Category: 2019

Food safety agency staffer arrested in suspicion of bribery

12:41,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia says it has arrested a high-ranking official from the food safety agency in suspicion of bribery.

The NSS did not identify the suspect by name, but said that the arrested is the Head of the Veterinary Inspectorate of the State Service of Food Safety of the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the NSS, the suspect accepted a large amount of bribe from a businessman after granting the latter sheep export certificates to Qatar. The certificates concerned the export of thousands of the animals.

The NSS said they had intelligence reports and have carried out surveillance over the bribe transactions, and both the official and the businessman were caught red-handed. The bribe was handed over to the official in 2019 April and 2019 May. The suspect was arrested during the second transaction. 

A criminal investigation is underway.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Five illicit enrichment suspects under criminal investigation in Armenia so far

13:02,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Five individuals are currently under criminal investigation in Armenia for suspected illicit enrichment, while 8-9 criminal cases have been launched on money laundering in 2018, Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan told lawmakers in parliament while presenting his annual report.

“These two crimes are new in our legal practice. And these two have problematic legal interpretations around the world. Nevertheless the illicit enrichment article in the criminal law is functioning in our country for already one and a half year. As of this moment we have five individuals who are under criminal investigation,” he said.

He said money laundering investigations in 2018 have been activates, and in 2017 no such proceedings took place at all. He said very often money laundering charges come up while investigating other charges.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

PM tasks Cabinet members to collect 100 facts about new Armenia in their activity fields by the end of 2019

13:19,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan tasked members of the Cabinet, heads of adjacent bodies to follow his example and collect 100 facts about new Armenia in their activity fields by the end of 2019.

“On May 8 I held a press conference during which I presented 100 facts and tried to sum up the results of 1-year activity of our government. I attach great importance to that document because it clearly shows what we have done during this period, but I also want to state that a new accountability bar has been defined by that document, and we should apply and adopt such format of accountability. And I also want to set a task that during my press conference at the end of the year we together must have another 100 facts about new Armenia. I expect all Cabinet members must work with this criteria. We will not wait for December to collect and release the facts, the collection and creation of these facts should be our daily work. And based on that I will assess the work carried out by our government members and the adjacent bodies”, Pashinyan said.

The PM said he expects working efficiency from the members of the Cabinet.

“This one year was a very important period, I will continue to state that heated political elections were held. 5 elections of PM took place in 2018, the snap election of Yerevan Mayor, snap parliamentary elections were held, and our government has been formed as a result of these snap parliamentary elections”, he said, urging the Cabinet members to make their activities more effective.

According to Pashinyan, the government’s key task for the future is to organize the normal process of the expenditure part of the budget.

“We must be able not only to ensure the expenditure part as envisaged by the budget, but also the 62 billion drams that is generated additionally as a state budget revenue for this year, we must be able to find concrete ways for effectively spending these sums. I have already given instructions, we, it seemed, have already made a decision over the 30 billion drams, but we must also plan additional expenditures for another 30 billion drams, we should do this quickly, but with serious discussions”, the PM added.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Dassault Systèmes interested in revealing Armenia’s education system: President Sarkissian hosts company representatives

13:21,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian hosted the delegation of the leading French company Dassault Systèmes, led by first Vice President Christian Nardin and Senior Director, Global Academia Programs, Xavier Fouge, who arrived in Armenia at the President’s invitation, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The President said during the previous meetings with the company executives they have discussed the cooperation opportunities and possible directions. “We should reveal what we can do together”, Armen Sarkissian said, adding: “First of all, to reveal the country’s education sector because we need to have a right educational system in order to operate in the field of high technologies. I am convinced that we have talented people surrounding us. We have inherited a very good education system from the Soviet Union, in particular, in the sphere of natural sciences”.

Mr. Sarkissian said Armenia is a small country, but a global nation,  Armenians are everywhere, and this as well is an important mission.

Christian Nardin thanked the President for the invitation and stated: “It’s a great honor to be here. During the visit we would like to understand the areas where we can work. People are the key of the future, everything starts from the people, therefore, we are so interested in discovering Armenia’s education system and see how we can contribute to the education of the new generation, which is, eventually, a great investment aimed at having better future. Future is an opportunity, not a threat. Technologies can be wonderful tools in the future if they are used correctly”.

President Sarkissian expressed confidence that the time to be spent in Armenia will enable the company representatives to reveal the country’s opportunities, educational and scientific potential. “All this will give you an overall vision and opportunity to plan what you can do here”, the Armenian President said.

Dassault Systèmes is a subsidiary of the Dassault Group created in 1981. It develops and markets PLM software and services that support industrial processes by providing a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Dr. Karin Markides appointed President of American University of Armenia

13:30,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Dr. Karin Markides has been appointed new President of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and will assume office on July 1, 2019, the AUA told Armenpress.

With an impressive resume that includes lecturing at Stanford University as a guest professor, Dr. Markides completed her doctorate at Stockholm University in 1984, after which she started her research career at Brigham Young University in Utah as a postdoctoral fellow, then as a research assistant and associate director. In May 1990, she returned to Sweden as a Chair Professor and Dean of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Uppsala University. Fourteen years later, in May 2004, she became Vice Director General of Vinnova, the Swedish innovation agency. Subsequently, Dr. Markides was selected as President of Chalmers University of Technology and, since 2015, she serves as the Chair of the Scientific Council for Sustainable Development under the Swedish government.

Dr. Markides’s fascination with Armenia grew deeper as she talked about its unique geopolitical location.

“Armenia’s position – the intersection where East meets West – can be an asset if the bright brains from neighboring countries become increasingly attracted to Armenia as a nexus where cultures and minds meet. I think these meeting places can attract many people, whether from Europe, Russia, China, and elsewhere for planned and unplanned interactions and true impact”, she said.

As far as her vision for AUA and its role in Armenia, Dr. Markides remarked that she would like to see AUA play an even larger role in the transformation of the country, inviting higher education, private and public sectors to enable transformative impact in areas of high potential and emerging challenges. In these sectors, AUA would develop people’s skills for transformative co-creation and connect the urban and rural areas of the country, also attracting greater attention from the international community. Her experience working with innovation and technologies is something she plans to bring to AUA.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.

Armenian Ambassador meets with Beirut Mayor

13:34,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Vahagn Atabekyan met with Mayor of Beirut Jamal Itani, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

During the meeting the Mayor praised the cooperation between two sister cities – Beirut and Yerevan, the works carried out so far and the prospective programs. He highly appreciated the dedicated role of the Lebanese-Armenians in the city’s development.

The officials also exchanged views on expanding the cooperation and organizing mutual visits.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia approves visa waiver with Chile for diplomatic, official passport holders

14:02,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet approved the agreement on abolishing visa requirements between Armenia and Chile for diplomatic and official passport holders.

According to FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the agreement’s purpose is to boost the development of political dialogue, and development in other sectors between the two countries.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia proposes to increase fine for Caucasian leopard hunting by 97 million drams

14:19,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government proposes to increase the fine for the damage caused by the hunting and killing of a Caucasian leopard by 97 million drams based on the legislative changes, Minister of nature protection Erik Grigoryan said during today’s Cabinet meeting.

“It is planned to set a fine of 100 million drams for the damage caused by the hunting or killing of the Caucasian leopard that is in critical condition, instead of the current 3 million AMD fine. The program, which is implemented by the ministry, and the Year of Caucasian Leopard declared by Armenia, is not a national program and aims at preserving this unique and extremely rare animal species in the entire European region”, the minister said.

Erik Grigoryan said at present nearly 8-12 Caucasian leopards are registered.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Azerbaijan confirms security guarantees to UEFA for Mkhitaryan visit in Europa League finale

14:42,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan’s football authority has given assurances to UEFA that Armenian international, Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not have problems to travel to Baku for the May 29 Europa League final where the Gunners face Chelsea, according to a written answer by UEFA to TASS.

According to the report, UEFA told TASS that the Azerbaijani Association of Football Federations has confirmed that Mkhitaryan’s visit will not be a problem and it will provide security guarantees.

Earlier in 2015 when Mkhitaryan was with Borussia Dortmund, the German club decided not to take the Armenian international to Baku for a match against Gabala due to “security reasons”, referring to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict-related situation.

Azerbaijan currently bans citizens of Armenia to enter its territory.

Other details weren’t immediately clear.

Earlier in April it was reported that UEFA will support Mkhitaryan for a visa bid.

Whether or not Mkhitaryan himself wants to travel to Baku for the match remains unclear. 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan