20:09,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. By the decree of the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, Armella Shakaryan has been appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Mexico, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the President.
Armella Shakaryan headed the division responsible for affairs with Canada and the USA at the Department of American Countries of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia.
Armenian FM emphasizes priority of return of Armenian POWs in a conversation with Lavrov
20:52,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Ayvazian held a telephone conversation with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, during which he emphasized the priority of urgent and safe return of Armenian POWs and other detainees kept in Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS was informed from the MFA Armenia.
” Following the previous talks, the Ministers touched upon the bilateral agenda, regional stability and security issues. Sides exchanged views on the process of full implementation of the provisions of the November 9 and January 11 trilateral statements. In the context of the humanitarian issues enshrined in the statement, Minister Aivazian stressed that the immediate and safe repatriation of prisoners of war, captured citizens and others detained is a priority for Armenia.
Minister Aivazian emphasized that only lasting peace, which addresses the interests of all, can create real guarantees for the promotion of security, stability and development in the region.
Ministers Aivazian and Lavrov exchanged views on a number of issues on the international agenda”, reads the statement issues by the MFA Armenia.
Wednesday,
Iran Reaffirms Interest In Closer Ties With Armenia
• Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian meets with Iranian Foreign
Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Yerevan, .
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Yerevan on Wednesday,
reaffirming his country’s desire to continue seeking closer relations with
neighboring Armenia after the recent war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Zarif also expressed Iran’s strong support for Armenia’s territorial integrity
as he discussed regional security and bilateral ties with his Armenian
counterpart Ara Ayvazian.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran attaches importance to the territorial integrity
of all countries and strives to ensure that the religions and rights of all
peoples are always protected. Our red line is the territorial integrity of the
Republic of Armenia and we have made that clear,” he told Ayvazian at the start
of their talks.
“We stand ready to deepen our relations with Armenia in the political, economic,
cultural and security fields,” he said.
“We have many common concerns. Our concerns include the presence of terrorists
and foreign fighters,” Zarif added, seemingly alluding to the widely documented
participation of Middle Eastern mercenaries in the six-week war on Azerbaijan’s
side.
Zarif also mentioned those concerns during his separate meeting with Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian held later in the day. Pashinian said he looks forward
to discussing with Iran’s top diplomat “developing and deepening our bilateral
relations” and other “very important issues.”
An Armenian government statement on the meeting said the two men “exchanged
thoughts” on the aftermath of the Karabakh war stopped by a Russian-brokered
ceasefire on November 10.
“The prime minister noted that many issues, included Nagorno-Karabakh’s status,
remain unresolved and that Armenia is ready to continue negotiations within the
framework of the co-presidency of the OSCE Minsk Group,” said the statement.
According to the statement, Zarif and Pashinian stressed the importance of
“unblocking and reactivating regional transport links.”
The ceasefire agreement calls for the opening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border
for cargo and other traffic. It specifically commits Yerevan to opening rail and
road links between the Nakhichevan exclave and the rest of Azerbaijan that will
presumably pass through Armenia’s Syunik province bordering Iran. For its part,
Armenia should be able to use Azerbaijani territory as a transit route for cargo
shipments to and from Russia and Iran.
Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service after his talks with Ayvazian, Zarif said
Iran too sees now a real chance to establish a rail link with Armenia passing
through Nakhichevan. “
“That is one requirement for both Iran and Armenia as well as for the region,
and we are working with both Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia,” he said.
Zarif arrived in Armenia from Moscow as part of a regional tour which he began
in Baku on Monday. Meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, he
congratulated Azerbaijan on its “victory” in the war and expressed Iran’s
readiness to help rebuild areas around Karabakh retaken by Azerbaijani troops.
Pashinian Ordered To Apologize To Jailed Ex-Minister
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- Finance Minister Gagik Khachatrian attends a parliament session in
Yerevan, November 16, 2015.
A court in Yerevan has ordered Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to apologize
through his spokeswoman for her disparaging comments about Armenia’s jailed
former Finance Minister Gagik Khachatrian and his fugitive sons.
Khachatrian, who served as finance minister in former President Serzh
Sarkisian’s administration, and his nephew went on trial in August one year
after being arrested on corruption charges denied by them.
Law-enforcement authorities brought separate corruption charges against his two
sons earlier in 2020. The latter went into hiding in May and remain on the run.
One of the sons, Gurgen Khachatrian, is the chairman of Ucom, a leading Armenian
telecommunication operator controlled by the ex-minister’s extended family. In
an April 2020 statement, Gurgen claimed that “high-ranking” officials have
threatened to arrest him if the family refuses to sell its 77 percent stake in
Ucom at a knockdown price.
Armenia -- Mane Gevorgian, spokeswoman for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Pashinian’s press secretary, Mane Gevorgian, responded by describing Gagik
Khachatrian as a “corrupt” former official who had made a huge fortune while
serving as finance minister from 2014-2016 and holding senior positions in the
Armenian tax and customs services in the preceding decades.
“According to the Armenian government’s information, Gagik Khachatrian and his
sons headed a corrupt mafia system that had long operated in Armenia, as a
result of which they accumulated illegal wealth worth several hundred million
dollars,” Gevorgian wrote on Facebook. “The prime minister’s position is that
this loot must be returned to the state in full.”
Gevorgian said relevant authorities will allow the Khachatrians to sell their
Ucom stake only if they agree to transfer all proceeds from such a deal to the
government.
Armenia -- Gurgen Khachatrian, the chairman of Ucom company's board of directors.
The Khachatrian family condemned Gevorgian’s post as slanderous and demanded an
apology in a subsequent defamation suit.
The Yerevan court of first instance ruled on Tuesday that the prime minister’s
spokeswoman violated the Khachatrians’ “honor and dignity” and must state on her
Facebook page that Pashinian apologizes to them. It also ordered Pashinian’s
office to pay 508,000 drams (about $1,000) in damages to cover the plaintiffs’
legal expenses.
Gevorgian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Wednesday that the office will
appeal against the ruling.
Khachatrian was dogged by corruption allegations throughout his tenure, with
some Armenian media outlets and opposition figures accusing him of using his
position to become one of the country’s richest men. They pointed to his
family’s extensive business interests, which include not only Ucom but also a
shopping mall, a car dealership and a luxury watch store in Yerevan.
Khachatrian repeatedly denied ownership of these and other businesses, saying
that they belong to his two sons and other relatives.
Russia Lifts Entry Ban For Armenians
• Artak Khulian
Armenia - A Rossiya Airlines passenger jet parked at Zvartnots international
airport, Yerevan, January 15, 2021.
In a move sought by Yerevan, Russia’s government has provisionally lifted a
coronavirus-related entry ban for Armenian nationals which has aggravated
Armenia’s economic problems.
Moscow banned the entry of visitors from many foreign countries last spring as
part of its efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic. It subsequently allowed
citizens of some countries, including all other members of the Russian-led
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) except Armenia, to visit Russia.
The ban directly affected tens of thousands of Armenian migrant workers earning
a living in Russia on a seasonal or permanent basis. Many of them had to return
to Armenia following lockdown restrictions imposed across Russia in March.
Most migrant workers have had trouble finding jobs in Armenia. The Armenian
economy contracted by an estimated 8.5 percent in 2020 due to the pandemic and
the war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Armenian government has pressed Moscow to lift the ban since the summer,
with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian repeatedly raising the matter during virtual
EEU summits.
Pashinian announced the lifting of the ban on Wednesday at the start of a weekly
session of his cabinet. He said that Armenian citizens testing negative for
COVID-19 will be allowed to enter Russia by air from February 1 to March 1. He
expressed confidence that the permission will be extended beyond March 1.
Health Minister Anahit Avanesian specified that travellers will have to download
and use a special mobile phone application certifying the negative results of
their coronavirus tests taken shortly before their departure from Armenia.
The Russian Embassy in Yerevan confirmed the information in a statement. It also
released a list of 20 Russian international airports that will be allowed to
handle regular flights to and from Armenia. They include Moscow’s three main
airports.
Russian and Armenian airlines carried out as many as a dozen flights a day
between Moscow and Yerevan before the pandemic.
“This is a very important program and I want to thank our partners from the
Eurasian Economic Union, the government of the Russian Federation, all
participants of the program for their active and productive cooperation,” said
Pashinian. “This was the initiative of the Armenian government backed our
partners.”
Pashinian emphasized the socioeconomic significance of the provisional lifting
of the Russian ban. “As you know, many of our compatriots went to Russia as
migrant workers,” he said.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
January 27, 2020
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (left) meets with his Armenian counterpart Ara Aivazyan in Yerevan on Jan. 27
YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Yerevan on Wednesday, reaffirming his country’s desire to continue seeking closer relations with neighboring Armenia after the recent war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Zarif also expressed Iran’s strong support for Armenia’s territorial integrity as he discussed regional security and bilateral ties with his Armenian counterpart Ara Ayvazyan.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran attaches importance to the territorial integrity of all countries and strives to ensure that the religions and rights of all peoples are always protected. Our red line is the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia and we have made that clear,” he told Ayvazian at the start of their talks.
“We stand ready to deepen our relations with Armenia in the political, economic, cultural and security fields,” he said.
“We have many common concerns. Our concerns include the presence of terrorists and foreign fighters,” Zarif added, seemingly alluding to the widely documented participation of Middle Eastern mercenaries in the six-week war on Azerbaijan’s side.
Zarif also mentioned those concerns during his separate meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held later in the day. Pashinyan said he looks forward to discussing with Iran’s top diplomat “developing and deepening our bilateral relations” and other “very important issues.”
An Armenian government statement on the meeting said the two men “exchanged thoughts” on the aftermath of the Karabakh war stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10.
“The prime minister noted that many issues, included Nagorno-Karabakh’s status, remain unresolved and that Armenia is ready to continue negotiations within the framework of the co-presidency of the OSCE Minsk Group,” said the statement.
According to the statement, Zarif and Pashinyan stressed the importance of “unblocking and reactivating regional transport links.”
The ceasefire agreement calls for the opening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border for cargo and other traffic. It specifically commits Yerevan to opening rail and road links between the Nakhichevan exclave and the rest of Azerbaijan that will presumably pass through Armenia’s Syunik province bordering Iran. For its part, Armenia should be able to use Azerbaijani territory as a transit route for cargo shipments to and from Russia and Iran.
Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service after his talks with Ayvazian, Zarif said Iran too sees now a real chance to establish a rail link with Armenia passing through Nakhichevan. “
“That is one requirement for both Iran and Armenia as well as for the region, and we are working with both Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia,” he said.
Zarif arrived in Armenia from Moscow as part of a regional tour which he began in Baku on Monday. Meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, he congratulated Azerbaijan on its “victory” in the war and expressed Iran’s readiness to help rebuild areas around Karabakh retaken by Azerbaijani troops.
09:33,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The visit of Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif to Armenia is a good occasion for developing the Armenian-Iranian relations, Experts on Iranian studies Aharon Vardanyan and Vardan Voskanyan said in an interview to Armenpress, commenting on the purpose of the Iranian FM’s visit and the actions to be taken by the Armenian side.
Commenting on the Iranian FM’s visits to Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia, as well as Iran’s interest to the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Aharon Vardanyan said it’s natural because Iran is trying to understand how it is going to build its relations in the region in these new circumstances.
“The fact that Iran is currently showing such interest is very normal. Iran is trying to understand how it is going to build its relations in this new geopolitical environment, in this region and is making clarifications for itself. I think that during the visit there can also be proposals on economic and political directions. For instance, Iran can propose the renovation of the north-south’s Syunik section or discuss the railway issue, try to understand the joint interests and the treats”, he said.
In his turn Vardan Voskanyan also stated that Iran is showing a great interest towards the ongoing actions around Nagorno Karabakh.
“It seems, the Iranian side is showing an interest to be a participant of the process. Currently, in fact, there are two formuts – the Minsk Group, which, unfortunately, is passive at this stage, and should become more active, because it derives from the interests of Armenia and also the Russian side, and the second format is the Russian-Turkish one. Here there are problems as well, the Russian side is trying to limit the Turkish presence as much as possible, and Iran, of course, has a goal to change the Russian-Turkish format into a trilateral format and have its place. But to what extent it will succeed is difficult to say at this moment. Iranians, it seems, are also interested in having some participation to the peacekeeping processes”, he said.
According to expert Aharon Vardanyan, the relations between Armenia and Iran of the past three years have become passive, but he states that the visit of the Iranian FM is a good chance to discuss the projects of the bilateral agenda.
“We must be able to push forward our agenda. The situation in the Armenian-Iranian relations in the past three years is calm, and now both the previous projects can either be implemented or updated, but also new ones can be proposed. The Armenian-Iranian relations are so multi-layered that one visit is not enough for covering them. There is a lot to discuss. But this visit can be used for discussing the issue of the opening of Tabriz consulate”, Vardanyan said.
According to Vardan Voskanyan, Armenia should discuss with Iran the provision of a direct communication, taking into account the Armenian-Iranian border and the opportunities of the Syunik province.
He said after the recent Artsakh War, Iran views South Caucasus as a key matter, and in the general context Armenia has become more vital for Armenia, which should be used.
He stated that during Zarif’s visit the issue of the Armenian prisoners of war who are in Azerbaijan must also be raised in order to achieve its solution.
“I think that all channels must be used for releasing our prisoners of war, so in this context works should be done also with the Iranian side so that we can use all our tools. It is also a humanitarian problem, Azerbaijan is using our civilians as hostages, this issue should be raised at different platforms in order to be solved”, Vardan Voskanyan said.
The Iranian Foreign Minister has started a regional visit. On January 25 he visited Azerbaijan and then Russia. Today he is visiting Armenia where a meeting with the leadership is scheduled.
Interview by Norayr Shoghikyan
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
10:11,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. In November 2020 Armenia recorded the lowest inflation among the Eurasian Economic Union countries, according to the data released by the union’s regulatory body – the Eurasian Economic Commission.
In the reporting period the prices in Armenia grew against 2019 December by 0,3%, and 1,6% against November.
(Belarus – 6,1% and 6,6%, Kazakhstan – 6,5% and 7,3%, Kyrgyzstan – 7,2% and 8,2%, Russia – 4,1% and 4,4%).
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
10:44,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian and Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif has kicked off in Yerevan, the Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Facebook.
“Tête-à-tête meeting of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Iran Ara Aivazian and Mohammad Javad Zarif has commenced”, the MFA spokesperson said.
The Iranian FM is also scheduled to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The Iranian Foreign Minister has started a regional visit. On January 25 he visited Azerbaijan and then Russia.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
10:58,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that Russian troops are training ahead of deployment to the “Russian-Turkish Joint Center” which monitors the Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire.
The Russian troops are now undergoing training for the “joint implementation of ceasefire monitoring objectives and are preparing to depart to the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” it said.
“During the training the servicemen are studying the joint center’s structure, purpose, missions and functions, the order of organizing the work, as well as the culture, traditions and peculiarities of the country where the mission will be carried out. The personnel of the joint center will carry out monitoring of the situation and supervision of the adherence to the ceasefire with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
11:03,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. 195 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia in the past one day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 166,427, the ministry of healthcare said today.
649 more patients have recovered in one day. The total number of recoveries has reached 156,053.
4 more patients have died, raising the death toll to 3056.
2144 tests were conducted in the past one day.
The number of active cases is 6557.
The number of patients who had coronavirus but died from other disease has reached 761 (3 new such cases).
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
11:14,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Russia are resuming regular bilateral air communication from February 1, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.
The flights are restarting as part of the “I am Traveling Without Covid-19” program, around which the governments of Armenia and Russia have adopted decisions.
Travelers must have a negative COVID-19 test result administered no more than 72 hours prior to the flight.
This is a pilot program which is originally planned for a month. Pashinyan said he hopes it will be a success and the program will be fully launched from March.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan