Category: 2020

 18:49,

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS.  The European Union will provide 456,500 EUR assistance to Armenia to mitigate the negative impact of the coronavirus crisis in the agricultural sector.

It will be allocated from the budget of the EU Green Agriculture Initiative (EU-GAIA) in Armenia project, funded by the European Union and co-funded by Austrian Development Cooperation, ARMENPRESS was informed from the EU Green Agriculyure Initiative.

This was announced at the meeting of the first Advisory Board of the EU-GAIA project, during which the plan of immediate measures to support farmers and producers at the outbreak of COVID19 was approved.

The list of specific activities offered by the project includes provision of two-wheeled tractors and seedlings, capacity building of government staff, provision of inputs, small agricultural equipment and tools, support to the post-harvest facilities, publishing booklets about existing programs of the Ministry of Economy, awareness of the safety rules of the virus during production, technical assistance (consulting with the help of remote professionals and the development of business models) to agriproducers – potential recipients of Government’s financial support with special focus on vulnerable groups.

According to the RA Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan, the proposed actions are in line with the goals of the Sustainable Agriculture Development Strategy of the Government in a crisis situation; that is, to make Armenia’s agriculture more efficient and resilient in the context of green economy development.

The presented short-term and medium-term measures will be financed within the framework of the EU-GAIA project current intervention logic and budget. The measures are aimed especially at the most socio-economically vulnerable groups in the current situation in the target regions of the project. The events were proposed and will be implemented by the Austrian Development Agency and the United Nations Development Programme in Armenia.

The meeting of the EU-GAIA Advisory Board was chaired by Gonzalo Serrano De La Rosa, Head of the EU Delegation Cooperation Section, and Andrea Baggioli, International Aid / Cooperation Officer of the EU Delegation in Armenia. The meeting was attended by the RA Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan, the RA Deputy Minister of Environment Vardan Melikyan, Governor of Tavush Hayk Chobanyan, Governor of Shirak Tigran Petrosyan, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Nature Protection of Lori Marzpetaran Artyom Shahverdyan, Head of the Austrian Development Cooperation’s office in Yerevan Gerhard Schaumberger, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Armenia Dmitry Mariyasin, Project Manager Pascal Bokkers, UNDP Project Coordinator Karen Harutyunyan and other representatives.

To summarise the results of the Advisory Board meeting, Andrea Baggioli recalled how the EU-GAIA intervention also considers climate change mitigation and adaptation measures: introduction of climate resilient seeds, sustainable management of natural resources and protection of biodiversity, promotion of resource-efficient (energy-efficient) technologies and renewable energy. To this respect, the Deputy Minister Melikyan’s proposal could well fit into a comprehensive assistance to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the agricultural and environment sector in Armenia: to launch the discussion on using large-scale tree planting in riparian zones and windbreaks, as a means of immediate socio-economic assistance to vulnerable groups; and to create synergies between the agricultural interventions and the water treatment plan in Sevan Lake region.

EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia is funded by the European Union (€ 9,7 million) and co-funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (€ 2 million). The project is implemented by the Austrian Development Agency and UNDP Armenia. The Government counterpart of the project is the RA Ministry of Economy. EU-GAIA project will support the development of sustainable, inclusive, innovative and market-based agribusiness particularly in the northern Marzes of Armenia – Shirak, Lori and Tavush. The project will be implemented over the course of three years.

The Member States of the European Union have decided to link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.

 11:02,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. At the proposal of ICOMOS – International Council on Monuments and Sites, April 18 is celebrated as International Day for Monuments and Sites since 1983. The aim is to promote awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage of humanity, their vulnerability and the efforts required for their protection and conservation.

On the occasion of this day Deputy Minister of Education, science, culture and sport Narine Khachaturyan gave an interview to ARMENPRESS, stating that Armenia has a rich cultural heritage which needs to be preserved, restored and properly presented to the Armenian and international community. According to the deputy minister, not only the state but also the society have a great role to play in this process.

Mrs. Khachaturyan said numerous actions are being taken for the preservation of monuments, but if there is no public perception and understanding, no love towards the homeland and the historical-cultural heritage, no major result will be achieved regardless of the efforts made by the state.

“We have a huge heritage, part of which is under land. There is still a lot to do for the next generations, but due to financial reasons completely restoring all monuments is just impossible. The state is ready to cooperate with the private companies, communities, but the community residents’ consciousness should be raised, because in many cases monuments are not destroyed in a natural way, but due to the human factor, which is very sad”, she said.

As for the legislative gaps of the field the deputy minister said they are working currently on these issues, have prepared changes in articles which soon will be circulated.

The ministry was conducting awareness-raising campaign both in Yerevan and the communities. But due to the current situation in the country these campaigns were suspended. “Community leaders were listening to us with a great interest, but then we were again informed that illegal building was being constructed in the territory of a monument, etc. I suppose that in addition to administrative fines, criminal responsibility is also needed, but the most important change will be when we teach our children to understand the value of culture, including that of the monuments. For this purpose we have launched a program aimed at discovering the homeland which we will implement and which will bring change in the consciousness”, she added.

The deputy minister informed that the ministry attaches great importance to the digital domain for popularizing the historical-cultural heritage. A multi-lingual portal for presenting the monuments, archaeological field will be prepared. “Our culture is rich and attractive, we just need to properly present it. Now these steps are being taken”, the Armenian deputy minister said.

Interview by Angela Hambardzumyan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 10:50,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. 47 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia, 121 more patients have recovered, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook.

“Yesterday 1003 people passed testing. The new confirmed cases are 47. 1 patient has died. 121 more patients have recovered.

Thus, we had a decline in active cases by 75. If in the previous day the number of active cases was 780, today this number is 705”, the PM added.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 11:14,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Armenia has reached 1,248, as 47 new cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said today.

The total number of recoveries has reached 523.

1 more patient has died, bringing the total number of deaths to 20.

So far, 11,769 people passed testing.

At the moment, the active cases are 705.

Healthcare minister’s spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan said that a 75-year-old patient has died from coronavirus on April 17. The woman also had a double pneumonia and accompanying chronic diseases.

Reported by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 20:15,

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS.  The spread of the coronavirus remains under control due to the efforts of the health system and public administration of Armenia. Nearly half of the hospital wards allocated for coronavirus infected people has remained vacant during this period, PM Pashinyan announced in his April 17 address.

‘’This is one of the key indicators of the management of the pandemic because many developed countries faced situations when they had not enough places in the hospitals for infected people. At least until this point we resisted the pandemic with dignity and I want to once again express words of gratitude and appreciation to our doctors and all the health system workers, who are the front liners of the struggle against the pandemic and have been away from their families for weeks. We are thankful to you, dear health system workers, dear doctors’’, ARMENPRESS reports the PM as saying.

He presented the numbers on the spread of the pandemic both in Armenia and the world. ‘’2 million 181 thousand and 508 cases have been recorded globally. 147 thousand and 337 people have died from coronavirus and 552 thousand and 264 people have recovered. The situation in Armenia is the following – we have confirmed 1201 cases, 402 have recovered and unfortunately 19 have died. The mean age of our compatriots who died from coronavirus is 73.8. All had severe concomitant diseases, including cancer, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart diseases and so on. By April 17 we have 780 active cases receiving hospital treatment, 1700 citizens are isolated and self-isolation regime has been set for 2647 people. I want to mention that decent conditions have been created for our isolated citizens from the 1st day. They are in hotel rooms, are provided with food and necessary medical supervision. For many countries Armenia is an example of how it’s necessary to treat with one’s own people in the periods of difficulties and crisis”.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 11:32,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. The Office of the President of Armenia adopted new approaches for social assistance taking into account the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

At the instruction of President Armen Sarkissian, the Office these days is paying special attention to the most vulnerable and socially needy groups, living in bordering and remote communities, as well as affected by earthquake.

The program beneficiaries have been selected based on the President’s communication with the residents during his visit to provinces, as well as the letters sent to the President and their analysis.

The assistance program will be implemented in stages. The current stage involves a total of 200 beneficiaries from various social groups. At this moment a priority is given to children of remote communities who do not have an opportunity for remote learning, as well as to large families and elderly people.

At this stage of the program assistance has been provided to the children of socially needy families living in Shirak and Tavush provinces.

The next group are the children of needy families or killed servicemen, living in bordering communities of Tavush province.

The program also includes several large families from Yerevan, as well as from Ararat, Armavir, Syunik, Tavush and Kotayk provinces, who have 6-14 aged children. All beneficiaries have been provided with essentials and food.

Computers have been provided to the children of needy families and families of fallen soldiers in Chinari, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, Movses, Choratan, Aygepar communities of Tavush province.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 11:39,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan hosted newly-elected President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Pashinyan once again congratulated Mr. Harutyunyan on his victory in the presidential election, wishing success in this responsible position. The officials highlighted the active cooperation between Armenia and Artsakh in all areas.

Arayik Harutyunyan introduced the Armenian PM on his upcoming actions and plans.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:01,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Russia has increased by 4,785 in one day, RIA Novosti reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

Thus, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia has reached 36,793. These cases have been recorded in 85 regions of the country.

The death toll is 313.

A total of 3,057 patients have recovered.

Reported by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan