Category: 2019

Armenian authorities uncover “embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in state funds” with FBI’s support

15:17,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Investigative Committee chief Hayk Grigoryan has held a meeting today with U.S.’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regional legal attaché assistant Matthew Boyden, the Investigative Committee said in a news release.

“During this brief period of time of activities of the Investigative Committee we have already felt the unconditional support of the U.S. partners, an individual demonstration of which is the duly legal assistance of the FBI in concrete criminal cases investigated by the Investigative Committee, including a case of embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars of state funds,” Grigoryan said.

Grigoryan also attached importance to a training program organized by the FBI earlier in 2017, which led to the creation of a direct e-communication platform between the legal assistance department of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Investigative Committee’s international inquires department. He also attached importance to visits of Armenian investigators to the FBI headquarters at the invitation of the American side, during which agreements were reached on conducting training of Armenian investigators in the U.S., which is already in stage of implementation.

Boyden thanked for the reception and congratulated Grigoryan on assuming office.

“I highly appreciate all the achievements you mentioned that we have had during our joint activity. I am sure that the developed relations will have deeper roots,” he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

German businessmen introduce their business plans in Armenia to minister Khachatryan

17:10,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Minister of economic development and investments Tigran Khachatryan received the delegation of German businessmen accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Armenia Bernhard Matthias Kiesler, the ministry told Armenpress.

Minister Khachatryan welcomed the businessmen’s visit to Armenia and stated: “We are ready to assist any business activity initiated by foreign investors”. The minister added that one of the goals of the Armenian government is to increase the investment volumes ad export the products made by investments to the EAEU, EU and other markets. He introduced the economic priorities of the government’s Action Plan that will be interesting for investors. Tigran Khachatryan also touched upon Armenia’s investment attractions.

The German Ambassador congratulated the minister on appointment and expressed satisfaction that the Action Plan contains many economic highlights.

The guests introduced their activity circles, starting from agriculture up to engineering, asked their questions to the minister, as well as touched upon their business plans in Armenia.

Minister Khachatryan drew the attention of the guests on the fields which have a great potential that is not utilized. At the end of the meeting the minister said the ministry and Business Armenia staff will spare no efforts for the business mission to be extremely effective and targeted by organizing respective meetings with the Armenian partners.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 19-02-19

17:14,

YEREVAN, 19 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 19 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.07 drams to 487.50 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.46 drams to 551.07 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.36 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.58 drams to 629.90 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 143.24 drams to 20775.21 drams. Silver price up by 1.44 drams to 247.09 drams. Platinum price up by 315.25 drams to 12664.18 drams.

Putin, Netanyahu to hold talks in Kremlin

17:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold talks in Moscow on February 21 during which they will discuss the situation in Syria and the Middle East, the Kremlin press service said in a statement, reports Armenpress.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 will hold talks with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu who will arrive in Russia on a working visit”, the statement said. “They are expected to discuss the urgent issues of the bilateral cooperation, first of all, in commercial and humanitarian areas, as well as to exchange views on the current situation in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian settlement issues and the situation in Syria”.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Artsakh’s FM, President of South Ossetia discuss issues of implementation of joint projects

18:20,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Republic of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov received on February 19 the delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh Republic) Masis Mayilian, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Artsakh.

The Foreign Minister of Artsakh recorded with satisfaction the close cooperation established between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. In this context, he stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening the practical ties, holding regular political consultations and negotiations on issues of mutual interest.

Anatoly Bibilov, in turn, expressed hope for the development of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries within the framework of the signed Agreement and, in general, between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Artsakh.

The sides exchanged views on the implementation of joint programs in the fields of education, science, culture, tourism, and sports.

Lebanese PM to pay visit to Armenia – Saad Hariri receives Ambassador Atabekyan

20:00,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri received Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon Vahagn Atabekyan on February 19.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, the measures aimed at the development of trade and economic relations between Armenia and Lebanon were discussed during the meeting.

The interlocutors noted that the upcoming visit of the Lebanese PM to Armenia will foster the partner relations between the two countries.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Vice President of Argentina wants to visit Armenia – the countries have the potential to foster EAEU- MERCOSUR cooperation

20:16,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Argentina Estera Mkrtumyan met with President of the Senate and Vice-President of Argentina Gabriela Michetti on February 18.

As ARME NPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the Armenian Ambassador presented the processes following the early parliamentary elections of Armenia in December, 2018.

During the conversation the Ambassador also referred to the political issues on the agenda of the two countries, prospects for the development of economic relations, as well as the activation of bilateral interactions both on bilateral and multilateral formats.

The Vice President of Argentina highly assessed the level of relations between the peoples of Armenia and Argentina, as well as inter-state relations and informed about her intention to pay an official visit during the current year. Given the fact that this year Armenia presides over the EAEU and Argentina over the MERCOSUR, the sides decided to derive benefit from those platforms and maximally foster the cooperation between the mentioned organizations.

The Armenian Ambassador drew the attention of Gabriela Michetti on the fact that Armenia is the only country in the region where Argentina is represented at a high level. The important enterprises operating in Armenia due to the investments of Argentine-Armenian businessmen Eduardo Eurnekian, as well as the school renamed into “Republic of Argentina” since 1993 are the best proofs of the above-mentioned.

Gabriela Michetti highly assessed the role of the Argentine-Armenian community in the social and economic life of the country. The Vice President of Argentina also expressed her admiration for the Armenian nation's diligence, its commitment to Christian values, as well as numerous struggles for the preservation of its identity throughout its millennium-old history.

At the end of the meeting the Armenian Ambassador also presented to Gabriela Michetti information on regional processes.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian PM presents books to citizens

20:56,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the Book Giving Day Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan accompanied by his wife Anna Hakobyan visited “Bookinist” bookshop. ARMENPRESS reports Nikol Pashinyan and Anna Hakobyan bought a number of books, put their signatures on them and went out of the shop to present them to random citizens.

“In fact, our books finished very rapidly. I congratulate on the day of book giving and hope you have already received and presented a book”, PM Pashinyan said, addressing the citizens on a Facebook live broadcast.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Exhibitions with new technologies: Matenadaran to display exhibits in new way

09:04,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Matenadaran, the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, is going to implement major programs in 2019 both in terms of book-publishing, scientific conferences and exhibitions.

Director of the Matenadaran Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan gave an interview to ARMENPRESS, talking about the publication of series of books.

“Among these book series, the “Matenagirk Hayots” (Armenian Classical Authors) has a special significance, which covers our entire bibliography from the first text written in Armenian up to the one written in late 18th century. In other words, our entire medieval heritage is collected in one place”, he said, adding that the publication of the series of books is a very important work. “All experts of Armenian studies across the world are looking forward to these volumes. This process is financed by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, for which we express our gratitude”, he added.

The Director of the Institute also introduced the publication of “Mayr Tsutsak” (the Main Catalogue of Armenian Manuscripts), 9 volumes of which already exist, and this year it is planned to publish the 10th volume.

“The Armenian manuscripts of Matenadaran have a list, but it is brief. Currently we are publishing a very thorough, detailed list which requires great efforts, but it will provide much more comprehensive data to the researcher”, he said.

The Matenadaran also attaches great importance to the colophons of Armenian manuscripts which include information about a concrete manuscript when it was written, in which conditions and etc.

“These colophons are an important source and they have a great significance for the centuries when historiography was facing to say a sterile period. The historiography faced decline from the second half of the 14th century up to the early 17th century. When you have no historical texts, are unable to collect information about that century, these colophons become an exclusive source. Therefore, historians attach great importance to these”, Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan said. The last volume of these colophons has been published in 1988. Last year by the efforts of researcher Arpenik Ghazaryan a new volume has been released which gave a new breath to this valuable series of books. Another one is expected to be published in 2019.

In 2018 Matenadaran carried out a very active exhibition works both in Armenia and abroad. This year new exhibitions are expected in the Matenadaran, the exhibition of archival documents and that of ancient books will change.

“This year we plan to introduce innovation by the use of new technologies. We have a big map which presents the writing centers in Armenia and different countries of the world. By the new project we plan to present the writing centers on the electronic map in an interactive way”, he said.

Matenadaran continues to be supplemented with new manuscripts. It received over 50 new manuscripts in 2018, which included a major donation – 27 manuscripts, provided by the Pan-National Cultural Union. Last year the Institute also received interesting archival collections.

“This year it is planned to hold an international scientific conference dedicated to the 90th anniversary of second Director of the Matenadaran Sen Arevshatyan. He developed and pushed forward the Armenian medieval philosophy direction, and it would be better it this conference contributes to bringing new specialists on this field”, he added.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

EU-Armenia trade turnover grows by 19%: GSP+ system contributes to facilitation of export

09:15,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s trade turnover with the member states of the European Union has recorded a major growth in 2018, comprising 1 billion 830 million 74 thousand USD, moreover, the export grew by nearly 8%. The GSP+ privileged trade regime and the new electronic system for certification of origin of goods greatly contributed to the boosting of the commercial relations and the facilitation of the export process.

Artur Maysuryan, head of the Department of Cooperation with the EU at the ministry of economic development and investments, gave an interview to ARMENPRESS on the topic.

“The Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement creates preconditions for improving the trade regulation and investment environment between Armenia and the EU through more active bilateral cooperation in a number of sectors, ensuring transparency of commercial environment, exchange of experience and elimination of barriers. By this, in particular, the partnership in intellectual property rights, competitiveness protection, customs affairs, technical barriers of trade and other areas will be improved. All these factors create preconditions for the business to raise stability and predictability, further intensify the business ties and contacts between the sides, deepen and develop the cooperation in all areas, and raise the bilateral ties to a qualitatively new, higher level”, he said, stating that this will, of course, positively affect the intensification of commercial relations.

According to the data of the National Statistical Committee, Armenia’s trade turnover with the EU states increased by 19% in 2018, comprising 1 billion 830 million 74 thousand USD, against the 1 billion 537 million 564 thousand USD of 2017. Among the EU states, the greatest trade turnover volume was registered in Germany – 427 million 993.3 thousand USD, against the 334 million 279.5 thousand USD of January-December 2017, increasing 28%.

The export volume from Armenia to the EU states in 2018 comprised 683 million 847 thousand USD, against the 633 million 757 thousand USD, increasing 7.9%. The greatest export volume from Armenia to the EU states was registered in Bulgaria – 215 million 270 thousand USD, although compared to the previous year, this figure declined by nearly 23.8%. The next biggest export volume was recorded to Germany – 136 million 79 thousand USD, increasing by 2.2% as compared to 2017. The third largest share of export belongs to the Netherlands – 132 million 356 thousand USD, increasing 49.4% compared to 2017.

The ministry of economic development and investments informed that among the goods exported from Armenia to the EU states are copper ores, fertilizers, aluminum foil, alcoholic drinks, precious stones and metals, molybdenum and etc.

The ministry said that another factor also contributed to the facilitation of the export process to the EU states. Since January, 2018, Registered Exporter System-REX, an online system of certification of origin of goods that applies in the Generalised System of Preference (GSP+) of the EU, has been introduced in Armenia. This system enables the exporter to cut the expenses and save time.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan