired to see the changes that bring Armenia to the 21st century in this wonderful way. Continue to be so smart, you inspire me”, Ohanian said.

Alexis Ohanian posted a photo on his “Instagram” page, writing that one of his best friends presented him with an Armenian copper coin, with Noyan Tapan and Ararat decorations. “Since then I keep it with me wherever I go”.

Edited and translated byTigran Sirekanyan

Armenian-American internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian plants ‘Olympia’ tree outside Yerevan’s TUMO

Dabaghian Diana
ArmenPress, Armenia
Armenian-American internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian plants ‘Olympia’ tree outside Yerevan’s TUMO



YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian-American internet entrepreneur and co-founder, executive chairman of social news website Reddit has planted a tree in the park outside Yerevan’s TUMO Center For Creative Technologies. Ohanian arrived in Armenia on June 26.

“Planting the first of hopefully many trees outside TUMO with the Armenian Tree Project. I named this one “Olympia.” She’s got two trees now, one at each of her homes: Florida & Hayastan [Armenia]”, Ohanian said on Instagram, referring to his baby daughter.

Ohanian married tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2017 and the couple welcomed their daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian in September of the same year.

Alexis Ohanian has already had a meeting with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan during the day. During the meeting, speaking about the recent democratic government change in Armenia, Ohanian said he has never been so proud of being Armenian.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Washington: Rep Speier Leads Bipartisan Call for Democracy Aid to Armenia

Jane Topchian
Impact News Service
Wednesday
Washington: Rep Speier Leads Bipartisan Call for Democracy Aid to Armenia
 
 
Washington: Office of the MP Jackie Speier has issued the following news release:  
 
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14) and a bipartisan group of twenty-four Members of the House of Representatives wrote Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and USAID Administrator Mark Green to urge support Armenia’s renewed efforts to build democratic institutions and processes.
 
The request follows the April resignation of longtime Armenian leader Serzh Sargsyan in the wake of mass protests, and the subsequent acceptance of the prime ministership by reformist leader Nikol Pashinyan. The signers included many representatives belonging to the Caucus on Armenian Issues, as well as leaders on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
 
“The peaceful and lawful actions of Armenia’s citizens have created an incredible opportunity to build democracy in Armenia and advance the rights of all Armenians,” said Rep. Speier. “The United States must lend our expertise and resources to assist them in their effort. Helping Armenians can remind our allies and adversaries that democracy will always be on the march.”
 
In the letter, the representatives called on Secretary Pompeo and Administrator Green to provide Armenia with various forms of democracy assistance. It also called for economic support to help build democratic practices in Armenia and improve the economy by addressing corruption. Specifically, the letter called for:
 
    Increasing funds available for democracy assistance to Armenia through the Department of State’s Office of the Coordinator to Europe and Eurasia.     Tripling funding for democracy assistance and civil society available to the National Endowment for Democracy and its grantees.     Assisting Armenian efforts to fight corruption, promote transparency, and improve the economy through rule of law programs, economic support, and a new Millennium Challenge compact.
 
 
 
 

We should try to express our state aspirations in the medium-term expenditure plan. Pashinyan

Mary Lazarian
  • 27.06.2018

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The session of the Permanent High Council for Development of the Medium-Term State Expenditure Program (MPSP) in the Republic of Armenia was held under the leadership of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. 

In the session, the Republic of Armenia 2019-2021 were discussed. the main macroeconomic indicators and the fiscal framework to be laid as the basis for the development of the project of the state medium-term expenditure plan. 

Before starting the discussion, the Prime Minister, in particular, noted: “I want to record the following. in fact, the formulation and preparation of the Medium-term expenditure plan is a long-term process and it started in one political situation and is coming to an end in another situation. Our task, based on the results of the discussion, is to first understand today’s objective situation and prospects, and second. however, in the medium-term expenditure plan, we should try to express the new political situation existing today and our state, people’s and national aspirations arising from it. I hope that today’s discussion will be effective in that regard. We are also limited by time, but we must try to work as efficiently as possible in this short time and have not only a realistic, but also an optimistic Mid-Term Expenditure Plan. Optimism and realism are usually used as opposites in Armenia, the main task of us and the government in general is to make optimism and realism synonymous. In this sense, the Medium-Term Expenditure Plan is the most important tool to solve this problem.”

During the days of the Velvet Revolution, Armenian bank deposits decreased by 103.8 billion drams

Ekmekjian Janet
  • 27.06.2018

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At the end of April 2018, the total volume of term deposits and demand accounts of residents in RA banks was equivalent to 2 trillion 66.7 billion drams.


At the end of March, that amount was 2 trillion 111.8 billion drams. In other words, during April, the deposit portfolio of the banks of the Republic of Armenia decreased by 45.1 billion drams or 2.2%. Economic commentator Babken Tunyan writes about this, referring to the data published by the Central Bank.


“The total volume of term deposits and demand accounts of non-residents in RA banks decreased from 531.4 billion drams in March 2018 to 472.7 billion drams in April. During April, the deposit portfolio of non-residents decreased by 58.7 billion drams or 12.4%.


In general, the volume of term loans and demand accounts of residents and non-residents decreased by 103.8 billion drams (by 3.9%) and amounted to 2 trillion 539.4 billion drams at the end of April, Tnunyan said.



Of course, according to him, political events played a big role in this decrease, but in order to clearly assess the impact of the revolution factor, a separate in-depth analysis is needed, b4b reports.


We should also remind that according to Artur Javadyan, the withdrawal of deposits was restored during May. The May data will be published soon, and it will be possible to say exactly what part of the withdrawn deposits returned to the bank accounts.

80% of the RA population has positive expectations from Pashinyan’s government. request

Nahapetian Samvel
  • 27.06.2018

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After Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation and Nikol Pashinyan’s coming to power, many Armenian and Russian media started to write that Pashinyan will immediately lead the country in the direction of the West, and Armenian-Russian relations will be in danger of freezing. These assumptions were made on the basis that Pashinyan led the Yelq bloc, which is considered a pro-Western political force, in the National Assembly. It was this faction that initiated the hearings about leaving the EAEU in the parliament.


After assuming the post of Prime Minister, Pashinyan announced that no one should question Armenian-Russian relations. And this is exactly what members of the “Voice of the People” public club talked about today at a meeting with journalists Arman Ghukasyan and: Tsovinar Kostanyan:


As Ghukasyan mentioned, the “Voice of the People” social club conducted a sociological survey “The level of expectations and confidence of the Armenian society towards the new government”. According to the results of the survey, the society expects economic improvement, which is also connected with the fact that the new government will carry out its activities within the framework of the development of Armenian-Russian relations and EAEU membership.


The survey was conducted among 1200 citizens of Yerevan and marzes aged 18-60. “According to the results of the survey, the degree of confidence of the citizens towards the new government is 9 (on a scale of 1-10 points) on average. 78% of them expect that the economic situation in the country will improve in the coming year, 17% do not think so, and 5% find it difficult to answer the question clearly,” said Ghukasyan.


He emphasized that as far as Armenia’s foreign policy is concerned, 12% of survey participants believe that serious changes should be made, 82% believe that serious changes in foreign policy should not be made, and 6% abstained.


Another expert of the club, Tsovinar Kostanyan, stated that within the framework of the survey, it became clear that 56% of the respondents consider EAEU as the primary direction of economic development of Armenia, for 27%, the EU is the primary direction of economic development of Armenia, 63% believe that relations with the EU should be developed in such a way that it does not interfere with Armenia’s membership in EAEU, and 17% believe that for Armenia EATM does not represent any real interest, that’s why this direction should be replaced by another one.


“The last question in the questionnaire referred to the list of countries with which Armenia’s close cooperation is paramount. Survey participants had the opportunity to choose several options and the picture is as follows. Russia – 74%, European Union – 51%, USA – 43%, Georgia – 43%, Iran – 27%, China – 22%,” said Ts. Kostanyan.


Summarizing the results of the survey, the speakers highlighted four points at the end of the press conference, according to which:


• At the current stage, the degree of confidence of the Armenian society towards the new government is quite high
• The vast majority of citizens expect economic improvement in the coming year 
• Most of the survey participants believe that there should be no changes in Armenia’s foreign policy
• The respondents believe that EAEU is the primary direction for Armenia’s economic development, and relations with the EU should be developed in such a way that it does not hinder Armenia’s membership in EAEU.
• According to the opinion of the Armenian society, among several countries, Russia is in the first place for Armenia, with whom relations are of primary importance.