Category: 2020

Armenia parliament majority: Those guilty for leak of off-air footage before PM’s video message must be punished

Albert Nalbandian
News.am, Armenia
Armenia parliament majority: Those guilty for leak of off-air footage before PM’s video message must be punished Armenia parliament majority: Those guilty for leak of off-air footage before PM’s video message must be punished

14:21, 20.04.2020

YEREVAN. – Those at fault for the leakage of the off-air footage of the Prime Minister’s video message must be held accountable. Lilit Makunts, head of the majority My Step faction, said this during the traditional briefing in the National Assembly of Armenia on Monday.

She noted that the My Step bloc considers what happened unacceptable. According to her, this incident may have various explanations, but the matter is firstly about information security. “At the time when the prime minister did not know about the live broadcast, important information could have been voiced that was not intended for a wide audience,” Makunts said. “People who are responsible for this incident must be held accountable. If this does not happen, the bloc will turn to the National Commission on Television and Radio demanding that not only an explanation be given and that such incidents be ruled out in the future, but also that those guilty be held accountable. ”

Makunts added that she did not consider Mane Gevorgyan, the prime minister’s spokesperson, accountable in this regard, as “the technical details of the live broadcast do not fall within her responsibilities.”

To note, the off-air footage of PM Nikol Pashinyan preparing for his live broadcast had appeared on the Internet, and his spokesperson and the state-funded Public Television have made mutual accusations in this regard.

Prosperous Armenia parliament faction: Accusations against Armenian Apostolic Church are unacceptable

Kajoyan Gevork
News.am, Armenia

12:54, 20.04.2020

YEREVAN. – At least some minimum respect must be shown toward state and religious institutions. Opposition Prosperous Armenia faction MP Naira Zohrabyan said this during the traditional briefing in the National Assembly on Monday, commenting on the government representatives’ criticism of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, who had called on to commute the precautionary measure of detention of former President Robert Kocharyan.

According to the MP, the statement of the Catholicos is not a subject of discussion in political circles. “I think that the addressee of this statement should be the court, and the court will decide how to respond to the Catholicos’ call,” Zohrabyan stressed. “And the dirty and low-level campaign that has been launched against the Armenian Apostolic Church (…) must be stopped.”

Another Prosperous Armenia MP, Mikayel Melkumyan, added that the traditional Christian and family values which the Armenian Apostolic Church embodies have, in fact, come under attack. According to the parliamentarian, the state should be engaged in its activities, and the religious centers—in theirs.

To note, the Catholicos of Armenians had called for commuting the precautionary measure of detention of ex-President Kocharyan, as is done in many other countries amid the risk of COVID-19 infection in prisons.

Opposition Bright Armenia parliamentary faction: PM does not have competent team

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia

14:58, 20.04.2020

YEREVAN. – The leak of the footage of the live broadcast preparations proved that the Prime Minister does not have a competent team, Edmon Marukyan, chairman of the opposition Bright Armenia party and head of the Bright Armenia faction, said this during the traditional briefing in the National Assembly on Monday.

“The leak of the footage leads us to our previous conviction that the government does not have enough capacity to protect sensitive information for citizens,” Marukyan added, in particular.

He also noted that there is nothing unusual in that footage, and everyone has such footage. “The problem is that there isn’t that competent team that will not let it come out.”

To note, the off-air footage of PM Nikol Pashinyan preparing for his live broadcast had appeared on the Internet, and his spokesperson and the state-funded Public Television have made mutual accusations in this regard.


Uruguay recognized the Armenian Genocide 55 years ago today

Maral Takmazian
Public Radio of Armenia


This year marks the 55th anniversary of Armenian Genocide recognition by Uruguay, the first country to officially acknowledge this crime against humanity.

The Armenian National Committee of Uruguay describes the recognition as a “historical milestone in the fight for justice for the Armenian people.”

The Committee has been commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian genocide  together with the Presidency of the House of Representatives for two decades in the Legislative Palace.

Given the current coronavirus crisis, the event has been postponed this year, but a  series of commemorative activities will be organized in compliance with conditions imposed by the health emergency.

On April 24, the Armenian community will organize the traditional blood donation. The Committee says the action “aims to symbolically give back the solidarity received by our ancestors who survived the Genocide and were welcomed and integrated on an equal footing  by Uruguayan society.”

The traditional March for Justice organized by the Armenian Youth Federation will no go ahead as usual, and move to an online platform instead.

Finally, the Armenian institutions are coordinating efforts to bring their contribution to those who have been especially affected by the consequences of this pandemic.

On 20 April 1965, Uruguay became the first nation in the world to officially recognize the Armenian genocide.

Armenpress: Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs to hold video-conference on April 21

Bedik Zaminian

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs to hold video-conference on April 21

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 21:28,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held a video conference with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov (Russia), Stéphane Visconti (France), Andrew Schofer (USA), as well as with Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the participants discussed the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan touched upon the general elections held in Artsakh.

The imperative of unconditionally observing the ceasefire amid the global fight against the COVID-19 was emphasized.

The participants exchanged views on the steps aimed at the continuity of activities under the current circumstances. In this context it was agreed to hold a video conference between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on April 21 with the mediation and participation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Armenpress: PM Pashinyan offers condolences to Prime Minister of Canada

Tatoyan Vazgen

PM Pashinyan offers condolences to Prime Minister of Canada

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 20:39,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a condolence message to Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

“I was deeply shocked by the news of an appalling crime committed in New Scotland that killed 16 innocent people.

I hereby offer my sincere condolences to you and to the friendly people of Canada over this ruthless act of violence that shocked all Canadians amid the ongoing fight against the plague of COVID-19.

Please convey my most profound sympathy to victims’ families and friends. I wish them all fortitude and endurance,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said in his condolence message.

Executive Director of Public TV submits resignation letter due to incident with PM Pashinyan

Vanyan Gary

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 18:26,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Executive Director of the Public Television of Armenia Margarita Grigoryan has submitted a resignation letter, noting that the leak of off-air footage before PM’s video message is inadmissible for her and she is sincerely outraged by this third-rate step of violating the partnership and ethical principles, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Public TV.

”Dear compatriots, partners and TV viewers,

The leak of off-air footage before PM’s video message is inadmissible for me and I am sincerely outraged by this third-rate step of violating the partnership and ethical principles. I have also been subject of media attacks for years and well understand how it feels to be stabbed in the back. I feel very sorry for what has happened. His kind of media vandalism is unforgivable in this important moment in the life of the country, in this stage of the development of the Public TV. I personally have been responsible for numerous public events, festive events and extraordinary events and I shared with my staff words of appreciation. And now I share the responsibility of what has happened and submit my letter of resignation’’, reads Margarita Grigoryan’s letter.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 20-04-20

Khondkarian Raffi

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 17:43,

YEREVAN, 20 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 20 April, USD exchange rate down by 1.44 drams to 482.52 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.44 drams to 524.89 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.03 drams to 6.49 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.82 drams to 601.80 drams.

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

Gold price down by 653.29 drams to 26257.17 drams. Silver price down by 5.99 drams to 235.18 drams. Platinum price down by 191.71 drams to 12100.43 drams.

Over 972 million AMD donated to anti-coronavirus efforts in Armenia

Hunanian Jack

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 18:57,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Finance informs that a total of 972 million and 801 thousand drams has been donated to the Armenian government for its anti-coronavirus efforts, ARMENPRESS reports the government said.

The treasury account (900005001947) was opened on March 17th for citizens and organizations willing to make donations.

The government said a total of 3819 payments were made since.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

COVID19 updates: Iran overtakes China with most confirmed cases

David Nargizian

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 17:14,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world has reached 2 million 423 thousand 634, according to the data released by coronavirus research centers.

The death toll is over 166,000.

636,187 patients have recovered.

US is leading in the world in terms of the largest number of infected people (764,265 confirmed cases). 40,565 deaths were reported.

Then comes Spain which confirmed 200,210 cases so far. The total number of deaths in Spain is 20,852.

Spain is followed by Italy which reported a total of 178,972 cases. 23,660 patients have died.

The next is France, overtaking Germany, with a total of 152,894 cases and 19,718 deaths.

Germany has confirmed 145,743 cases and 4,642 deaths.

Germany is followed by the UK which reported 120,067 confirmed cases and 16,060 deaths.

Turkey overtook China and confirmed 86,306 cases. The deaths comprise 2,017.

Iran as well surpassed China with the most confirmed cases, as 83,505 cases have been registered. 5,209 people have died in Iran from coronavirus.

China, where the COVID-19 outbreak started, confirmed a total of 82,747 cases. The death toll here is 4,632.

China is followed by Russia where the number of confirmed cases has reached 47,121 and the death toll is 405.

Belgium confirmed 39,983 cases, Brazil – 39,144, Canada – 35,056, the Netherlands – 33,405.

Georgia confirmed 399 cases of coronavirus and 4 deaths.

Among the Arab states the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the largest number of confirmed cases – 6,781. 41 death cases have been registered here. Qatar confirmed 6,015 cases and 9 deaths. Egypt reported 3,144 confirmed cases and 239 deaths. Iraq confirmed 1,539 cases and 82 deaths. Syria’s confirmed cases reached 39. 3 death cases have been registered.

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19. 

According to the data of the World Health Organization, coronavirus cases have been confirmed in more than 210 countries and territories.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan