Category: 2020

 19:46, 14 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS.  Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held a telephone conversation with Spanish Foreign Minister  Arancha González Laya.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Spain exchanged views on the measures at national levels aimed at fighting the novel coronavirus.

On behalf of the Government of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan offered condolences to Arancha González Laya over the victims reported as a result of the pandemic and expressed solidarity with the people of Spain in their efforts to overcome the pandemic.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan expressed gratitude to the authorities of Spain  for their careful attitude towards the Armenian community and for addressing their problems conditioned by the pandemic.

The sides emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the sidelines of the fight against coronavirus, including through EU programs and initiatives.

As for bilateral agenda, the FMs expressed mutual readiness to strengthen and further develop the cooperation between the two countries in various spheres.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 20:34, 14 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. At least 280 thousand users will benefit from the 12^th program of mitigating the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus adopted by the Government of Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page.

‘’At least 280 thousand users will benefit from this program. The users whose gas bills amounted to 10,001-30,000 AMD in February and 5,001-10,000 for electricity will get 30% assistance’’, the PM wrote.

The state of emergency has been prolonged in Armenia by 30 days until May 14, 2020. Regime of tough restrictions is in force.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 00:11,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a telephone conversation with President-elect of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

President Sarkissian congratulated Arayik Harutyunyan on his success in the second round of the presidential election and on being elected President of Artsakh.

The Armenian President said Arayik Harutyunyan is going to assume the position of the President in a very complex and responsible period for Artsakh, conditioned by the developments taking place in the world and in particular the ongoing complex geopolitical processes in the region. “The Republic of Artsakh once again proved that it is a well-established country with its state institutions, and most importantly, with its citizens. Today more than ever we need to be united”, the Armenian President said during the telephone talk.

President Sarkissian expressed confidence that Arayik Harutyunyan will be able to strengthen the atmosphere of solidarity and tolerance in Artsakh, organize and ensure the security, the economic and political development of Artsakh, unite the people around common goals.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 21:55, 14 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. 44.9% of eligible citizens participated in the 2nd stage presidential elections in Artsakh by 17:00, April 14, ARMENPRESS reports Secretary of the Central Electoral Commission of Artsakh Gyane Arushayan said.

She noted that 47 thousand and 50 people have voted.

Gayane Arushanyan said that the below-50% voter turnout will have no impact on the election and the candidate with most votes will become Artsakh’s President.

President of the Free Fatherland Party Arayik Harutyunyan and incumbent Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan are running for the presidency in the second round. They garnered 49,26% and 26,4% of votes respectively in the first round.

103,637 people are eligible to vote.

Mayilyan, however, has called on voters not to participate in the election due to the danger of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

As of the latest data, there are 6 cases of the infection in Artsakh. A state of emergency is enforced in the country.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 10:54,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed a congratulatory message to the Yazidi community of Armenia on their New Year – Malake Taus, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The message runs as follows:

“Dear representatives of the Yazidi community of Armenia,

I warmly congratulate you on your New Year – the Malake Taus. I wish this year to be distinguished for the brotherly Yazidi people with welfare and peace.

The sincere friendship between the Armenian and Yazidi peoples, by overcoming the trial of the time, has developed and strengthened leaving a rich heritage to us based on mutual respect and solidarity.

I am sure that together with the friendly Yazidi people we will manage to ensure Armenia’s progress and prosperity.

Let the spring warmth and freshness always accompany you, giving you health, strength and energy”.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 11:18,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Former prime minister and former state minister Arayik Harutyunyan has scored a landslide victory in the second round of the Artsakh presidential election, according to preliminary results.

Artsakh’s electoral board announced that Harutyunyan, the head of the Free Fatherland Party, garnered 88%, or 39860 votes.

The turnover was 45% (47165 voters).

Harutyunyan’s rival, the incumbent foreign minister Masis Mayilyan, garnered only 12% of votes.

Reporting, writing by Norayr Shoghikyan

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 11:11,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. 44 people tested positive for the coronavirus in Armenia, bringing the total cumulative number of infections to 1111, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The coronavirus fatality cases reached 17 with one patient dying from complications in the past day.

The active cases are 797.

A total of 297 people have recovered.

Reporting, writing by Lilit Demuryan

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 10:27,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian parliament has adopted the government-authored bill on criminalizing “public calls for violence” and “publicly advocating violence”.

The bill passed the second reading with 97 in favor and 14 against.

Public calls for violence, or advocating and justifying violence against a person or a group of persons based on their gender, race, ethnic or social background, genetic characteristics, language, religion, way of thinking, political or other views, affiliation to a national minority, age, personal, social or any other circumstances will constitute a crime punishable by up to 1 year behind bars.  Such acts should contain clear and present danger to constitute the crime.

Reporting, writing by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 11:24,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. A 66-year-old man has died from coronavirus in Armenia, bringing the total number of death cases to 17, Healthcare minister’s spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan said today.

“A death case has been registered in the St. Gregory the Illuminator hospital. The 66-year-old patient had coronavirus, double pneumonia. The patient also had accompanying chronic diseases”, she said.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Armenia has reached 1,111. The total number of recovered patients is 297. The active cases are 797.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:20,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Arayik Harutyunyan, who has been elected President of Artsakh based on the preliminary results of the voting in the second round of the presidential election, says he has no problem with any of the politicians and citizens.

“I am going to run a policy in Artsakh so that we can unite our society and jointly tackle the challenges. We do not have any problem with any politician. There will not be a political persecution against anyone”, he said during a press conference today.

The President-elect said during the pre-election stage he wanted to appeal to court over many insulating statements in his address, but now he has changed his mind.

The voting in the second round of the presidential election was held in Artsakh on April 14. According to the preliminary results, Arayik Harutyunyan was elected President of Artsakh with 88% of votes. The other candidate, current foreign minister Masis Mayilyan received 12% of votes.

Reported by Norayr Shoghikyan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan