Category: 2019

Armenia launches production of high-quality medical supplies

Hunanian Jack
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 26 2019
Armenia launches production of high-quality medical supplies

2019-02-26 17:40:58

The SMT Best Company has launched production of medical supplies in Armenia. These include medical syringes, blood collection vials, insulin pen needles, etc, Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan said in a Facebook post.

Introduction of new technologies will allow producing catheters for different purposes in the future. The production of the company is certified and meets best international standards. The whole production will be exported.

According to the Minister, investments are expected to increase in the future and a new plant will be built.

VivaCell-MTS supports release of 9 books dedicated to Armenians worldwide

Jagharian Tania
iTel.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019

Numerous implemented projects are results of twelve years of collaboration between VivaCell-MTS and the Panarmenian Geographic Association.

One of those projects is a book series, which has been published for nine years in a row, and which has become a unique encyclopedia for Armenian and foreign readers worldwide. The book series was presented at “The Pioneers of Armenian Typography” Hall of the Museum of Typography by the National Library of Armenia.

The Panarmenian Geographic Association has been in charge of creating these culturally significant books with the support of Viva-Cell MTS since 2011. The first four books embrace 800 Armenian monuments of the world, which include a vast, albeit not complete, list of monuments established by Armenians or dedicated to the Armenians of the world.

“The purpose we have had in mind for years has been to know our culture and to celebrate those Armenians who spared no effort to make it known to the world. I must accept that the success of our initiative is a result of both our cooperation and devotion, but equally the glorious lives of each and every one of the renowned Armenians presented in these nine volumes. I want to believe library patrons will enjoy the books, too,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.

The lives of the Armenian musicians of the world are presented in the two following volumes. The information gathered owing to the cooperation of the partnering sides lets readers familiarize with the lives and works of renowned Armenian musicians of the world. The people presented in the books have not only garnered recognition for their talents but have also contributed to building a positive national image for Armenia.

The fruitful cooperation has brought about two more volumes, which are devoted to the Armenian painters of the world. The partners have remained committed to presenting the cultural contribution of the talented Armenians who, by a twist of fate, found home in different parts of the world. The eighth edition celebrates the 200th anniversary of the renowned Armenian marine painter Hovhannes Ayvazovsky.

Armenian cinematographers are introduced in the ninth edition published in 2018; this volume is dedicated to the 110th anniversary of William Saroyan. The book tells about the great Armenian masters of film industry, both living and deceased.

The president of the Panarmenian Geographic Association spoke about the idea of the project, its necessity and importance, the process of its implementation, as well as the cooperation between the two organizations.

VivaCell-MTS and the Panarmenian Geographic Association will continue collaboration in 2019 as well.

The book are available.

Armenia exported weapons to Bulgaria in 2017-2018

Nahapetian Samvel
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
– 18:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia exported weapons worth $155,000 to Bulgaria in 2017-2017, information published by the State Revenue Committee reveals.

The armament shipped abroad fall under the category of automatic firearms, machine guns, sniper rifles, as well as large caliber weapons, such as artillery and anti-tank supplies.

65 units of unspecified weapons were delivered in 2017 and 240 units in 2018 and were worth $32,500 and $122,000, respectively.

Based on the price and quantity of the supplies sent to Bulgaria, firearms or light grenade launchers were exported, rather than large-caliber weapons.

As reported earlier, the Democratic Republic of Congo received Armenian ammo with a $1.468.000 customs value back in 2014.

Bulgaria, in turn, delivered 1094 units of light machine guns to Armenia in 2017, according to the UN Register of Conventional Arms.

The anniversary of Armenian massacres in Sumgait and Baku commemorated in Yerevan

Kajoyan Gevork
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 26 2019

A demonstration on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of Sumgait and Baku pogroms was held at Liberty square in Yerevan. As Panorama.am reports, the participants chanted “No territories to give away”. The commemorative event started at Tstsernakaberd memorial complex, where the participants laid flowers at the monument of the innocent victims of the massacres. Then, the participants marched to the Liberty Square.

One of the organizers of the protest action, the head of “Armenian National Guard” NGO Arshak Zakaryan told reporters. “We are speaking on behalf of the Armenian nation and say the no power in Armenia is authorized to compromise on territories. Our message is addressed to the current Prime Minister and all future authorities. Whenever they go for talks, they should consider the Armenian nation will never reconcile with an idea of giving away territories,” Zakaruyan said.

To remind, from 1988 to 1990, the Armenian population in Soviet Azerbaijan was the target of racially motivated pogroms in the cities of Sumgait (February 27-29, 1988), Kirovabad (November 21-27, 1988, Baku (January 13-19, 1990) and Maragha (April 10, 1992).

Armenian armed forces will go into the offensive if hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh resume, defense minister says

Hagop Kamalian
ARKA, Armenia
Feb 26 2019

YEREVAN, February 26. /ARKA/. Armenian armed forces will go into the offensive if hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh resume, defense minister David Tonoyan said in a televised interview.

“Psychology is changing; approaches are changing; defending armies are always defeated. We are not going to remain in defensive positions,” the minister said yesterday in an interview with the Public Television of Armenia.

He said if there is a threat that hostiles will resume, Armenian armed forces will not linger. When asked if that means that the Armenian army will also go on the offensive, Tonoyan replied, “Why not?”

