Category: 2020

Minister: Armenia’s state budget to suffer deficit of 324 billion drams amid coronavirus crisis

Eduard Nalbandian
Panorama, Armenia

The economy is facing an unprecedented challenge due to the coronavirus pandemic, Armenian Minister of Finance Atom Janjughazyan told a sitting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs on Tuesday, presenting a draft law on making amendments and supplements to the law “On State Budget for 2020.”

In Janjughazyan’s words, it is already expected that the coronavirus crisis will cause an economic setback and bankruptcy. “In order to ease the impact of the pandemic, the government has implemented numerous support programs, which should naturally be reflected also in the law on the state budget,” he said.

Presenting the bill, the finance minister said that Armenia is predicted to experience a 2% economic recession.

“Unlike the 4.9% economic growth envisaged by the budget, we will have a 2% recession. Moreover, the GDP (gross domestic product) will differ from the value set in the budget: instead of 7 trillion 95 billion drams, we will have 6 trillion 485 billion drams of GDP. Therefore, the budget revenue index will be revised,” the minister said.

In such a scenario, Armenia is expected to have nearly 169-billion-drams lower tax revenues than envisaged by the budget law. “At the same time, we do not plan to cut the expenditures, taking into account the fact that the reduction of expenses, in this case, will lead to deeper recession,” Janjughazyan said.

According to him, the state budget is expected to suffer a deficit of 324 billion drams, instead of about 161 billion drams envisaged by the law on budget.

“The introduced bill follows the logic that it is proposed to limit the possibility of deficit by 5% of the projected GDP,” Atom Janjughazyan said.

Armenia: school leaving exams cancelled due to coronavirus, students will only take uni entrance test

Elizabeth Jabejian
JAM News
28.04.2020
    JAMnews, Yerevan

In light of the state of emergency, Armenia decided to get rid of final exams for graduating classes. This was announced during a live broadcast delivered by Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

Armenia declared a state of emergency on March 16. It was scheduled to end on April 14th. But seeing as the country was unable to stop the spread of coronavirus, the government extended the quarantine for another month, until May 14.

The “final bell” has been cancelled for high school graduates in Azerbaijan. This graduation event has been postponed indefinitely.

Those applying to universities need only take one exam. Which subject it will be in has not yet been reported.

University exams and the “final bell”

In Armenia, not only high school graduates, but 4th and 9th grade students are currently taking qualifying exams, the so-called “transitional exams.”

“We decided not to conduct transitional exams in schools for grades 4 and 9. Annual grades in all subjects will be summarized on the basis of grades received by students before March 13 and transferred to electronic gradebooks,” reported the minister on live television.

Students in general education schools and trade schools are also receiving their final grades. Those who passed their midterms in December are given the right to choose between their midterm grades and their final grades for the academic year.

High school students will receive their diplomas by May 25, and college students will receive their diplomas by June 5.

The minister says that the decision to issue diplomas on this date was made so that it would not interfere with summer conscription for military service.

“Under the conditions of the state of emergency, it is our first priority not to violate the process of conscription for military service and to make the most objective assessments based on the interests of students,” said Arayik Harutyunyan.

The minister says that the graduates’ final bell will certainly take place, but not on May 25, as is usually the case.

“As soon as the Ministry of Health informs us that large gatherings are no longer dangerous, we will choose a date and celebrate the ‘final bell’ on a grand scale,” promised the minister.

About the graduates

This live broadcast by the Minister of Education was long-awaited. There is less than a month left before the traditional high school graduation date. Graduates, despite the coronavirus pandemic, are still preparing for their university entrance exams. And many are awaiting information about how the system will operate this year.

As a result, Arayik Harutyunyan announced that entrance exams for higher educational institutions will be held in early July, and students will be able to apply from May 25 to June 15.

“Graduates will only have to pass one entrance exam this year. Those applicants who have submitted applications and paid to take several exams before March 15 will receive a refund. We must discuss this decision with universities. After the 30th, we will announce which students will have to pass what exams in order to get into a particular university.”

As far as the procedure for conducting exams, the minister said that examination centers will be opened throughout Armenia. To avoid overcrowding, a limited number of applicants will be allowed into the exam halls..

Applicants will wear masks while taking exams. Examination centers will be provided with disinfectants.

“The examination will be carried out in compliance with all safety rules,” the minister assured, and asked parents not to accompany their children to the place where they will take their exams.

What people are saying on social media

Armenian social media users were divided on the subject. Some support the ministry’s decision, while others criticize it.

Here are some of the comments people left:

“This isn’t education! It’s insanity!”

“No need to expose children to unnecessary stress! It’s not the end of the world. you just need to organize everything as much as possible.”

“This is absolutely the right decision.”

“If children are going to be evaluated according to their grades prior to March 13, then what was the point in distance learning? They still continued to study and receive grades!”


Yerevan "Antituberculous dispensary" eliminated

Kalantarian Kevo
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo.”Antituberculous dispensary” CJSC  is eliminated. The Council of Elders of Yerevan adopted the corresponding decision at the meeting on April 28. The  elimination commission will be created by the mayor of Yerevan within  15 days after the entry into force of this decision.

With the unification of all the antituberculosis dispensaries of  Yerevan, the urban antituberculosis dispensary was founded in 1987.  The organization reveals, diagnoses and treats the patients with  tuberculosis. There is all necessary equipment for free, qualified,  professional service of the population. The dispensary has an  in-patient department with 48 hospital beds, where 280-300 patients  are treated, 150-200 conscripts are given medical expert examination:  9-10 thousand fluorographic and 4-5 thousand X-ray and layered  investigations are done in the department of X-ray and fluorography. 

In substantiating the decision, it is noted that earlier the Ministry  of Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia, for the implementation of  community-based tuberculosis medical care and services in Yerevan,  allocated 9 outpatient clinics the funds provided for laboratory and  instrumental diagnostic studies and highly specialized consultations.

Considering that early detection, prevention, further treatment and  continuous monitoring of tuberculosis are included in targeted state  health programs and are provided to the population exclusively on a  free basis, the company’s further activities without state-guaranteed  free medical care and services are not practical.

Employment contracts were terminated with medical personnel and some  employees of the administrative and business personnel of the CJSC in  the manner prescribed by the Labor Code of the Republic of Armenia.  Currently, 12 individuals work in the company to coordinate current  work, whose salary in January-February was paid at the expense of  free cash of the company.

Bright Armenia: Cabinet members receiving a salary of one and a half million drams constantly declare that there is no money

Emil Lazarian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo.All members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Armenia receive a salary of one and a half million drams, and constantly declare that there is no money. This was stated  in an interview with reporters by the head of the Bright Armenia  faction Edmond Marukyan. He noted that in May, when all restrictions  will be lifted, many people can realize that they lost their jobs., the MP asked.  

According to the MP, those subscribers who paid for utilities were  cut from the budget, which was provided for food and for basic  necessities. , added Edmon Marukyan.

The head of the Bright Armenia stated that there are 200 billion  drams of “free money” in the country that can be spent without  prejudice to other state projects. When asked by journalists that the  country’s leadership did not expect that the state of emergency in  Armenia would last longer than a month, Marukyan said: “The  government should provide for a possible development of the  situation. Moreover, it was initially clear that they intended to  extend the state of emergency. I believe that for those citizens  whose debt is less than 60,000 drams, gas and electricity should not  be turned off. You should fix a certain amount and turn off the  lights and gas for those who use the situation and have money, but do  not pay. The state has reserve funds and should be given to the  people. A similar practice was applied in Georgia, Denmark, the USA  and a number of other countries>, the MP emphasized. The head of the  Bright Armenia emphasized that the US leadership distributed $ 1,200  to all residents of the country, and $ 500 to children, regardless of  whether they were provided or not. , concluded  Marukyan. 

Vice-Speaker: Mikael Minasyan will be held accountable and his stay abroad will not help him

Elizabeth Jabejian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo.Son-in-law of former President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, former Armenian Ambassador to the Vatican, Mikael Minasyan will be held accountable and his stay abroad will not help him. On April 28, in a conversation with  reporters, the National Assembly Vice- Speaker Alen Simonyan stated.

The Vice-Speaker noted that Mikael Minasyan  < is a myth from head to  toe> and he has not read his statements for a long time, which are  published together with his romantic photographs. Simonyan advised  the former ambassador to tackle the issue of wasted billions,  stressing that he would be held accountable for this and his current  stay abroad would not save him. including Minasyan and Serzh Sargsyan,  are now busy trying to start  political activity in the hope that this will help them avoid  responsibility for their actions, presenting it as political  persecution, “he said.

To recall, Mikael Minasyan was prosecuted as a defendant in a  criminal case on illicit enrichment, money laundering and the  inclusion of false data in the income statement. There is no exact  information regarding his current location; Minasyan himself  previously via Facebook reported the initiation of more than 10  criminal cases against people related to him and his family. Last  fall, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called on Minasyan to return to  his homeland and answer questions from the Special Investigation  Service. In particular, it was about illegal, as the Prime Minister  noted, privatization of a strategic object in the Lori region.  According to media reports, this object is the Dzoraget hydroelectric  power station ().

Sports: Discovering young talents: Armenian goalkeeper from France

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia

By Samvel Sukiasyan

NEWS.am Sport presents the young Armenian football players who play abroad, but dream of playing for the Armenian national team.

Goalkeeper Khachatour Unussian, 14, plays for the U15 team of FC Kronenbourg in France.

“My son was born and raised in France, he has been playing football since he was 8 years old,” her mother, Sophia Unussian, told NEWS.am Sport. “He is fluent in Armenian and studies at La Doctrine Chrétienne Christian School in Strasbourg.

“Khachatour was born in August 2005 and plays as a goalkeeper. He started his career in the youth team of the French club SC Schiltigheim, where he spent several years.

As part of SC Schiltigheim, my son became the U13 Ligue d’Alsace champion, and has played many times against the youth teams of top French clubs, including PSG and Lyon.

Khachatour trains at ProPulse Academy in parallel. He was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the Boulogne-sur-Mer tournament, took part in the Izmir Cup international tournament in Turkey, where his team also competed with Galatasaray.

This year, Khachatour moved to FC Kronenbourg where he plays for the U15 team. He will soon join the U16 team. Owing to his diligence and the professionalism and strictness of his coach, he can make further progress in the new club.

So far, the Football Federation of Armenia has not contacted us, but my son dreams of receiving an invitation from Armenia’s youth team, and in the future—from the national team.”

Music: Renowned composer Loris Tjeknavorian creates ‘abstract’ music on pandemic era

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Culture 10:10 28/04/2020 Region

Distinguished Iranian-Armenian composer and conductor Loris Tjeknavorian said on Monday that he has created a piece of music on coronavirus pandemic and has described it as an abstract art without melody.

In a virtual interview with IRNA news agency, the maestro stated that some emotions are abstract, adding “when you listen to the work, you have to listen to what is being made.”

Loris Tjeknavorian was born on 13 October 1937 in Borujerd, Iran, to immigrant Armenian parents. From 1989-1998 and 1999-2000, he was the principal conductor and artistic director of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra in Yerevan.

As one of the leading conductors of his generation, he has led international orchestras throughout the world such as in Austria, the UK, the USA, Canada, Hungary, Copenhagen, Iran, Finland, Russia, Armenia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Denmark.

Sports: Discovering young talents: Nantes Armenian scorer

Garo Vardanian
News.am, Armenia

By Samvel Sukiasyan

NEWS.am Sport represents young Armenian football players playing abroad and wishing to play at the Armenian squad in the future.

Let’s meet 18-year-old Nantes U19 squad scorer Gor Manvelyan.

The Armenian football player, 18, has scored 17 goals and made nine assists in 19 appearances this season.

A NEWS.am Sport correspondent spoke with an agent of a talented football player Gregory Mardyan. We will also provide excerpts from an article about Manvelyan published on the Nantes official website.

“I was born on April 9, 2002, in Stepanakert. The French stage of my career began in the youth team of FC Saint-Lo Manche, then I moved to US Granville. I constantly looked up to my older brother, who also played soccer. He always trained me in his free time.

“After one of the matches, I saw my brother talking to a stranger. As it became known later, it was a scout. Parents told me that Nantes was interested in me, and I, without hesitation, decided to make a move. It was a big challenge for me, which I wanted to take advantage of.

My family is my everything. They come to all my matches. We communicate every day. A strong connection with my family makes me stronger,” said Gor in an interview with the Nantes.

 SUPER-SEASON IN FRANCE AND INVITATION TO THE ARMENIAN YOUTH TEAM OF ARMENIA

“Last season, as part of the Nantes, Gor, playing with #10 shirt, became the U17 French champion.

During this season, he fully unleashed his potential under the leadership of Bordeaux and Nantes ex-football player Stephane Ziani, becoming the U19 top scorer of the championship. Gor has scored 17 goals and made nine assists in 19 appearances.

In four matches of the Coupe de France Manvelyan scored five goals and made four assists. Unfortunately, the season was interrupted amid COVID-19.

In late February / early March, we contacted representatives of the Football Federation of Armenia with the aim of attracting Gor to the next gathering of the Armenian young squad, but it what canceled amid COVID-19 pandemic, his agent said. 

MADE IN FC NANTES

That is the title of Manvelyan’s article on the official Nantes website. The intro of the article captions Gor as follows: “Gor Manvelyan is an important element in Stephane Ziani’s squad. This is a technically well-trained football player, excellently ‘reading the game’ and seeing the field.”

We hope that very soon Gor will delight the Armenian fans with his goals, defending the honor of our tricolor.

Armenpress: COVID-19: Armenia active cases reach 931

Karapet Navasardian

COVID-19: Armenia active cases reach 931

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 11:09,

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. 62 coronavirus cases have been diagnosed in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total cumulative number to 1808.

An 80-year-old patient with underlying health conditions died, raising the number of fatalities to 29, NCDC reported.

15 people recovered in the past day.

An overall 848 people have recovered from the coronavirus in Armenia since the outbreak.

The number of active cases stood at 931 as of 11:00, April 27.

 

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan