Category: 2020

Pashinyan family visits tourism hotspot Tsaghkadzor, dine at local restaurant

Liana Toganian

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 20:23, 1 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, his wife Anna Hakobyan and their three daughters are visiting the resort town of Tsaghkadzor in Armenia.

Pashinyan shared a photo from what appears to be the Yasaman Restaurant near the central plaza of the spa town. “We came to one of the restaurants of Tsaghkadzor. The venue is virtually full of patrons. Including with foreign tourists,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in a Facebook post. Before that, they also shared a photo from near the town’s church.

Earlier today, 31 direct contacts of the first novel coronavirus case in Armenia were quarantined at a defunct hotel in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor.

Shortly after the news, PM Pashinyan said he receives information that some visitors and tourists to the town are cancelling their hotel bookings. He dismissed the concerns and said that the quarantine at the closed Golden Palace hotel doesn’t anyhow affect the town’s life. He called on the general public to refrain from panicking or spreading disinformation. The Golden Palace hotel is a defunct, previously 5-star rated luxury hotel currently owned by the government which authorities were trying to auction off. Now, it is used as the quarantine zone for the 31 people who are being provided with high-level accommodation services and care.

In an apparent effort to dismiss the unsubstantiated panic and purported hotel booking cancellations in the town, the Armenian Prime Minister announced that he and his family are heading to the resort town to spend the night there at a local hotel.

Meanwhile, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan, Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture Arayik Harutyunyan and other officials also visited the town.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




India Bests Poland And Russia To $40 Million Defence Deal With Armenia

Baghdasarian Karlen
Republic World, India
March 1 2020
Rest of the World News

Written By Misha Bhatt | Mumbai

In a major win, India has managed to bag a $40 Million defence export deal. Under the deal, India will supply four indigenously-built weapons-locating radars to Armenia. Russian and Polish firms were also in the race to bad the mega-deal. 

While interacting with a news agency, a government source said, “The deal is for supplying four Swathi weapon locating radars developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to Armenia in Europe.”

READ | India has developed proactive defence policy: Amit Shah

The supply of the equipment to Armenia has already begun under the ‘Make in India’ initiative and this is being considered as a big achievement. Reports also stated that Armenia had conducted various trials of the systems offered by Russia and Poland. Even though the Russian and Polish systems were good, they decided to ahead with the reliability of the Indian system. 

Under the $400 Million contract, India is required to supply four Swathi weapons-locating radars. The radars provide fast, automatic, and accurate location of enemy weapons like mortars, shells, and rockets in its 50-km range. It can also simultaneously handle multiple projectiles fired from different weapons at different locations.

READ | Don’t let CAPF personnel wear combat uniforms: Army to Defence Ministry

The Indian Army is also currently using the same Swathi weapon locating radars to carry out operations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Using the radar, the army traces the source of attack by Pakistani positions. The Indian Army had trialled the system in 2018. 

As per the officials, this deal will open up a new market for Indian indigenous systems, which are considered to be reasonably priced as compared to its rivals. The Ministry of Defence is also eying various other orders from South-East Asia, Latin America, and Middle-Eastern countries to boos defence exports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of Rs. 35,000 crore for Indian defence exports.

Armenia Government Grants Water Permit To Gold Mine Project Beset By Local Protests

Kalantarian Kevo
Ooska News
March 1 2020
1 Mar 2020 – 13:49 by OOSKAnews Correspondent

YEREVAN, Armenia

The ministry of the environment of Armenia has granted a water permit to the Amulsar gold project, according to a press release from operators Lydian International. Local communities and environmental activists have prevented access to the mine for 20 months. Lydian plans to use cyanide in mining operations with potential health impacts and environmental risks. Increased amounts of dust and muddy tap water in local villages, as well as unusual fish deaths have been reported since construction began in 2017.

The company had twice previously applied to withdraw up to 40 litres/second (l/s) from the Arpa River. This volume would have allowed completion of the mine and support for long term operations but these applications were denied in 2019.

The approved withdrawal of 11 l/s from the Darb River is estimated to be sufficient to complete construction. In addition, the company is appealing a decision that denied 40 l/s from the Darb River.

The mine is located in a remote mountainous region and has been in development since 2016, with nearly $500 Million USD invested to date. The company contends that the project has met all legal and environmental requirements of the government. Further, the project has been rigorously reviewed by an independent advisory panel, that has confirmed the company has complied with Armenia’s laws and regulations.

The company, claiming to have met all governmental requirements is now requesting “immediate action” from the government to shut down the protests. There is a promise of job creation and tax revenues. The company delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange in February to protect itself from creditors. Lydian said last year the blockade had forced it to cut more than 1,000 jobs and caused losses of more than $60 million.

Edward Sellers, Interim President & CEO of Lydian International, said: “We recognize that the Government of Armenia has granted Lydian Armenia a water use permit that would allow the Company to recommence construction. However, the Company is still deprived of access to its property by illegal blockades and has been unable to raise financing to complete construction of the Amulsar Project as a result.”

“We call on the Government of Armenia to take immediate action to address the continuing illegality around the Amulsar Project. The restoration of the rule of law will serve the interests of thousands of Armenian citizens, including community members, employees, contractors and suppliers, as well as thousands of investors who invested in Armenia in good faith and with the hope that their legal rights would be protected.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called on protesters last month to end their 20-month blockade of the gold mine, saying the protest was not in the national interest.

Department of Passports and Visas of Armenia Police issues statement

Arpi Talalian
News.am, Armenia
March 1 2020

21:36, 01.03.2020
                  

For the purpose of health maintenance, the Department of Passports and Visas of the Police of Armenia has released information by which it has called on following a couple of rules for prevention of the spread of coronavirus.

Taking into consideration the fact that healthcare representatives have specifically provided guidelines for maintenance of health and the prevention of the potential spread of the virus, we ask you to follow the following simple rules:

1. Any action for a passport for a child under the age of 16 is performed without the mandatory presence of the child. Therefore, refrain from coming to the Department with children.

2. Not only citizens who have to apply for a specific service, but also accompaniers must sometimes appear for receiving passport services. We ask to refrain from coming to receive passport services with accompaniers.

3. We would also like to inform that, besides the cases of receiving passports and appearing to apply for Armenian citizenship, all other actions can be performed through an authorized person as well.

Therefore, it is necessary to take into consideration the fact that one person can apply for persons other than other family members, relatives and close ones, even when there is an average written power of attorney.

We thank you for your understanding. In many cases, maintenance of health is in our hands,” the statement reads.

Armenia PM and family going from restaurant to restaurant in Tsaghkadzor

Talar Tumanian
News.am, Armenia
March 1 2020

21:09, 01.03.2020
                  

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan is still visiting restaurants in Tsaghkadzor with his family and has posted a photo with the following comment on his Facebook page:

“We’re going from restaurant to restaurant in Tsaghkadzor. I am charmed by and amazed at Armenian businessmen’s talent and encourage them.”

Earlier, Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Arsen Torosyan had reported that 32 citizens from Iran have been isolated and are located at Golden Palace Hotel in Tsaghkadzor, after which the Prime Minister went live and reported that there is news that people are canceling their orders in hotel suites in Tsaghkadzor. The healthcare minister, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan and Governor of Kotayk Province Romanos Petrosyan also visited Tsaghkadzor.

Armenia’s PM says coronavirus not a big thing to create problems in our lives but urges to treat it seriously

Maral Takmazian
Aysor, Armenia
March 1 2020

The situation with coronavirus in Armenia is under control, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in live video on Facebook.

“We must overcome the situation with dignity. You will learn information from us. Don’t search for any other source,” he said, adding that coronavirus is not a big thing to create problems in our lives.

“But of course, it is necessary to treat it seriously and win,” he stressed.

Armenia PM pays tribute to victims of March 1, 2008 events in Yerevan

Kajoyan Gevork
News.am, Armenia
March 1 2020

17:31, 01.03.2020
                  

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, his wife and three daughters paid tribute to the victims of the events that took place on March 1, 2008 in Yerevan and laid flowers near the statue of Myasnikyan.

Several members of government and high-ranking officials also paid their respects.

Exactly 12 years ago, tragic events took place in central Yerevan, taking the lives of 10 citizens.

In the wake of the presidential elections that took place on February 18, 2008, the supporters of first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan gathered at Liberty Square with the demand for a recount of the votes and held round-the-clock rallies at Liberty Square for ten consecutive days.

On the morning of March 1, police dispersed the crowd by force, after which people started gathering near the statue of Myasnikyan. On the evening of the same day, President Robert Kocharyan declared martial law. The clashes took the lives of 10 citizens, including two police officers, and another 200 received injuries of various degrees.

The ten victims were Gor Kloyan, Davit Petrosyan, Tigran Abgaryan, Tigran Khachatryan, Armen Farmanyan, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Hamlet Tadevosyan, Grigor Gevorgyan, Samvel Harutyunyan and Zakar Hovhannisyan.

Several people were detained and arrested after being charged with participation in the mass disturbances.

Within the scope of the case regarding the events of March 1, 2008, second President of Armenia Robert Kochayran, ex-defense minister Mikayel Harutyunyan, Yuri Khachaturov and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan are charged with overthrow of constitutional order. Former Presidents of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Serzh Sargsyan have been interviewed as witnesses.

The Prime Minister talked to the relatives of the deceased after laying flowers.


Armenian minister: No need to cancel flights to and from Yerevan and Milan and close border with Georgia

Emil Karabekian
News.am, Armenia
March 1 2020

14:20, 01.03.2020

At this moment, there is no need to cancel the flights to and from Yerevan and Milan. This is what Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Arsen Torosyan said during a press conference devoted to the first case of coronavirus in Armenia.

“Our colleagues from the healthcare and diplomatic sectors of Italy have provided us with information and shown that the cases are localized. Based on the information, there is no need to cancel flights now. However, decisions can change every day, and not only in regard to Italy or another country, but also in Armenia. In any case, Armenia attaches importance to public health, and all actions will derive from this, but every decision needs to be presented with facts and evidence,” the minister stated.

According to the minister, there is no need to close the border with Georgia at all. “The three cases in Georgia are local (two people brought the disease from Iran through Azerbaijan and another brought it from Milan, they all feel well, and there are still no cases of spread of the virus). When the virus spreads across almost all countries, there is no longer a need to close any border,” he said.

Flowers laid in memory of victims of March 1, 2008 events on behalf of Armenia President

Jagharian Tania
News.am, Armenia
March 1 2020
(PHOTO) (PHOTO)

14:24, 01.03.2020

This morning, on behalf of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, flowers were laid near the statue of Myasnikyan as a sign of tribute to the victims of the tragic events that took place on March 1, 2008 in Yerevan, as reported the Staff of the President of Armenia.

Exactly 12 years ago, tragic events took place in central Yerevan, taking the lives of 10 citizens.

In the wake of the presidential elections that took place on February 18, 2008, the supporters of first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan gathered at Liberty Square with the demand for a recount of the votes and held round-the-clock rallies at Liberty Square for ten consecutive days.

On the morning of March 1, police dispersed the crowd by force, after which people started gathering near the statue of Myasnikyan. On the evening of the same day, President Robert Kocharyan declared martial law. The clashes took the lives of 10 citizens, including two police officers, and another 200 received injuries of various degrees.

The ten victims were Gor Kloyan, Davit Petrosyan, Tigran Abgaryan, Tigran Khachatryan, Armen Farmanyan, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Hamlet Tadevosyan, Grigor Gevorgyan, Samvel Harutyunyan and Zakar Hovhannisyan.