The minister agreed that Armenia has no opportunity to compete with Azerbaijan in terms of demography and economy; therefore, qualitative changes in the armed forces are necessary. He said the $100 million loan provided by Russia for purchase of arms allows Armenian armed forces to solve the problems without getting involved in a quantitative arms race.

Asked to comment on Tonoyan’s statement, Taron Hovhannisyan, an expert on Azerbaijan, said Tonoyan in all likelihood had in mind preventive offensive actions, given the aggressive and unconstructive policy pursued by Azerbaijan that gives the Armenian side the right to take preventive actions. 

According to the expert, preventive offensive actions do not always mean conducting hostilities in the enemy’s territory. “This also means suppression of the enemy’s main firing points with the help of long-range artillery systems,” said Hovhannisyan.

He agreed that Armenia cannot compete with Azerbaijan in demographic and economic aspects; therefore, without a preemptive strike it will be more difficult to defend oneself in case of an attack.-0-

Switalski: If transitional justice works in Balkans, it doesn’t mean it will work in Armenia

Chakrian Hovsep
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
Switalski: If transitional justice works in Balkans, it doesn’t mean it will work in Armenia Switalski: If transitional justice works in Balkans, it doesn’t mean it will work in Armenia

13:45, 26.02.2019
                  

The development of the justice system is of great importance for Armenia, the EU ambassador to Armenia Piotr Switalski told reporters on Tuesday.

The EU is in constant contact with the Justice Ministry, Switalski said adding that this is a priority for the Armenian government and some positive changes have already taken place.

According to him, new Armenia began with a low level of trust.

EU believe that Armenia is part of the European family, and any citizen can appeal the decision to the ECHR, he added.

There are several important decisions taken by the ECHR concerning political rights and freedoms, the envoy said adding that we must trust the judicial system of Armenia, and the courts must follow both domestic and European standards.

Meanwhile, the envoy noted that if transitional justice works in Balkans, it doesn’t mean it will work in Armenia.

Burkina Faso ambassador presents credentials to Armenia President

Kalashian Nyrie
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
Burkina Faso ambassador presents credentials to Armenia President Burkina Faso ambassador presents credentials to Armenia President

14:29, 26.02.2019
                  

The newly appointed Ambassador of Burkina Faso Antoine Somdah handed his credentials to Armenian President Armen Sarkissian.

According to President, Armenia attaches great importance to the development of relations with the countries of the African continent and the activation of the steps in that direction.

The sides spoke about the possibilities of developing cooperation, highlighting the formation of the respective legal framework.

House of retired General Manvel Grigoryan’s son robbed

Liana Toganian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 26 2019

The house of the son of Manvel Grigoryan, a retired general of the Armenian Armed Forces and a former Republican lawmaker held in pre-trial custody, was reportedly robbed on Sunday, 23 February, Panorama.am has learned from police.

The wife of Karen Grigoryan, the former mayor of the town of Echmiadzin, reported a burglary to the police on the next day of the incident.

Unidentified perpetrators broke into the mansion located in the village of Arshaluys through a first-floor window to steal various items, police said.

No other details were immediately available.

An investigation is underway. 

MOD on US position on Armenia sending mission to Syria: Everything will be settled

Babken Chilingarian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
MOD on US position on Armenia sending mission to Syria: Everything will be settled MOD on US position on Armenia sending mission to Syria: Everything will be settled

12:47, 26.02.2019
                  

YEREVAN. – Sending a mission to Syria is a humanitarian action, and it’s legitimate, Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan said on the air of Public Television of Armenia.

“I would not like to repeat those arguments that we have given; they were relating to the legitimacy, the right time to do such action within international relations,” Tonoyan stated. “One country reacts [to such action] positively, another country—not positively, or states that it doesn’t support our actions.

“Of course, it’s a matter of time, everything will be settled; our action [in Syria] is solely humanitarian.”

As reported earlier, the US embassy in Armenia had provided the US Department of State’s position on Armenia sending a team of specialists to Syria.

“We recognize the desire of other nations to respond to the humanitarian situation in Syria, and we share the concerns about protecting religious minorities in the Middle East,” the State Department had noted, in particular. “However, we do not support any engagement with Syrian military forces, whether that engagement is to provide assistance to civilians or is military in nature.”

An 83-member team—comprising deminers, doctors, and their security professionals—traveled from Armenia to Aleppo, Syria on February 8, to provide humanitarian and professional assistance to the Syrian people.

Switalski: EU ready to contribute to rehabilitation of Karabakh conflict region when peace comes

Jane Topchian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 26 2019
Switalski: EU ready to contribute to rehabilitation of Karabakh conflict region when peace comes Switalski: EU ready to contribute to rehabilitation of Karabakh conflict region when peace comes

13:24, 26.02.2019
                  

The European Union fully supports the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the EU ambassador to Armenia Piotr Switalski told reporters on Tuesday.

The diplomat recalled that last week the mediators visited the region.

According to him, there are several positive elements in different directions as they have seen “an unprecedented low level of casualties.”

“We have seen very low level of hostilities,” the envoy noted adding there is also a positive response from the parties following the meetings at the level of leaders and foreign ministers.

“This is important for progress. But the process itself is extremely difficult and fragile. All we can do as external partners is to put our trust in the efforts of the Minsk Group co-chairs and their activities and this is what we are doing as EU,” he added.

Switalski noted that EU will be ready to contribute to the rehabilitation of the region when the peace comes.