Category: 2020

Armenia to replace used banknotes with new ones to fight coronavirus spread

Albert Nalbandian
DevDiscourse
March 12 2020
 
 
 
Reuters
                 
Representative Image Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
 
The Armenian central bank said on Thursday it would gradually replace used banknotes with new ones to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus and advised people to avoid making cash payments where possible.
 
In a post on its official Facebook page, the central bank also advised people to use online banking services in preference to cash where possible.
 
Armenia has recorded four cases of coronavirus, according to the health ministry.
 
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 

Serj Tankian urges New Zealand MFA to recognize Armenian Genocide

Christine Harutyunian
News.am, Armenia
March 12 2020

17:56, 12.03.2020
                  

World-renowned musician and composer Serj Tankian has called on New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

“It’s important for people to be aware about the genocide – the first genocide of the 2nd century,” Serj Tankian told Newshub. “The United States just recognised it, most – or a lot of countries – have recognised it, including France, Italy, the European Union, the Vatican, [and] Russia.”

Tankian noted that countries avoid the word genocide because Turkey does not want governments to use this word.

The musician will attend an event in the New Zealand Parliament, to which many parliamentarians and politicians have been invited.

Newshub has been leaked a memo sent to MPs by Peters’ office which says: “In deciding whether to take up the invitation, please note the New Zealand Government’s position on this sensitive issue, which is to encourage Turkey and Armenia, as the parties directly concerned, to discuss the issue.”

Meanwhile, Tankian views that as a threat to MPs not to attend.

“Even the Republican Party of the United States hasn’t gone that far,” he says. “That’s interesting. I think that’s a shame… it’s disappointing.”

Karabakh presidential candidate: Armenia PM must apologize for his statements

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
March 12 2020

17:40, 12.03.2020

During a meeting with journalists today, presidential candidate of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), hero of Artsakh, army general Vitali Balasanyan said he and his team aren’t going to let a revolution be made in Artsakh.

Touching upon Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that there are conspiratorial forces in Artsakh, Balasanyan stated that he doesn’t share this view. Balasanyan also said he doesn’t understand who those conspiratorial forces are and what the words “former” or “new Armenia” mean.

Vitali Balasanyan urged Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to present the list of conspiratorial forces so that people in Artsakh also know who they are. The leader of Armenia’s political authorities and his team need to refrain from making dangerous statements and apologize to the public as soon as possible. The time will come and we will speak out, and Nikol Pashinyan will be held liable for those words. Today is a historic day for all of us and for Nikol Pashinyan’s political authorities, and I ask them to refrain from making such statements and not try to make a revolution in Artsakh because we won’t allow it,” Vitali Balasanyan stated.

Armenian Virtual Bridge aims to make Armenia an advanced technology hub

Maral Takmazian
Public Radio of Armenia
March 12 2020

     

The Armenian Government today Okayed the Armenian Virtual Bridge program – a project worked out by the Ministry of High-Tech Industry aimed at turning Armenia into a competitive and technologically advanced country.

As a result, 45 Armenian entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to visit the Silicon Valley in 2020 to gain entrepreneurial and business knowledge and skills to present their products correctly, to meet investors and venture capitalists.

Through the program, Armenia gets the opportunity to connect with the world’s leading technology hubs using the potential of the Diaspora.

The most important component of the project is that it will ensure a technological representation in the Silicon Valley. For this purpose, an apartment of up to 250 square meters will be rented in the city of San Jose, where participants will live and work under the Virtual Bridge program.

The government sees this as the best way to make new connections and ensure a permanent Armenian technological presence. Within the framework of the project, 15 startups and entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to take a 7-week training at Draper University.

The advantage of this collaboration is that by the end of the course all participants will present their products to Draper Venture Network founder Tim Draper and his team, creating an exclusive opportunity for Armenian startups to attract investment from globally recognized investment companies.

262 coronavirus tests conducted so far in Armenia

Maghakian Mike
News.am, Armenia
March 12 2020
March 12, 2020  15:06

To date, 262 coronavirus tests have been conducted in Armenia, with 4 positive results. All these patients are hospitalized at the infection hospital.

One of these cases was announced on March 1, and the other three—on March 11, the Ministry of Health reports.

The whole scope of close contact of the 3 new people with the novel coronavirus confirmed yesterday has been discovered and isolated.

A total of 57 persons have been isolated.

3 patients with coronavirus arrive in Armenia from Italy via different flights, one has transit flight, minister says

Manouk Vasilian
News.am, Armenia
March 12 2020
March 12, 2020  14:37

Three patients diagnosed with coronavirus have arrived in Armenia from Italy via different flights. And one has a transit flight, Armenian health minister Arsen Torosyan told reporters on Thursday.

According to him, one of the patients returned to Armenia 2-3 days ago, the other two – about 10 days ago. Upon arrival, none of them had a fever or any other symptoms. As soon as symptoms appeared, they were hospitalized and tested positive.

All people who were in contact with these people have been identified, the minister said.

According to Torosyan, there are 41 people in Tsaghkadzor. And 31 people may return home in the next two days if their coronavirus tests are negative. Another 10-20 people may be transferred to Tsaghkadzor in the near future.

Caucasian connections: Why closer ties with Armenia matter a lot for India

Hovik Karapetian
MoneyControl
March 12 2020
Aditi Bhaduri @aditijan

What can a tiny country, a dot on the map, offer a giant one like India? This has been a recurring thought for me since the tiny Caucasian country of Armenia opened up its embassy in New Delhi a decade ago. It stemmed from something purely personal – the love and warmth that I had received many summers ago when I had visited the place as a student. I have since travelled across the globe. Numerous countries have left their mark for some or the other reason. But tiny Armenia had captivated me with its haunting beauty and ancient if at times melancholic history; the love that people had for India and things Indian were beyond my expectation, besides, of course, the generosity and hospitality (which would require a separate article).

Many Indians still struggle to find Armenia on the map, but Armenians know India well. Small compact nations tend to know their history well. So it was Armenians who told me how their first constitution had been drafted in the city of Chennai; Armenians were away that their diasporas existed in cities as far flung as Kolkata, that one of the oldest hotels there had been built by an Armenian, and that an Armenian school and college still exist there. Bollywood had also done its bit to endear us to the Armenians; children from Armenia come to India each year and do their schooling at the Armenian College in Kolkata. The groundwork for good bilateral ties had already been cemented by history.

Modi-Pashashian meeting

Some high-level bilateral meetings have taken place between the two countries.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Armenian President Nikol Pashashian in New York in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. “Had extensive deliberations with PM @NikolPashinyan. We talked about expanding India-Armenia cooperation in aspects relating to technology, pharmaceuticals and agro-based industries. PM Pashinyan also referred to the popularity of Indian movies, music and Yoga in Armenia,” he had tweeted after the meeting.

This news gained currency because just days before that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had stridently condemned India’s recent reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir state. It seemed only natural, therefore, and wise, for India to try and cultivate closer ties with countries inimical to Turkey, of which Armenia is one, because of the genocide of Armenians during Ottoman times, which Turkey has not yet acknowledged, and next, because of Turkey’s cooperation with Azerbaijan during the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

But there are other merits for India to develop relations with Armenia and the Caucasian region in general. For one, Armenia has a full vote in the UN General Assembly and it is important at a time when India is shoring up support for itself in the UN for a seat in the expanded UN Security Council. Moreover, Armenia fully appreciates India’s position on Kashmir, has no diplomatic relations with Pakistan, and has almost total convergence with India on bilateral and multilateral issues. In the words of Ambassador Achal Malhotra who had earlier served as India’s ambassador to Armenia, “It is difficult to identify an issue which can be termed as a bilateral irritant.”

Next, it is a great tourist destination, with ancient sites, delectable cuisine, and home to the famed Armenian cognac. With many Armenian heritage sites in India, some kind of joint heritage tourism can be and should be developed (Armenian heritage sites are interesting for Armenians outside of Armenia too).

Silicon Valley of the CIS

More recent developments, however, demonstrate yet another angle to bilateral relations. Last month, India clinched a deal worth $40 million with the Caucasian country to supply it four indigenously built weapon-locating radars. The SWATHI radars have been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This opens up new vistas of cooperation for both countries and defence cooperation is always long term. Such sales, while helping countries like Armenia as they are cheaper than their European counterparts, also opens up new markets for India and will give a big boost to indigenous defence production in India.

Armenia is considered the Silicon Valley of the CIS, and is a member of the Eurasian Economic Community and also has a partnership agreement with the European Union. Sitting on the threshold of Europe, in the heart of the Caucuses, and having a border with Iran, Armenia’s geo-political location is significant. By deepening ties with the country, India would have everything to gain, and nothing to lose.

Aditi Bhaduri is a widely published journalist and political analyst, tracking West, South, and Central Asia.



Azerbaijani press: Armenian Armed Forces open fire in direction of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan – Ministry

Ophelia Vardapetian
POLITICS12 March 2020 17:10 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

Trend:

The Armenian Armed Forces opened fire on the positions of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Separate Combined Arms Army, Trend reports on March 12 referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

“The Armenian Armed Forces have grossly violated the ceasefire regime with Azerbaijan since morning, shelling the positions of the Nakhchivan Separate Combined Arms Army,” the statement said.

“The positions of the Nakhchivan Separate Combined Arms Army were mainly shot at with heavy machine guns and sniper rifles from the Armenian armed forces’ positions located on the slopes of Tejgar and Bagarsig mountains in Armenia’s Ararat region,” the statement said.

“The personnel of the Separate Combined Arms Army are taking decisive retaliatory measures,” the statement said. “The consequences of the shelling are being investigated.”

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijan submits document on Sumgayit events to UN

Emil Lazarian

Thu 12 Mar 2020 11:16 GMT | 15:16 Local Time

Text size:   
The Azerbaijani government submitted a document to the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly in connection with the events in Azerbaijan’s Sumgayit city as of February 1988, the country’s Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.

The document was presented to the UN General Assembly by Ambassador Yashar Aliyev, the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations.

“The official investigation established that it [the events] had been a well-prepared provocation masterminded by the Armenian extremist organizations “Karabakh” and “Krunk” to discredit Azerbaijan and cover up Armenia’s unlawful annexationist intentions and violent methods for their achievement,” reads the document.

“The investigation found that one of the organizers and perpetrators of criminal acts committed in Sumgayit, which claimed the lives of 26 Armenians and Azerbaijanis, was Eduard Grigoryan, an Armenian and resident of the city. Among the evidence collected by the investigation, the testimonies of the witnesses, including Armenians, provide irrefutable proof of his role and direct participation in violence. Grigoryan was sentenced to long-term imprisonment. Besides him, in all, 92 persons were brought to justice for offenses in Sumgayit.”

However, the document points out that nobody has been persecuted in Armenia for the brutal killings of hundreds of Azerbaijanis in the course of their forcible deportation from Armenia during the 1987-1989 period, as well as for massacres committed against the Azerbaijanis in the course of the Armenian aggression.

It also stresses that Armenia’s denial of its responsibility for atrocity crimes it has committed against Azerbaijan and its citizens, including through apparent falsifications and distortion of the past and present and glorification of war crimes and their perpetrators, constitutes a clear violation of international law.  

“As to the essence of the resolutions on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, peace, security and stability are achievable, first and foremost, only if the consequences of Armenia’s aggression are removed, thereby ensuring that its armed forces are immediately, unconditionally and completely withdrawn from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other territories of Azerbaijan under occupation, the territorial integrity of our country is restored within its internationally recognized borders and the right of internally displaced persons to return to their homes and properties is ensured and implemented,” according to the document.

Armenpress: No plans on halting referendum campaigning over coronavirus yet, says PM

Bedik Zaminian

No plans on halting referendum campaigning over coronavirus yet, says PM

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 12:12, 12 March, 2020

JERMUK, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says they will cancel the ongoing campaigning for the constitutional referendum in the event of coronavirus-related necessity.

“If the number of coronavirus infections becomes large, the government will be first to announce it. I have presented the current situation yesterday evening,” Pashinyan said, adding that the government will notify the general public in the event of a risk.

He said the direct contacts of the latest three cases are being traced and quarantined. He said some of them might be asked to self-quarantine in their homes.

Pashinyan said at this moment the campaigning for the constitutional referendum slated for April 5 continues.

“If a necessity on suspending it will emerge, we will suspend it. As long as we haven’t suspended it, it means there is no such necessity,” Pashinyan said.

On March 11, three novel coronavirus cases were confirmed in Armenia, bringing the total number to 4.

10 direct contacts have been quarantined at the Golden Palace hotel in a resort town, the disused hotel which was transformed into a quarantine zone for the 31 direct contacts of the first case on March 1.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan