Category: 2020

 16:59, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during which they expressed hope that the upcoming Russian-Turkish high-level meeting in Moscow will be productive, the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

“The sides discussed in detail the issues of the Syrian settlement given the current worsening situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone. In this context, they voiced hope that the upcoming March 5 Russian-Turkish high-level meeting will bear fruit”, the statement said as reported by TASS.

The phone talk was held at the initiative of the German side. 

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:23, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Georgia’s Speaker of Parliament Archil Talakvadze on the sidelines of his official visit, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Mr. Talakvadze highlighted the active cooperation between the Armenian and Georgian governments and parliaments and stated that the PM’s visit will give a new impetus to the further strengthening and expansion of ties between the two peoples. He highly valued the partnership between the parliamentarians both in the bilateral relations and also within the international platforms. The Georgian Speaker of Parliament also valued the role of the Armenian community in the country’s development and added that it serves as a firm bridge for boosting the Armenian-Georgian inter-state ties.

In turn Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the inter-parliamentary dialogue has a special place in the relations of the two countries. He also emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the lawmakers, stating that these close relations bring their contribution to the development of friendly ties between Armenia and Georgia.

Pashinyan and Talakvadze stated that Armenia and Georgia can find new opportunities for mutually beneficial joint programs and projects through an intensive dialogue.

At the end of the meeting the Armenian PM left a note in the Georgian Parliament’s Honorary Guest Book.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:50, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has nearly 1000 laboratory test kits for detecting novel coronavirus and will get 2000 more on March 6. ARMENPRESS reports Healthcare Minister of Armenia Arsen Torosyan said in an interview with journalist Karlen Aslanyan, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

“In addition, we negotiate with the UK and Russia. There are some offers also from China, Japan and the USA. We are still considering if we should get new test kits, since up till now we received the test kits from our partners as assistance. It’s possible that there will be no need for new ones, because my prediction is that we are on the way of declining outbreaks with the exception of one-two countries. Many other specialist also share my prediction”, Torosyan said.

According to the Minister, the regulations of the movements in the border checkpoints of Armenia give positive results and maybe there will be no need for getting more test kits.

32 people in Armenia are isolated with coronavirus suspicions. They stay at “Golden Palace” hotel in Tsakhkadzor.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 18:24, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the delegation led by the General Director of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe (CoE) Christos Giakoumopoulos on March 3.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia, welcoming the guests Ararat Mirzoyan noted that following their previous meeting Armenia has implemented serious reforms in a number of directions: that process goes on, particularly today the National Assembly has been discussing a huge package of judiciary reforms, and these reforms will again become essential steps for the corruption prevention and recuperation and independence of the judicial system.

Christos Giakoumopoulos asked for details about the ongoing processes over the Constitutional Court and the expected referendum in the near future, noting that in the Council of Europe they understand that this is very important for the people of Armenia, and they will be glad to provide assistance.

Ararat Mirzoyan explained in detail the situation and stressed that to his deep conviction, this referendum and, in general, the solution of this issue will be a very serious step on the way to the further democratization of Armenia. The President of the National Assembly of Armenia underlined that there cannot be full democracy if the branches of power don’t restrain each other, as well as the judicial power cannot be part of democratic system and restrain the other branches, unless it is independent, unbiased, objective and professional, however, there is no such Constitutional Court in Armenia, and the referendum is the best way for making those changes.

 17:54, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian parliament debated today the package of bills on making changes and amendments to the Law on Judicial Code of Armenia.

One of the amendments proposes to reduce the term of office of the Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, setting it 2.5 year.

“The term of office of the President of the Supreme Judicial Council currently is 5 years. According to the package of bills we have proposed to reduce it to 2.5 year”, Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan said.

However, he added that the current SJC President will remain in office for a five-year term.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:46, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. According to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the relations between Armenia and Georgia have never been better than now, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said in Tbilisi during a meeting with the Armenian community.

“Even considering the fact that the relations between our countries have always been good, now we have exclusively good atmosphere and I think our relations have never been so good in the past”, Pashinyan said.

“My proposal is that we should view our relations 100 years ahead and should have common visions about that future from now, because we have lived next to each other in this region for millennia”, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan is in Georgia on an official visit.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan