Category: 2021

 11:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Russian medics have conducted more than 110 mln tests for the presence of the novel coronavirus, TASS reports citing the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing.

“Over 110 mln tests for the presence of the coronavirus have been conducted in the Russian Federation”, the statement said. Over the past 24 hours, 162,000 tests have been made.

According to the agency, currently about 579,900 patients remain under medical observation due to the suspected coronavirus infection.

 11:13,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Internationally renowned humanitarian and physician Bernard Kouchner has arrived to Armenia at the invitation of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative that continues to bring the world humanitarian leaders to Armenia and Artsakh, exploring new opportunities to help the local population and to support Artsakh’s international standing, IDeA Foundation told Armenpress.

Mr. Kouchner, co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières, former French Foreign Minister and member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, is accompanied by humanitarians Alain Boinet, Founder of Solidarités International, and Patrice Franceschi, former Chairman of the Société des Explorateurs Français. Together, they will have a chance to take a closer look at the regional humanitarian projects supported by Aurora and focused on promoting micro and small enterprises, restoring infrastructure, and boosting economy.

Bernard Kouchner co-founded the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in 1971 and co-founded Médecins du Monde in 1980. He organized humanitarian operations to Somalia, El Salvador, Lebanon and Vietnam. In 2018, Mr. Kouchner joined the Aurora Prize Selection Committee comprised of Nobel Laureates, former presidents, prominent political figures, highly respected humanitarians and well-known human rights activists dedicated to recognizing modern-day heroes and the exceptional impact their actions have made on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes in the face of adversity.

After arriving to Armenia, Mr. Kouchner went to the Genocide Memorial Complex to honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide and had an opportunity to pay respect to the doctors who volunteered in Artsakh during the war. The next day, the delegation went to Artsakh to show their solidarity and support local humanitarian efforts, including those assisted by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. In Stepanakert, Mr. Kouchner and others visited the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center to meet with wounded soldiers in treatment.

Aurora supports the infrastructure improvement of the Center within the framework of the Initiative’s aid program for Artsakh, focused on assisting projects that facilitate the region’s long-term social development. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has already allocated a total of $581,740 (300,660,500֏) to aid fifty-seven local and international projects implemented by its numerous partners.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to come to Armenia and Artsakh and show my solidarity to those affected by the war. I was impressed by the philosophy of the Lady Cox Center to integrate the whole family and environment in the therapeutic process. The whole place had a quiet and positive atmosphere, and I am happy that Aurora supports this institution that is so much needed in Artsakh,” Dr. Kouchner said after the visit.

On February 24, Mr. Kouchner’s delegation toured the areas of Stepanakert that had been most affected by the war and talked to the representatives of the projects assisted by Aurora, including The HALO Trust’s operation to clear cluster munitions and other explosives in civilian areas to allow the safe return of displaced people to Artsakh.

“People [here] know very well that their existence depends, first of all, on a secured environment, and we understand now how important it is to create the proper structure for their health to respond to the needs of this strong and courageous population,” Mr. Boinet remarked upon leaving the Stepanakert Republican Hospital.

On their way to Yerevan, Mr. Kouchner and his group will travel to Dilijan to tour the UWC Dilijan school and town. On Friday, before concluding his visit, Bernard Kouchner plans to take part in a moderated discussion at the Yerevan State Medical University and to go to the Matenadaran, Armenia’s national repository of ancient manuscripts supported by Aurora Grants.

 09:02,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s tourism sector is trying to gradually recover following the difficulties of 2020. Although COVID-19 has not been completely eliminated yet, this year the tourism season in Armenia will be full of festivals, also taking into account the new realities.

Director of the Festivar Association of Armenian Festivals Nune Manukyan told Armenpress that there are no restrictions connected with mass gatherings anymore, which she considers as a good opportunity for restoring the events tourism in the country.

“The Association has developed rules for holding events amid the pandemic. For instance, the pavilions will be installed away from one another, the staff will wear face masks, the pavilions will have disinfectants in a visible, accessible place. The arrangements in the area will be in a way to avoid gatherings”, she said.

Nune Manukyan informed that despite that the annual festival season in Armenia starts with the Yerevan Wine Days event, which is taking place in the first Friday-Saturday of May, but this year will take place on June 4-5, this year the opening of the festival season will be held on April 30 with the Spirit of Armenia in Yerevan’s English Park. It’s a festival of alcoholic drinks, which will take place for the first time. All types of drinks produced in Armenia will be presented. The visitors will have an opportunity to see over 1500 types of drinks. Then, the traditional Dolma Festival is coming. As usual, this tasty event will be accompanied by a number of cultural events. The next is the Yerevan Wine Days which is for wine-lovers. During the event the visitors have a chance to taste the Armenian wine, as well as be introduced on the production of winemaking companies.

This year, in line with all these events, Armenia’s bordering communities will be under focus.

“We will definitely hold the Mulberry Festival in Karahunj. I think that this is very important for the domestic tourism. The community must not lose its attractiveness and should continue to be interesting for the guests. The Wine Festival will take place in Areni, the Gata Festival in the village of Khachik”, she said, adding that the company, which is organizing the Yerevan Wine Days, is planning to hold two events in the provinces, the border communities. “The talk is about the Tavush Wine Days and the Yerevan Music Night. I think we need to boost our communities with the development of event tourism”, she added.

The festivals will take place, however, due to the pandemic, there won’t be a major flow of foreign tourists. Manukyan, however, noted that there is a little progress in connection with the re-launch of flights. There are already foreign nationals interested in travel to Armenia. Manukyan said that there are some tour-operators who are interested in the list of event tourism. The Association will present details about the Armenian festivals and events on its Facebook page.  

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 19:05,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS.  At the initiative of the Russian side, the Defense Ministers of Armenia and Russia, Vagharshak Harutyunyan and Sergey Shoygu held a telephone conversation on February 25.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, the Defense Ministers of the two strategic ally countries discussed the situation in Armenia.  During the conversation the sides also referred to the mission of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno Karabakh, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

 20:27,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS.  The administration of the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian has responded to the questions of media outlets referring to the offer of the Prime Minister to remove from office Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Onik Gasparyan.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, the President’s administration received the offer to remove Onik Gasparyan from office following the statement of the top military leadership.

According to the Constitution, the President has 3 days for presenting his position, and the President, pursuing the goal of ensuring the normal operation of the state bodies, has never had any fundamental objections to the appointment or dismissal of officials.

‘’But, under the light of the martial law and the existing crisis, dismissing the Chief of the General Staff following the mentioned statement is nor an ordinary personnel reshuffle, given the fact that according to the Constitution of Armenia, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia ensure the defense, security, territorial integrity and the inviolability of the borders of the Republic of Armenia’’, reads the statement issued by the President’s administration.

The President’s Office also notes that in the existing situation no one should try to involve the President in political developments in any way. Any attempts to exert pressure against the President is inadmissible.

‘’The President of the Republic does not support anyone or any political force, and never did so and will never do so. While implementing his functions, the President is guided exclusively by the interests of the state and the people.

President Sarkissian highlights the atmosphere of stability and tolerance in the country and continue to make all efforts for that, confident that the problems must be solved through a dialogue, but not confrontation’’, reads the statement, adding that the priority issue for the President for this moment is the de-escalation of the tensions in the country and the solution of the situation without any shocks, and all his efforts are aimed at that goal.

‘’I think the President of the Republic should sign the decree of releasing the Chief of the General Staff of the post, or Onik Gasparyan should himself submit a resignation letter’’, PM Pashinyan said earlier today, during the rally organized by him.

 19:21,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS.  The National Assembly extraordinary sitting initiated by ‘’Prosperous Armenia’’ and ‘’Bright Armenia’’ Parties did not take place, ARMENPRESS reports MP representing the ‘’Prosperous Armenia’’ Party Iveta Tonoyan said during the protest near the National Assembly.

‘’The National Assembly sitting had to take place at 18:00, but none of the MPs representing the ruling bloc arrived. This means that this government rules out any civilized option for stepping down’’, she said.

 19:07,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS.  The rally led by Prime Minister of Armenia NIkol Pashinyan ended at Garegin Nzdeh Square. ARMENPRESS reports, addressing his supporters, Pashinyan noted that today they implemented their mission, recording the position of tens of thousands of citizens.

‘’The position is the following – I think the President of the Republic should sign the decree of releasing the Chief of the General Staff of the post, or Onik Gasparyan should himself submit a resignation letter.

Second, we stop our rallies from this moment and suggest that our opposition partners should also do so. We invite the representatives of political forces to hold discussions on the future. The decision on future activities must be made, considering the opinion of the people.

Now I will go to the Government, will hold some consultations and will make necessary decisions. Our slogan is the following – ‘’Velvet is gone’’, Pashinyan said.

At the end of the rally Pashinyan urged to once again respect the memories of the fallen soldiers with a minute of silence.