Category: 2020

 18:52, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. A total of 121 million 175 thousand drams has been donated to the Armenian Government for its anti-coronavirus efforts, the government said.

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

The government said a total of 688 payments were made since. The donations amounted to a bit over 45,5 million as of 18:00 yesterday.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 16:39, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan doesn’t rule out the Diaspora’s support to Armenia to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

“This crisis is not only in Armenia, at this moment the whole world is in crisis. Our compatriots living abroad are also a victim of this crisis in some sense. This is not the moment that we can really expect that thousands of Diaspora-Armenians will gather and send money here. But I don’t rule out that, maybe this will happen, but at this moment people are engaged in their problems”, Sinanyan told reporters, asked whether the Diaspora will also donate money to the account number opened for battling the coronavirus in Armenia.

On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, at 17:00. As of now, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country is 122, one patient has recovered. An account number has been opened at the Central Treasury aimed at assisting the healthcare ministry to fight against COVID-19.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 18:43, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan chaired the Government’s meeting On March 19. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh President’s Office, while discussing the questions on the agenda, the President gave appropriate assignments to the heads of concerned structures towards their proper realization.

The epidemiological situation in the republic and measures being carried out towards combating acute respiratory infections and the new coronavirus were analyzed during the meeting. The Head of the State once again underscored the necessity of consistent implementation of all preventive measures and constant monitoring of the epidemiological situation in the republic.

 19:28, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Inecobank transferred AMD 20 million for the implementation of measures aimed at overcoming the new coronavirus in Armenia, in particular, the construction of a new modular facility at the “NORK” Infectious Clinical Hospital. Earlier, Minister of Health of Armenia Arsen Torosyan posted on his Facebook page about the new building, noting that as a result of this initiative the hospital will have 40 new wards in 3-4 days.

“Since the first day, Inecobank, following the official publications on the new coronavirus and aiming to ensure safety for both its customers and employees, has already undertaken several measures, which we are sure will help prevent the virus. This step is our contribution to the goal of overcoming the virus. We believe that when united we can overcome any challenge,” said Aren Naltakyan, CEO of Inecobank.

”It should be added that a few days ago Inecobank had already announced a number of changes aimed at preventing the virus. If you also want to contribute to the fight against the new coronavirus, you can do it either via InecoMobile application or via the following link”, reads the statement.

ABOUT INECOBANK CJSC 

Inecobank CJSC is one of the leading banks in the South Caucasus region, focused on individual customers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations offering a full range of banking services including break through and innovative digital banking solutions. For over 24 years the bank has been providing unmatched convenience in Armenia serving more than 500 000 customers and over 200 000 online users. Inecobank developed and delivered industry-leading digital banking solutions with the purpose of introducing an entirely new culture of banking services. • In 2009 the Bank digitalized and fully automated the “Point of Sale Loan” product, reducing the loan generation time from 3-4 days to a few minutes. • In 2012, with the introduction of InecoOnline, the Bank was one of the first to provide 24/7 banking services to its customers. • In 2014 the Bank launched InecoMobile, its Mobile banking application, which is the most popular banking application in Armenia with over 100,000 users. • In 2017, the Bank was the first to introduce a fully automated consumer lending solution through its mobile and online applications, which generates consumer loans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • In 2018, the Bank was the first banking institution in Armenia to introduce InecoPay, the cashless payments new system. • The first full-range digital bank in Armenia, which enables individual customers a 24/7 access to full digital solutions: payments, lending, savings and other related services.

 20:33, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. According to Minister of Economy of Armenia Tigran Khachatryan, the global spread of coronavirus will have short-term significant impact on the Armenian economy, ARMENPRESS reports the Minister said in a press conference on March 19.

”Coronavirus will have short-term significant impact on the Armenian economy. We already see the consequences, but I am confident we will become stronger after this situation”, Khachatryan said.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 12. One patient has recovered and been discharged from hospital.

 Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 20:47, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. There are no investment projects in Armenia cancelled due to the state of emergency, ARMENPRESS reports the Minister of Economy Tigran Kahachatryan said in a press conference on March 19.

”We have no information about ongoing projects that have been suspended or cancelled due to the state of emergency”, the Minister said, adding that if there are difficulties conditioned by the situation, the Government is ready to discuss them case by case to understand what can be done to help them.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 12. One patient has recovered and been discharged from hospital.

 Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

 11:37, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Before the start of today’s session of the Yerevan City Council, Mayor Hayk Marutyan urged the City Council members to demonstrate high social responsibility during the current state of emergency aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus in Armenia.

The Mayor said the speed of the elimination of this disease depends on everyone.

“I ask everyone to contribute to the improvement of the situation as much as possible. What is required from the state, communities, the Yerevan City Hall, everything is being done. Nothing will be achieved without the participation of a citizen. I ask everyone so that people wear face masks in public places, in stores and public transport”, the Mayor said.

On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, at 17:00. As of now, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country is 115, one patient has recovered.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:16, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government is discussing the anti-crisis economic strategy, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during today’s Cabinet meeting, adding that as a result of the current crisis Armenia, Artsakh, the Armenian people should get out of this situation caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) more strongly.

“Our decision is definite. We haven’t put a task before ourselves and will not put a task to restore the pre-crisis economic situation, no matter how good that situation was in Armenia. We have set a task to be guided by much greater ambitions while positioning towards the post-crisis situation. Here the logic of our actions comes that we should implement development programs at this period, maybe we should focus more on the agenda of the reforms we have adopted and of course we also should provide a major support to the economy that must have a development logic”, the PM said, adding that the current crisis will also bring certain social challenges.

Pashinyan said respective actions must also be taken on this path.

On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, at 17:00. As of now, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country is 115, one patient has recovered.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:39, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia is preparing two 25-billion-dram business aid packages for social assistance and business support amid the coronavirus crisis.

An additional 80-billion-dram fund will be developed aimed at re-organization of the economy and its positioning in accordance to the parameters of the post-crisis period, PM Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan said the existing situation in the market leads to irregular consumer conditions, and the country must have financing tools to enable businesses pass the crisis period without significant damages or losses.

“Therefore we developed a number of potential loan products, namely 3 primary ones, which imply loan co-financing, loan re-financing and interest rate subsidization,” Grigoryan said on the 25 billion dram aid packages.

He said the government will introduce the kind of loan types which will enable businesses to remain in an stand-by state for a certain period of time, i.e. to take care of all expenses, not have interest rate burden, not have currency risks, but maintain employees and solve current communal issues.

He said this package will allow businesses to think about business development, and not about optimization.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 11:27, 19 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk issued a statement, noting that the OSCE Mission temporarily suspends monitoring exercises, including in the Nagorno Karabakh line of contact, given the current situation caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the OSCE told Armenpress.

“The ongoing situation following the spread of COVID-19 has led to the closure of international borders throughout the region, travel restrictions for international and local staff, as well as restrictions put in place to avoid face-to-face contact to reduce the risk of infection. In view of the above, and following consultations with the sides, monitoring exercises will be suspended until these restrictions are lifted”, the Ambassador said in a statement, adding that he continue to be in contact with the relevant military authorities.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan