Category: 2020

 13:47,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. President-elect of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan has affirmed his readiness to cooperate with all political forces.

“I am ready to cooperate with everyone. I have mentioned the agenda – a general social-economic program, the Karabakh issue, security, and harmonious work with the government of Armenia. I am ready to cooperate with everyone around this agenda. Soon I will start meetings with parliamentary political parties, and I am open for cooperation with non-parliamentary political parties as well,” Harutyunyan said.

According to preliminary results of the second round of the presidential election, Harutyunyan garnered 88% of votes.

Reporting and writing by Norayr Shoghikyan

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:05,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s government will direct the 280 million USD aid provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for mitigating the consequences of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), deputy minister of economy Avag Avanesyan said at a press conference.

“The IMF provides aid to Armenia worth 280 million USD. These funds are available to our government because we have constantly improved the business climate and ensured the protection of investments, as well as carried out reforms. As a result, a trust has been formed in the international community that Armenia will spend these funds for mitigating the consequences of the coronavirus”, Avanesyan said.

He assured that the main purpose of spending these sums is going to be the major strengthening of the healthcare system, as well as mitigation of social and economic shocks. “This is a loan without terms, in other words the government will choose on what to spend these sums”, he said.

On April 10 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team reached a staff level agreement with the Armenian authorities for the completion of the second review of Armenia’s reform program, which is supported by the IMF, the IMF said in a statement. The statement says the authorities have requested an increase in financial support provided by the IMF for Armenia and, pending Executive Board approval, around $280 million will be available immediately after the Board meeting.

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.

Reported by Lilit Demuryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:59,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Scientists at the A.B. Nalbandian Institute of Chemical Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia have developed a new generation composite disinfectant amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The academy said in a news release that the disinfectant, called Bioxyl-2, is based on active oxygen, does not contain chlorine and is highly effective, as well as environmentally friendly and affordable. 

The scientists have also developed the required technology for manufacturing the disinfectant.

According to the academy, the disinfectant has been tested by the Healthcare Ministry and has proven to be highly effective. Technical terms of productions have been affirmed by authorities.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the A.B. Nalbandian Institute of Chemical Physics manufactured 1 tons of the disinfectant and donated it to the Ministry of Emergency Situation for preventive measures.

The institute said it is ready to launch mass production.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:05,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the people of Artsakh on completing elections, stating that Armenia continues close cooperation with Artsakh for reaching common goals.

“I congratulate the people of independent and democratic Artsakh on completing elections. They mandated authorities to further strengthen the security of Artsakh and represent it in the peace process. We continue our close cooperation with Artsakh to reach our common goals”, Pashinyan wrote on Twitter.

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

 14:25,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS/ARTSAKHPRESS. Vladimir Zakharov, Director of the Institute of Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea and Caspian Region, who observed the second round of the presidential election in Artsakh, says these elections are an example of democratic elections for the world.

“Both the March 31 general elections and yesterday’s second round of the presidential election were held in a democratic way. Moreover, talking to the people I saw that they are talking more about the development of Artsakh. I think the elections in Artsakh are an example for the world on how the democratic elections should be”, he said at a press conference today.

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

 14:45,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian presented China’s position on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict during a press conference on April 14.

“China’s position on the issue of Nagorno Karabakh is clear and consistent. We hope relevant parties will resolve disputes through political dialogue and uphold regional peace and stability. China will continue promoting stability and development in the region”, the spokesperson said.

Reported by Norayr Shoghikyan

 15:59,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Member of Parliament from the ruling My Step bloc  Rustam Bakoyan – representing the Yazidi community of the country, has introduced a bill envisaging the opportunity of unpaid leave for national minority representatives for celebrating their national, religious and remembrance days.

Bakoyan introduced the bill on amending the Labor Code during the plenary session of parliament, and also congratulated the Yazidi community on Malake Taus, the Yazidi New Year.

“Nearly 100 years after the Armenian Genocide, the Yazidi people were subjected to genocide on their land in the beginning of the 21st century. We are living in a very contradictory period of time, unfortunately, we – the Yazidis – are still being murdered for our national affiliation and religion in the 21st century. However, in this context, me and all Yazidis living in Armenia have a big occasion to be proud of, we live in and are citizens of a country where our rights are fully protected, our life is a supreme value here,” the lawmaker said.

The amendments proposed by the MP seek to grant no more than 4 days a year in unpaid leave for national minority representatives to celebrate their holidays and commemoration days.

Gevorg Petrosyan from the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party, however, said that he himself used to work in the private sector and there was never a case when a national minority representative from the Yazidi community would be rejected leave on those days. He says the workers are allowed to be absent for these occasions and they still keep their pay.

“This bill makes it look like they will be deprived from their salaries for these days”, he said.

Bakoyan said the issue concerns not only the Yazidi community and that the issue is significant.

He said the “brotherly attitude” of Armenians is obvious, but regulation by law are still important.

Reporting and writing by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:40,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. The European Union will provide 92 million Euros in aid to Armenia to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and overcome the economic crisis, deputy minister of economy Varos Simonyan said during a press conference today.

“At this moment 92 million Euros in aid will be provided by the EU to Armenia. The sums will be directed for a number of areas, in particular, to the healthcare system, people and citizens most affected from the crises, as well as to small and medium entrepreneurs. Within what tools this assistance will be provided is still under discussion”, the deputy minister said.

He informed that the amount of assistance is still under discussion and it may increase. “This assistance will be provided to all countries which need it. The assistance tool is called Team Europe, and within this framework nearly 20 billion Euros in aid has already been approved”, he said.

Reported by Karen Khachatryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:12,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Iran confirmed 1,512 more cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected to 76,389, the Armenian Embassy in Iran said.

According to the latest reports, the number of people who died from COVID-19 in Iran has increased by 94. The death toll has reached 4,777. 

3,643 patients are in serious condition.

The total number of recovered patients has reached 49,933.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:01,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. An appellate court has denied former President Serzh Sargsyan’s motion on lifting his exit ban amid the ongoing court proceedings.

A court banned Sargsyan from leaving the country pending the trial.

“At the decision of the court of appeals, the measure of restraint against Serzh Sargsyan – the signature bond on not leaving the country – will not be lifted,” the prosecution told ARMENPRESS.

The former president was charged with embezzlement in December 2019 and a court imposed a signature bond as bail.   Former agriculture minister Sergo Karapetyan, businessman Barsegh Beglaryan and several others are also charged in the same case. Sargsyan is suspected in abuse of power and organizing the embezzlement of nearly half a billion drams during his tenure as president through the businessman. Sargsyan denies wrongdoing.

Reporting and writing by Karen Khachatryan

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan