Category: 2019

Kocharyan will remain jailed, court rejects bail

12:14, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Former President Robert Kocharyan will remain in jail as the Court of Appeals has rejected his motion requesting bail.

“The verdict has been published. Robert Kocharyan’s lawyers’ motions have been completely rejected,” Vahagn Muradyan from the General Prosecution said.

2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer of 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again.

At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities.

Kocharyan is charged for ‘overthrowing constitutional order’ during the 2008 post-election unrest, when clashes between security forces and protesters left 10 people dead, including two police officers, during his final days as president.

He vehemently denies wrongdoing.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Kocharyan to appeal to higher court, ECHR

12:58, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Ex-President Robert Kocharyan will appeal today’s court decision to the Court of Cassation, and he will also file a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, Kocharyan’s lawyer Hayk Alumyan told reporters.

Today, the Court of Appeals rejected Kocharyan’s request to be granted bail, and the ex-president will remain jailed.

2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer of 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again.

At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities.

Kocharyan is charged for ‘overthrowing constitutional order’ during the 2008 post-election unrest, when clashes between security forces and protesters left 10 people dead, including two police officers, during his final days as president.

He vehemently denies wrongdoing.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

President of Artsakh participates in session of Police Board

12:20, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on February 7 participated in the session of the Board of Police summarizing the results of the structure's activity in 2018, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

According to Bako Sahakyan the year of 2018 has been an active period during which the Artsakh Republic Police conducted extensive work maintaining stability in the republic, combating crime, ensuring public order and security.

The President assessed the activities of the police in the reporting period as overall satisfactory.

“Significant and important tasks are set before the system. It is necessary to continue consistent work aimed at ensuring the security of the population, maintaining public order, protecting human and citizens' rights, managing crime prevention”, highlighted in his speech President Sahakyan.

The Head of the State noted that the Police have a relevant potential to solve successfully those issues expressing confidence that every employee of the structure was well aware of the importance and the high level of responsibility of their service.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Ain't No Stoppin' for L. Azroyan – the Doyen of ARMENPRESS publishes 11th book

13:25, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. ARMENPRESS veteran journalist, 81-year-old Levon Azroyanhas published his 11th book. Azroyan, a long-time journalist who has been with ARMENPRESS for more than 50 years, is nowhere near stopping his career.

The new book, Dardz I Shrjans Yur – roughly meaning Back Where It All Started – is a collection of more than 70 articles and interviews conducted by Azroyan from writers, artists, military officials, politicians, sportsmen and others.

The title of the book is a reference to the career of Azroyan, who for many years worked at the Armenian Telegraph Agency – the predecessor of ARMENPRESS – and then, after many years of work in other positions – he returned back where it all started.

Moreover, in a touching tribute Azroyan dedicated the book to the 100th anniversary of establishment of ARMENPRESS, and all reporters and journalists of the agency, past and present.

ARMENPRESS was founded in December of 1918.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia again 101st in FIFA World Ranking

14:01, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian football team is ranked 101^st in the new World Ranking of FIFA. Armenia was 101^st in the previous ranking also.

Belgium, France and Brazil are the top three.

The top ten include Croatia, England, Portugal, Uruguay, Switzerland, Spain and Denmark.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Investigative Committee chief’s adviser steps down

14:02, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Sona Truzyan, the adviser to the Investigative Committee president, has resigned.

Spekaing to ARMENPRESS, Truzyan said she had tendered her resignation back in January.

“During this period I continued fulfilling my duties until the resignation was accepted. I intend to continue my future activities in the private sector,” she said.

Truzyan did not give further details.

Sona Truzyan was with the Investigative Committee from the Aghvan Hovsepyan era, the former president of the agency.

Hayk Grigoryan, the incumbent president of the Investigative Committee, was appointed to office in July 2018.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia interested in Dutch experience of water resource management

14:38, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Tigran Balayan held a meeting with European Union of Water Management Associations (EUWMA) Secretary-General Albert Vermuë, who also serves as Director General of the Dutch water management agency, to discuss opportunities for applying the Netherlands’ practice of water resource management in Armenia, the foreign ministry said.

EUWMA was established in 1996 with the primary aim to increase cooperation between European Water Management Associations, so as to provide relevant information, position papers and policy documents to national governments, the European Commission, the European Parliament and other relevant institutions. In addition, EUWMA promotes the exchange of knowledge and best practices between members. 

The European Union of Water Management Associations (EUWMA) represents public, local and regional water management organizations from nine EU member states: Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Scientific organizations to be funded based on performance: Science Committee introduces new mechanism

14:43, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will soon introduce a new mechanism for funding the scientific organizations based on their performance, Samvel Harutyunyan – chairman of the Science Committee at the ministry of education and science, told a press conference in Armenpress, adding that this is an accepted approach in the international practice.

He said the Science Committee proposed this idea of funding by performance back in 2012, but it was not approved for some reasons.

“Financing the scientific organizations based on performance is a very important tool. It will lead to serious competition between the scientific organizations. As a result, the scientific institutions will start working well for receiving high funding”, he said.

He informed that respective criterion will be set up based on which several factors will be taken into consideration. In particular, the effectiveness of the research of these institutions, the presence of personnel potential, the degree of material-technical equipment, the level of integration in the international scientific-educational space and other factors will be taken into account. Each criterion will have points, and their sum will determine the category of the scientific institute. The Committee plans to define 4 categories.

“The institutions in the 1st category will receive bonuses in addition to the main funding. The institutions of the 2nd category will also receive bonuses, but already with little amount. The structures of the 3rd category will only get base funding, and those in the 4th category, which have worked bad, either will merge or their best employees will move to other institutions”, he said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Refrain from transliteration, respect the Mother Tongue – Pashinyan’s call on Day of Online Armenian Typing

15:06, 7 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has urged online users to type in Armenian letters and refrain from transliteration on the internet.

“Dear countrymen, since 2012 February 7 is marked as the Day of Armenian Typing Online at a civil initiative. In this context almost every day is a February 7 for me and I would like to urge you to type Armenian texts in Armenian letters online,” Pashinyan said on Facebook, referring to his active use of social media accounts where he almost exclusively types in Armenian letters.

“This is a more respectful approach not only to our national genius Mesrop Mashtots, but also all those online users who are reading your posts,” Pashinyan said.

Mesrob Mashtots was an early medieval Armenian linguist, theologian, statesman and hymnologist. He is best known for inventing the Armenian alphabet c. 405 AD.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

‘President is fulfilling his well-known pledge’ – French foreign ministry on declaring National Day of Armenian Genocide Commemoration

15:17, 7 February, 2019

PARIS, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. The French foreign ministry has responded to the Turkish reaction on President Macron’s recent decision to declare April 24th the National Day for Armenian Genocide Commemoration.

The French foreign ministry was asked at a daily press briefing on February 6 “did Turkey respond to France after President Macron’s decision to establish a day to commemorate the Armenian genocide?”

“In establishing this day of commemoration, the President is fulfilling his well-known pledge to honor French citizens of Armenian descent.

We have had several opportunities to exchange views with the Turkish authorities on this issue. They have been informed of our positions just as we have been informed of theirs”, the French foreign ministry responded.

Shortly after President of France Emmanuel Macron announced the national day honoring the Armenian Genocide victims, Turkey unsurprisingly "strongly condemned" the move. 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan