Category: 2018

One of the achievements of the past years in Armenia is creation of the civil society, presidential candidate Armen Sarkissian said during parliamentary debates on the election of the 4th President of Armenia.

“We have a viable civil society which knows its place and role in the country’s political system and is aware of the social-civil problems, which is destined to have a great role in Armenia’s democracy. It is necessary that we, each of us, be representatives of the ruling power, the opposition, the civil society, the media, be able to fully understand and bear the share of responsibility which he has for the development of the country, by also not avoiding to display initiatives in certain cases.

Being a citizen is one of the unique resources which will free us from the phenomena of seeking guilty and responsible people in every matter, presenting some demands to others. Being citizens is our absolute necessity”, he said.

Sarkissian reminded that at times of crises throughout the history, Armenians have become a fist, united and responsible, and cited the 2016 April War, when Azeri forces attacked Artsakh.

“In April, every Armenian, young or old, once again became citizens and stood up for the defense of our country – Artsakh. Of course, this isn’t solely an Armenian occurrence, but I believe that it is important for all of us to be citizens, today and tomorrow, not just at times of danger”, he said.

Earlier in January Armen Sarkissian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was offered by incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, who also serves as President of the country’s ruling Republican Party, to be the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. Sarkissian initially requested a brief period of time for pondering the offer, and in the meanwhile held various meetings with political parties, civil society representatives, Diaspora structures and others, and subsequently agreed to be nominated. Few days later the HHK officially nominated Sarkissian’s candidacy for the presidential election.

A new law imposing certain open sale restrictions of medications in Armenia has come into force March 1.

Speaking to reporters after today’s Cabinet meeting, healthcare minister Levon Altunyan said that 2500 medications from the total 4500 will be sold under prescriptions, while the remaining 2000 will be sold freely.

“Drugs containing psychotropic substances, narcotics will be sold with prescriptions only. Moreover, the doctor can be not someone from a polyclinic, but also a family doctor,” Altunyan said.

The minister said this law will bring Armenia closer to modern standarts, whereby medications are regulated by the law.

“I believe that complaints are mostly due to unawareness”, he said, adding that the law has been widely discussed with experts and all information has been published.

Antibiotics and drugs containing codeine and hormonal substances will be sold only under prescriptions starting March 1.

The new law will cover intravenous and oncology medicine from July 1, while all remaining medications included in the governmental decision will be sold strictly under prescription from October 1, as the entire law will come into force gradually.

An official of the State Probation Service of the Justice Ministry has been arrested by national security agents for accepting a bribe.

The National Security Service was carrying out the operation based on intelligence reports and caught the official, head of the first unit of the Yerevan department of the probation service, red handed.

According to preliminary reports, the official had demanded a 400,000 dram bribe from a citizen who had been ordered by a court to pay a 1,2 million dram fine, in order to create preconditions for the latter’s sentencing to be cancelled.

The bribery act was carried out under the supervision and control of NSS agents, as part of the undercover operation. An investigation has been launched.

Presidential candidate Armen Sarkissian assures that he has given up dual citizenship in 2011 and holds Armenian citizenship only.

Speaking during the parliamentary debates on the election of the 4th president of Armenia in response to a question from opposition MP Artak Zeylanyan, Sarkissian said he renounced his UK citizenship on December 2, 2011 and from that day he holds Armenian citizenship only.

“On December 2, 2011, when I couldn’t even dream that the Constitution of Armenia can change and I would be standing here answering your questions, I applied [for renunciation] and hold solely Armenian citizenship since then,” Sarkissian said.

He further added that he had applied for UK citizenship back in 2000 after resigning as Ambassador of Armenia to the UK.

“It was necessary for my activities because I wasn’t thinking about service after it. I was granted citizenship after two years since applying, but during those years I felt myself as citizen of Armenia, which was reflected in my activities”, he said.

He stressed that if a person doesn’t hold dual citizenship in Great Britain, stripping someone from citizenship is a rather difficult process, but if a person holds dual citizenship there is no process of denying a renunciation application.

According to Sarkissian, when a dual citizenship holder applies for renouncing citizenship in the UK, the application is granted immediately.

Earlier in January Armen Sarkissian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was offered by incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, who also serves as President of the country’s ruling Republican Party, to be the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. Sarkissian initially requested a brief period of time for pondering the offer, and in the meanwhile held various meetings with political parties, civil society representatives, Diaspora structures and others, and subsequently agreed to be nominated.

Few days later the HHK and the ARF, the ruling coalition, officially nominated Sarkissian’s candidacy for the presidential election. The election will take place March 2 in the parliament.

Over the past years Armenia has made very right steps and political decisions, presidential candidate Armen Sarkissian said during the parliamentary debates on the election of the 4th President of Armenia.

“Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union which is very important and significant event in a sense that the country with 3 million population cannot present an interest to any major investor. The investments are made where there are different goals, but one of the goals is the domestic market. For instance, today Iran with its difficult international relations is attractive for many as it is a big market….Becoming an EAEU member we open a market, a window to the market worth 200 million”, Armen Sarkissian said, stating that the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement signed last year was also important which showed that Armenia is the only country in the region that has right relations with the EU and just close relations with Russia and other EAEU member states.

Armen Sarkissian called this as an opportunity, but added that there is still a long path from the opportunity to the reality.

“This is the path that is talked about, such as the elimination of negative phenomena, creation of situation that will make our country attractive. For this purpose our country needs to be a free, non-corrupt, modern country looking into the future. I brought with me investors, my relatives to Etchmiadzin, the Matenadaran, Garni, Geghard, but people were deeply impressed by contacts with the youth. This is the best we must show, in other words, they saw a nation of the 21st century”, the presidential candidate said.

The election of the 4th President of Armenia will be held on March 2 in the Parliament.

A delegation led by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili will arrive in Armenia on an official visit March 2.

The Georgian Prime Minister is expected to have meetings with his Armenian counterpart Karen Karapetyan and President Serzh Sargsyan.

Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan and Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili will hold a private meeting, which will be followed by an expanded format meeting of the delegations.

The sides will make statements on the results of the talks afterwards. PM Kvirikashvili will also visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan to pay tribute to the Armenian Genocide victims. Giorgi Kvirikashvili will also visit the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies.