Category: 2019

Armenian Republican party members meet with Russian State Duma delegation

Christine Harutyunian
Aysor, Armenia
Feb 15 2019

Member of the Republican party’s Executive Body, spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov and party’s council member Artak Zakaryan met with the delegation headed by the Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov.

Republican party’s press service says that during the meeting the parties discussed wide range of issues on Armenian-Russian cooperation and referred to the prospects of inter-party cooperation.

First Holiday Inn Express Hotel opens in Armenia

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 15 2019
First Holiday Inn Express Hotel opens in Armenia

2019-02-15 18:16:16 

                           

The first Holiday Inn Express Hotel, part of the world-famous IHG hotel chain, opened its doors in Armenia’s capital Yerevan today.

The investment program was implemented by Ghukas Grigoryan, Founder / President of Harmony International LLC. The construction lasted three years. About ten million dollars were invested, with 50 new jobs created.

The Holiday Inn Express has 130 rooms, a well-equipped conference room. There are computers, comfortable seats, chargers and high-speed Wi-Fi in the lobby.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The Premier toured the premises to get acquainted with the work done and the amenities available in the hotel.

Nikol Pashinyan welcomed the implementation of the investment program and the initiative to build new hotels in Armenia as a whole, which provide tourists with high-quality services and comfortable conditions.

In turn, Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatryan said that the number of tourists visiting Armenia reached 1.6 million in 2018, and added that the government’s goal is to ensure 7-10% annual growth in the area.

Armenian FM, member of U.S. Senate Committee highlight protection of ethnic and religious minorities in Middle East

Toneyan Mark
News.am, Armenia
Feb 15 2019
Armenian FM, member of U.S. Senate Committee highlight protection of ethnic and religious minorities in Middle East Armenian FM, member of U.S. Senate Committee highlight protection of ethnic and religious minorities in Middle East

22:21, 15.02.2019
                  

Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Robert Menendez exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues, highlighted the protection of ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East during their meeting in Munich on February 15, the press service of the MFA Armenia reported.

The sides discussed a number of issues of Armenian-U.S. cooperation, highlighting the role of the U.S.-Armenian community.

At the request of the Senator, FM Mnatsakanyan presented the recent political developments in Armenia and the reform implementation process based on the broad mandate of the people, emphasizing that the priority of the Government is ensuring economic development based on high technologies and innovations.

Garo Paylan sends a message of support to Leyla Guven

Kajoyan Gevork
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 15 2019

Turkish-Armenian MP Garo Paylan, representing the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), took to Twitter to conveys a message of solidarity and support to Leyla Guven who has been on hunger strike for 100 days.

“Leyla Guven has been on hunger strike for 100 days to fight an unlawful isolation. Her only demand is about making the laws work. Let the laws work. Great job Leyla,” Paylan tweeted.

To remind, Leyla Guven of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), launched her action on November 8 while in jail to protest against Ocalan's prison conditions.

She was freed last month under judicial supervision but continued her protest, refusing any treatment. Guven, 55, is consuming only sugared and bread.

Police on Friday blocked supporters from approaching Guven's house in the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir after a rally called by the HDP, an AFP correspondent said.

 or salted water. More than 200 prisoners are on hunger strike to protest what they call Ocalan's isolation, according to the HDP.

IMF is ready to assist Armenian government in observing inclusive economic growth

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
ARKA, Armenia
Feb 15 2019

YEREVAN, February 15. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatryan had a meeting today with an IMF team, led by IMF Armenia Mission head Hossein Samiei to discuss the program of the government.

The press service of the ministry said IMF team members were eager to learn about how the government is going to fight corruption, secure social protection and improvement of the business environment. Hossein Samiei was quoted as saying that IMF was ready to continue to assist the government of Armenia in observing the inclusiveness of the economic growth, embodied in its plan of activity.

At the request of the guests, the minister elaborated on a several issues that interested IMF team. In particular, he clarified the specific actions of the ministry in these areas, also touched upon the upcoming steps to improve the business environment.

The parties were said to have agreed to continue cooperation in accordance with the list of priorities developed by the government.

The government’s plan of activity for 2019-2023 calls for "economic revolution" through inclusive economic growth that will provide an average of 5% GDP annual growth. -0-

Russian lawmaker praises Armenia for sending humanitarian mission in Syria

Emil Lazarian
TASS, Russia
Feb 15 2019
World

February 15, 17:14 UTC+3 YEREVAN

              

YEREVAN, February 15. /TASS/. Russia views Armenia's decision to dispatch a humanitarian mission to Syria in a positive light, Leonid Kalashnikov, Chairman of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, told reporters at a news conference in Yerevan on Friday.

"Russia will certainly appreciate Armenia’s participation in the humanitarian mission in Syria. This is good news. Armenia supported the Syrian people and its compatriots in Syria defying response from the West," said Kalashnikov who is paying a working visit to the Armenian capital.

A group of 83 specialists from the Armenian Defense Ministry arrived in Syria on February 8 to accomplish a humanitarian mission. The group comprises demining, safety and medical professionals. Russia provided assistance in their transportation to the country. On February 13, the US Embassy in Yerevan said it did not support Russian-Armenian cooperation on Syria.

Before the outbreak of hostilities in Syria, the country had a large Armenian diaspora, which, according to various estimates, included up to 100,000 people. According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, more than 22,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in the country by now. Armenia also sent four planes carrying humanitarian aid to Syria.

Kalashnikov: Russia will highly evaluate deployment of Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria

Tatoyan Vazgen
News.am, Armenia
Feb 15 2019
Kalashnikov: Russia will highly evaluate deployment of Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria Kalashnikov: Russia will highly evaluate deployment of Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria

18:26, 15.02.2019
                  

Russia will highly evaluate the deployment of the Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov, stated on Friday.

The politician also noted that there is a large Armenian community in Syria.

“Secondly, Armenia not afraid of any West, its reaction. For it you needed to have courage and Russia will highly evaluate it,” he said that Russia has positively assessed Armenia’s step.

At the same time, Kalashnikov expressed a lack of understanding why it is impossible to cooperate with the Syrian government, which works with the citizens of the country.

Armenia President: Karabakh issue can be very perilous if not properly managed

Hovsep Chakrian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 15 2019
Armenia President: Karabakh issue can be very perilous if not properly managed Armenia President: Karabakh issue can be very perilous if not properly managed

17:29, 15.02.2019
                  

Unless the frozen conflict is resolved in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), it could be very dangerous if it is not properly managed. 

The President of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, stated about the abovementioned during his talk with the students and faculty at Heidelberg University in Germany.

In particular, Sarkissian noted that there is no other way for him except for the resolution of this conflict solely through peace.

He added that various interests and challenges are concentrated in the region, and that the latter truly is a crossroads of different civilizations.

As per Sarkissian, even the smallest destabilizing phenomenon will be very destructive for the region, and therefore there is but one avenue: pacific settlement of the conflict.

The Armenian President expressed the hope that the resolution of the Karabakh conflict will be based on rationality and human values, and that its final solution will be reached by considering the rights of the population of Artsakh.

Talks about Armenia’s withdrawal from EAEU untrue: Kalashnikov

Diana Dabaghian
Aysor, Armenia
Feb 15 2019

All the talks in Russia, including the media publications that Armenia will withdraw from the EAEU and the forces from outside are working on it, are not true, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov said at a news conference today.

“I think Armenia’s parliament has made a definite step in a right direction by creating a standing committee to deal with Eurasian integration issues. Armenia and EAEU have firm ties which give economic effect, and which is seen in figures,” Kalashnikov said.