Category: 2020

 17:48,

Converse Bank has been announced the “Best Trade Finance Provider 2020 in Armenia” by the prestigous Global Finance Magazine at the 13^th BAFT Global Annual Meeting in London.

 

Presentation of the award speaks of Converse Bank’s outstanding achivements in the sphere of trade finance evidenced by the remarkable growth in the volume and quantity of transactions and the broad geographical coverage.

 

Among winners of “Best Trade Finance Provider 2020” award are Commerzbank AG (Germany), Raiffeisen Bank International (Austria), KBC Bank (Belgium), Citibank (USA), Societe Generale (France) and other leading banks. To see the full list of banks awarded by Global Finance visit https://www.gfmag.com/magazine/february-2020/2020-worlds-best-trade-finance-providers .

 

 

It is worth mentioning that during the recent years Converse Bank has been presented with several honorary awards in this sphere: the “Deal of the Year-Green Trade” by the EBRD and the “Trade Finance Award 2018” by Commerzbank AG, among others.

 18:10,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. A bill on honoring the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide has been submitted to the parliament of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada. ARMENPRESS reports, citing AnalitikUA.net, the bill of MP representing the ruling “Servant of the People” Party Daria Volodina was submitted to the parliament on February 14.

Chairman of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine Vilen Shatvoryan highlighted the move, assessing it as a commitment to humanitarianism, truth and justice.

In the recent 10 years this is the 4^th legislative initiative in the Ukrainian parliament related to the Armenian Genocide

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 18:38,

YEREVAN, 18 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 18 February, USD exchange rate is down by 0.10 drams to 478.95 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 1.06 drams to 518.37 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.06 drams to 7.51 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 2.23 drams to 622.40 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is down by 14.33 drams to 24342.1 drams. Silver price is up by 1.41 drams to 274.1 drams. Platinum price is down by 80.12 drams to 14890.44 drams.

 18:21,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.    Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Victorin was also present at the meeting.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan expressed satisfaction over the development process of the Armenia-EU relations, noting that bilateral partnership has intensive dynamics. The PM noted that at the moment Armenia is in the stage of holding a referendum on Constitutional changes and spoke about its goals.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed issues related to the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Pashinyan noted that Armenia is committed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict in line with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format. He highlighted the involvement of Artsakh’s civil society in the confidence building measures, which will foster the establishment of constructive atmosphere and the negotiation process.

The Armenian PM and the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia also exchanged views on other issues of regional importance.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 18:57,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy on February 18.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, the interlocutors exchanged views on cooperation between Armenia and the USA in various spheres. Particularly, the sides assesses promising the spheres of modern technologies, particularly, the implementation of joint projects in the sphere of artificial intelligence. In this context, the sides referred to the possible cooperation in the sidelines of the president-initiated ATOM project, the goal of which is to transform Armenia into a leading country in the spheres of artificial intelligence and mathematical modeling.

During the meeting the Armenian President and the US Ambassador also exchanged views on the referendum for Constitutional changes scheduled on April 5.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 19:48,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met on February 18 with Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

The interlocutors referred to Nagono Karabakh peace process and the recent meetings over it. The sides highlighted the real steps towards the implementation of the agreement of preparing the peoples for peace. In this context FM Mnatsakanyan particularly highlighted the public peace messages by the leaders of the countries and noted that the Azerbaijani side continues to express maximalist positions denying the rights of the people of Artsakh, which hamper the progress of the peace process.

The sides also exchanged views on the multi-dimensional agenda of Armenia-EU partnership, as well as referred to urgent international and regional issues.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 09:23,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the Book Giving Day, which is celebrated on February 19 in Armenia, Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan suggests the readers to read the works by the renowned Russian writer Leo Tolstoy.

In an interview to Armenpress, Mayor Marutyan confessed that he didn’t read a fiction for almost a year. “I mainly read technical books relating to the urban development. I don’t think they will be interesting to the broad public. But I would advise the literature fans to read “Anna Karenina” novel by Leo Tolstoy”, the Mayor said.

The novel is about the tragic love of a married woman Anna Karenina and officer Vronsky.          

February 19, the birthday of renowned Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan, is celebrated in Armenia as the Book Giving Day. This day was introduced in Armenia since 2008 thanks to the initiative of late President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan.

 

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 09:00,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Numerous events will take place today across Armenia in honor of Hovhannes Tumanyan’s (1869-1923) 151st anniversary of birth. The main celebrations will take place in the poet’s hometown of Dsegh and Yerevan.

February 19th is also the Book Giving Day in Armenia.

Roza Ghazunyan, the Director of the Hovhannes Tumanyan House-Museum of Dsegh, told ARMENPRESS that students of the Dsegh school will recite the poet’s works during an event. “We will also host representatives from the Yeghishe Charents Literature and Arts Museum and the National Library of Armenia,” she said.

The Hovhannes Tumanyan House-Museum of Yerevan, in turn has prepared events to mark the anniversary. The museum will host the traditional “Tumanyan’s Toast” competition, books will be available on special discounts, and the presentations several children’s books and a concert will take place.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 09:33,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. After a long pause caused by the military operations in Syria, the airport of Aleppo is being re-launched. Today, on February 19, the first flight en route Damascus-Aleppo will be operated.

Ethnic Armenian MP of the Syrian Parliament Jirair Reisian told Armenpress that the society welcomed this news with a great enthusiasm.

“Due to the shutdown of the airport the life in Aleppo was difficult for various reasons. The airport is an important infrastructure both for the city and the state. The first flight will be operated in Damascus-Aleppo route, and there are also plans to increase the number of flights and routes in the future”, the lawmaker said.

The re-launch of the airport will contribute to accelerating Aleppo’s restoration process. Jirair Reisian said it’s a very important tool for boosting business. The re-launch of the airport will also have its affect on the economic activity.

Talking about the other infrastructural problems of the city the MP informed that significant works have been carried out over the water supply. Some districts are supplied with water the whole day, and the works in the remaining ones continue. The electricity issue is not completely solved yet, people are supplied with electricity for several hours a day, but all these issues are under the direct spotlight of the authorities. Everything is being done to provide people with electricity.

Activities are also planned for the restoration of structures of the Armenian community in Aleppo. Jirair Reisian said the issue of schools was a priority, no school-children has been left without classes at this period. Everything possible has been done for the operation of Armenian schools. Currently, all classes are normally being carried out, the children are actively participating in the educational processes. As for the churches, the lawmaker informed that during this period the Mother Church of Aleppo has been restored and now is operating normally. The issue of the St. George Church is on the agenda. It is located in the Armenian-populated Nor Gyugh district of Aleppo. The MP also informed that the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church is also located in this part and is operating normally.

As for the movements of Armenians, Jirair Reisian said many have returned to Aleppo, many visit to get acquainted with the local conditions and consider the options of returning back completely. “In any case we wish all sons of the community to return to their homes and restore their works”, he said.

During those days in line with the liberation of Aleppo another important event took place in Syria. The Parliament of Syria officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. “Syria officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. Here the key message is for us to fight jointly against and prevent the crimes”, he said, adding that today as well Syria is subject to the hostile acts of the same criminals.

On February 13 the Syrian Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan