Category: 2019

Nikol Pashinyan sends condolence letter to Iran’s Rouhani

18:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a condolence letter to President of Iran Hassan Rouhani over the terrorist attack on a bus in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the condolence letter runs as follows,

“I am deeply shocked by the terrorist attack on a bus in Sistan and Baluchestan Province in Iran, which claimed lives of dozens of people.

I extend my deep condolences to you and the entire friendly people of Iran on this tragic incident.

Please, convey my words of sympathy to the families and relatives of the victims, wishing spiritual strength and steadfastness, and speedy recovery to the injured”.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Government ready to guide people to economic revolution – PM delivers speech at parliament

19:40,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The people are able to carry out an economic revolution and the Government is ready to guide the people to that point, PM Pashinyan said in his final speech of the parliamentary discussion of the Government’s Action Plan.

Speaking about the newly elected parliament, Nikol Pashinyan noted that it’s a parliament of a new qualitative level, which can be proved by the debates that lasted 3 days.

Referring to the ideological foundations for carrying out an economic revolution, PM Pashinyan qoated the pre-election program of “My step” bloc, “We are convinced that the transformation of the individual is the key factor for public transformation. Each individual can start the process of public transformation by assessing his own transformation as the most important component. Each individual should assess the development and improvement of his own skills, knowledges as a key component for the development of public transformation The State should create an appropriate atmosphere for fostering the mentioned transformations”.

Recalling his first steps into political arena, Nikol Pashinyan said, “When I entered into politics back in 2006 I had a conversation with myself and later had the same conversation with the public. Why have I entered into politics? I asked myself and answered to me that the future of Armenia depends on one person and I am that one person and I went to the public and said in my first public speeches that I challenge each citizen of Armenia to say to himself that the future of Armenia depends on one person and he is that one person”, Pashinyan said, adding that he used the ideology that everything depends on each citizen during the political changes in Armenia in 2018.

“What do we say in this stage, the stage of economic revolution? We say a very simple thing, that is the Government has its share of responsibility and works, but each citizen also has his share of responsibility and works to be done”, Pashinyan said, emphasizing that it’s impossible to overcome poverty without working and it’s impossible to change or create anything without work.

Speaking about the criticism by the parliamentary opposition about the preservation of national values, national schools and church, PM Pashinyan emphasized that it’s necessary to first clarify the word “national”. He told the story of Armenian king Pap, who is nowadays assessed as the enemy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. “But today we have the Apostolic Church of Armenia thank to Pap King, who said that we have our own state and there is no necessity for the Armenian Catholics to go an be anointed in Caesarea. We are a state, we have a king, capital city, religious class and the Catholicos should be anointed in our motherland”, Pashinyan said, adding that the Church opposed the king and he was eventually killed. Pashinyan emphasized that he is a follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church and a deep believer. He drew some parallels between nowadays and the times of King Pap. “Pap King said dear people, you have to pay taxes, he said that the men and women of our country are serving in monasteries and nunneries. But who will work to develop the economy of our country? Who will be the soldier of our country? They said “You are a traitor, anti-national”. We say the same. We say dear people, pay taxes and they get offended”, he said, adding that if taxes are not paid and if the people do not demand the shops to register their sales, the combat readiness of the army will decline, the state will be unable to give pensions or restore the buildings in emergency situation.

Speaking about media freedom in Armenia, Pashinyan recorded with satisfaction that the international organizations share the opinion of the Government over the situation with the media. “Yesterday I received the following message from a high ranking international official that they fully share our assessment over the situation with the media, that is 90% of mass media of Armenia is controlled by the former corrupt regime. And the international community highly appreciates the fact that the authorities of Armenia do not make even the minimal efforts to establish some control over those media outlets”, Pashinyan said.

Referring to the criticism, Pashinyan noted that it’s very important for him to hear any kind of criticism, even non-rational ones, because they are useful anyway. “For 3 days I listened to what you said, good or bad. What does not kill us, makes us stronger”, he said.   

“Yes, our revolution succeeded only when the citizen believed in himself. And we are proud for being able to inspire that belief, so that he believes himself, and we have a special responsibility now to be able to help the citizen to believe in his powers”, Pashinyan said, underlining that there is no alternative for the people to carry out an economic revolution and they will do that for sure.

“Keep away the rhetorical predictions that the situation will aggravate, because it’s an old way of thinking. There will be no worsening. Things will improve non-stop. But for this to happen each citizen must keep this way of thinking in his mind”, Pashinyan emphasized.

“And yes, today I start my second march. The previous one was a march towards the victory of the political revolution, and this one is a march towards economic revolution. And whoever wants to make a step, let him make his step, whoever wants to pass that path, let him walk with me, because our path is irreversible and we are walking towards a free, happy and powerful Armenia, with the flag of only and only Armenia above our heads. And we are walking, looking at the flag of Armenia, our history and future and we will reach the destination with victory. And wherever there is the necessity, we will lead the people, wherever it’s necessary the people will lead us, and the people will win undoubtedly. The people can carry out the economic revolution and the Government is ready to guide the people to that point”, the PM said.

Pashinyan concluded his speech with the slogan famous from the days of the revolution, “Long live freedom, long live the Republic of Armenia, we and our children that already live and will live in free and happy Armenia. I am thankful”.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian, Lebanese PMs agree to hold Armenian-Lebanese intergovernmental commission meeting in April

21:20,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri. Pashinyan congratulated Saad Hariri on the formation of Government in Lebanon and his re-appointment as the Prime Minister of the country.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan wished success to Saad Hariri and his team and expressed confidence that the new Cabinet headed by Mr. Hariri will lead the country towards development and economic progress.

The interlocutors highlighted the strengthening of economic relations between the two countries. An agreement was reached to hold the Armenian-Lebanese intergovernmental commission meeting in April.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian president arrives in Germany ahead of Munich Security Conference

23:58,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian has arrived in Germany on February 14th ahead of the Munich Security Conference.

The first stop of the visit was Heidelberg, a town in Baden-Württemberg in south-west of the country. Here, the president had a meeting with Mayor Prof. Eckart Würzner.

During the meeting the sides talked about the great potential for cooperation in the academic field.

Mayor Würzner noted that Heidelberg is one of Germany’s fastest growing towns. He emphasized that the town has huge potential in science, especially in medicine. “We hope we’ll be able to cooperate in this and other sectors in the future,” the mayor told the Armenian president.

President Sarkissian thanked the mayor for the warm reception. “The development of this town is wonderful, it is a combination of science, academics and new technologies. Therefore I am glad to be here,” Sarkissian said. He also talked about a desire of transforming the town of Dilijan in Armenia into a leading center of IT and artificial intelligence. Sarkissian also invited the Mayor of Heidelberg to visit Armenia to share his experience in city governance.

Later, the Armenian president will visit the Heidelberg University, Germany’s oldest higher education institution.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenian-Polish Business Chamber seeks to strengthen commercial, tourism ties between two countries

09:17,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian-Polish Business Chamber in Armenia is starting its activities. It aims at boosting the commercial ties between Armenia and Poland, creating an environment for the businessmen of the two countries, contributing to the efforts of various companies and businessmen to make investments in both countries.

Edgar Ghazaryan – chairman of the Armenian-Polish business chamber, former Armenian Ambassador to Poland, gave an interview to ARMENPRESS, talking about the programs and future plans of the Chamber.

-Mr. Ghazaryan, how the idea to establish this Chamber was born? Who are the initiators?

-The initiative on establishing an Armenian-Polish Business Chamber existed years before by a number of companies operating in Armenia. It has not conducted an active work for various reasons. Completing my diplomatic mission in Poland and being informed about that organization I had a commitment to assume its chairmanship and make efforts to carry out active works.

-What are the tasks of the Business Chamber? Are there any issues the Chamber can have its contribution to solving them?

-The Business Chamber aims at boosting the commercial ties between Armenia and Poland, creating an environment for the businessmen of the two states, contributing to the efforts of various companies and individual businessmen to make investments ad utilize markets. We believe that there is a great potential in the Armenian-Polish commercial ties that is not utilized, but in case of effectively using this it is possible to record major success in both sides. The new agreement signed between Armenia and the EU in November 2017 creates great opportunities for expanding the business ties between Armenia and the EU member states. From this perspective Poland can play a great and positive role for us.

-You have been Armenia’s Ambassador to Poland and are very familiar with the trade-economic cooperation between the two countries. Overall, how would you assess the Armenia-Poland commercial partnership? In what directions the potential is not utilized?

-Despite being not so large, the Armenian-Polish trade turnover has always showed a growth tendency. During my tenure as an Ambassador I have recorded for myself that unfortunately we both know less about one another. In my opinion, Armenia is not enough informed about the huge economic potential and opportunities of Poland, as well as the Polish businessmen are also less informed about Armenia’s economic environment and existing opportunities. We think that this is going to be the main task of the Armenian-Polish Business Chamber: to provide maximal information to the businessmen of both sides about the economic situation in Armenia and Poland.

We believe that there is a great potential in tourism sector which is again not utilized. The direct flight between Warsaw and Yerevan, that operates almost every day, increases the opportunity to attract Polish tourist towards Armenia. The same can be said about organization of Armenian tourist visits to Poland. In our opinion, the rich history of the Armenian community of Poland, the growing tourism infrastructures in Poland, the affordable prices of goods and services compared to the remaining EU states can be attractive for the Armenian tourists.

-When will the Armenian-Polish Business Chamber start its program activities, and is it already clarified what programs will be implemented this year?

-At the moment the Armenian-Polish Business Chamber overcomes the technical and organizational issues in connection with the re-launch. Meetings have already been held with a number of similar structures. Practical cooperation agreements with several Armenian and Polish chambers of commerce are expected to be signed soon. Actions will be taken soon to expand the number of members of the Chamber and its activity frameworks. We are closely following the ongoing political developments between Armenia and Poland, in particular, during the meeting in Davos the Armenian and Polish Prime Ministers highlighted the need to promote mutual visits and strengthen the economic relations. We think that the Chamber will manage to organize business forums in Armenia and Poland during 2019. We are looking forward to the formation of the Armenian-Polish inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation in the Armenian government, with which joint actions will be taken for the active engagement of our Chamber in that processes. We will soon sum up and provide information to our partner companies about the expected important economic events, exhibitions, trade fairs and etc. in Poland.

 

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

55th Munich Security Conference expected to become the world’s largest

10:13,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The future of the European security architecture and the situation over the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty will dominate the agenda of the 55th Munich Security Conference to begin on February 15, TASS reports.

The Conference is going to host a record number of participants, including nearly 600 politicians, representatives of business and scientific circles, as well as human rights organizations.

The Conference will launch at 17:00 Yerevan time by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her UK counterpart Gavin Williamson.

During the three-day Conference the participants will discuss  a series of topics, including the future of the European defense policy, the relations of the West and Russia, the Ukrainian crisis, the conflicts in the Middle East and Venezuela, the role of China in the world and numerous other topics.

Over 35 heads of states and governments, about 50 foreign ministers and 30 defense ministers are expected to attend the Conference.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan