Category: 2021

 12:43,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The government of Armenia approved today the draft law on making amendments to the Law on Licensing.

At the Cabinet meeting today, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said that recently their ministry has initiated a study of licensing activity types in order to make the participation of foreign companies to the activity of Armenia’s economy more available and affordable.

“As a result of that study we specified 13 activity types, for which we can allow to offer easier licensing terms to foreign companies. Thus, we are simplifying the licensing opportunity for legal entities of EAEU, EU states, the US, Canada, China, South Korea, Japan, UK, Iran, Georgia and the UAE in the following areas: private security activities, postal service, import or export of nuclear materials, equipment containing radioactive materials, organization of railway transportation activity, etc”, the minister said.

The minister said this will greatly improve the business climate and will enable the foreign companies to easier participate in the economic activity in Armenia.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:53,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan will depart for Lithuania to take part in the Transport and Logistics 2050 international transport innovation forum on October 21, the ministry said in a statement.

Minister Sanosyan will deliver remarks at the event.

He is also scheduled to meet with Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis and Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys. The ministers are expected to discuss the current political and economic matters, strategic infrastructural projects connected with transportation innovations and digitization.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:20,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. A magnitude 2,3 earthquake struck at the Armenia-Georgia border 15 km north-east from the village of Bavra at 13:17, October 21, the Armenian Seismic Protection Service said. The earthquake was recorded at a depth of 10km.

The tremors measured MSK 3 in the epicenter.

It was felt in the Armenian villages of Metsavan and Dzoramut at an intensity of MSK 2-3.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:31,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS.  Azerbaijan released the two Iranian cargo truck drivers who were arrested on parts of the Goris-Kapan road which has gone under Azerbaijani control.

The Iranian state news agency IRNA reports citing the Azeri state customs committee that Shahroud Norouzi and Ja’far Barzegar have been released “relying on good will, good neighborliness, mutual respect, and human principles”.

The drivers will return to Iran after going through legal formalities.

Earlier in October, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh had said that Iran did not see the behavior towards its drivers within the framework of good neighborliness.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:42,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received today NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina Píriz, the foreign ministry said in a news release.

The officials praised the level of the current political dialogue between Armenia and NATO. Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan as an effective tool for the development of the Armenia-NATO cooperation. Mr. Píriz said that Armenia is the reliable partner of the North Atlantic alliance.

The meeting also touched upon the constant engagement of Armenian peacekeeping troops to the international peacekeeping missions. Javier Colomina Píriz thanked for Armenia’s participation to the NATO peacekeeping operations.

International and regional issues were also discussed during the meeting. The FM drew the attention of his guest to the current situation caused by the 2020 aggression launched by Azerbaijan with Turkey’s support against Artsakh. In this context Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the necessity of the lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

The sides also highlighted the importance of keeping the principle of non use of force aimed at settling disputes.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:03,

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The government of Artsakh is denying plans on disbanding the Defense Army.

President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan’s spokesperson Lusine Avanesyan told ARTSAKHPRESS that the Forcibly Displaced Armenian Population of Shushi NGO Board Member Ashot Harutyunyan’s statement made in the Armenian parliament’s human rights and public affairs committee meeting claiming that President Harutyunyan will disband the Defense Army at the demand of Azerbaijan is false.

“The Defense Army of Artsakh was and still is one of the main guarantors of security of the Republic of Artsakh. At this very moment our soldiers are on active-duty in their positions, facing the enemy. There is no issue on disbanding the Defense Army in the agenda of the government of Artsakh. All discussions regarding the Defense Army pertain to its restructuring, re-equipment, modernization and other issues. We have numerous things to do for building our future, and the army has a key role in this matter,” Avanesyan said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 15:45,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with the renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and retired MMA fighter Roger Gracie who’s arrived in Armenia to take part in the Armenian Summit of Minds as a speaker due October 23-24 in Dilijan.

The ten-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and founder of the London-based Roger Gracie Academy shared his impressions of Armenia with the President and said that he wants to discover the country.

“I’m very happy to be invited to talk in the summit,” Gracie said. “And also to do a Jiu-Jitsu seminar. When I arrived here I realized there’s a Jiu-Jitsu school, so I’m gonna pay them a visit to do a seminar.”

He said he’s also looking forward to do some sightseeing to get to know Yerevan and other parts of the country.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll come back again,” he concluded.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

 16:13,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received today NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina Píriz and his delegation who are in Armenia as part of a regional visit, the Presidential Office reports.

Armen Sarkissian highlighted Armenia’s normal cooperation and partnering relations with the NATO. He stated that Armenia continues bringing its important contribution to the international efforts on establishing peace and stability.

The NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative said the North Atlantic alliance values the cooperation with Armenia and the continuation of the political dialogue. He highlighted Armenia’s great contribution to the NATO missions and ensuring international security.

The Armenian President and his guest also discussed the current situation in the country and the region after the 2020 war, the developments and the challenges. Touching upon the post-war humanitarian problems, the Armenian President said that Azerbaijan still continues holding the Armenian prisoners of war and civilians in captivity, which is a gross violation of the international humanitarian law.

The President once again stated that the active participation of Turkey, as a NATO member, to the 2020 war against Artsakh, can’t be understood and is a serious issue.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:11,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The government of Armenia approved during the Cabinet meeting the signing of a visa waiver with the government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, a move expected to develop and strengthen the relations.

The agreement on lifting visa requirements will “contribute to the development of relations through encouraging mutual-visits of official delegations and citizens, tourism and increasing promotion.”

The Armenian government said it is working to sign visa waivers with other countries of the region as well, since as of this moment it has such agreements only with three Central and South American countries – Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:36,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received today a delegation led by the European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar, the PM’s Office reports.

Pashinyan praised the dynamic development of the Armenia-EU dialogue, stating that Armenia attaches importance to the constant intensification of the partnership with the EU.

Toivo Klaar in turn said that the EU is committed to deepen the partnership with Armenia.

He conveyed the warm greetings of the President of the European Council Charles Michel to the Armenian PM.

The Armenian PM and the EU Special Representative exchanged views also on the agenda of the bilateral relations. The prospects of boosting the mutual partnership at different formats, including within the frames of the Eastern Partnership program were discussed.

The sides also discussed the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and a number of issues of regional significance. They highlighted the resumption of the negotiation process within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, emphasizing the importance of this format.

Toivo Klaar said the European Union is ready to support trust and dialogue-building process in the region which would contribute to ensuring peace and stability.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan