Category: 2021

 11:46, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received Ambassador of Germany Michael Johannes Banzhaf on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission, the Presidential Office reports.

During the meeting the Armenian President thanked the German Ambassador for his contributions to the deepening of the bilateral ties and the strengthening of the friendship between the two countries and peoples. He noted that at this period it was important for Armenia to get acquainted with the experience of Germany as a young parliamentary republic. Mr. Sarkissian thanked for the support and cooperation in the exchange of experience.

In his turn the German Ambassador stated that he will remain Armenia’s good friend and will try to contribute to the development of the ties between the two countries as much as possible.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:41, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Electric Networks of Armenia Closed Joint-Stock Company (ENA) have signed a $35 million deal to modernize electricity distribution networks to ensure reliable electricity supply in Armenia, especially in provinces, ADB reports.

The funding comprises a $20 million loan from ADB and $15 million from the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP), which will be administered by ADB. 

“Energy efficiency and security rely on strong infrastructure investment. ADB continues to support Armenia in achieving this goal by providing long-term financing for the private sector that is not readily available in the country,” said ADB Private Sector Operations Department’s Infrastructure Finance Division Director for Central and West Asia and South Asia Shantanu Chakraborty. “The project will fund the second phase of ENA’s long-term investment program, which aims to further expand electricity access in Armenia’s provinces.” 

The ENA Investment Program started in 2016. Phase 1, funded by an earlier $80 million ADB loan, was completed in 2020 and focused on the capital Yerevan. Phase 2 aims to reconstruct the distribution network, upgrade outdated substation equipment, reconstruct cable lines, repair and renovate ENA’s facilities, and install new customer connections. It will also expand automatic electricity metering, enabling ENA to pinpoint losses and reduce operating expenses. 

ADB’s investment will also help ENA mitigate climate change challenges while strengthening environmental, social, and technical standards and improving management capacities. ENA will also promote gender equality and enhance inclusiveness in its business activities.

“The effective implementation of this investment program is aimed at further enhancing the quality of our customer service, a priority for Electric Networks of Armenia. We are pleased to be working with the Asian Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the second phase of this program,” said ENA General Director Karen Harutyunyan.

 13:10, 13 September, 2021

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan visited today the ministry of defense to introduce new defense minister – commander of the Defense Army, Major-General Kamo Vardanyan to the top commanding staff of the Army, the Presidential Office reports.

Arayik Harutyunyan wished success to the new minister and expressed gratitude to the former defense minister, Lieutenant-General Mikayel Arzumanyan for his long-term service in the Armed Forces.

Thereafter, the meeting participants discussed issues relating to army-building.

The meeting was also attended by secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh Vitali Balasanyan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:12, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. New Ambassador of Belgium to Armenia Marc Michielsen (residence in Moscow, Russia) presented his credentials to President Armen Sarkissian, the Presidential Office reports.

Congratulating the Ambassador on assuming office, the Armenian President expressed confidence that he will invest all efforts to further enrich and promote the agenda of the Armenian-Belgian relations.

The Ambassador of Belgium noted that next year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Belgium and stated that such anniversaries are a good occasion to assess the past path and works, outline the future actions.

According to the Armenian President, the diplomatic relations established between Armenia and Belgium 30 years ago have a great development potential and good opportunities to expand.

The sides also discussed the bilateral agenda and the prospects of improving the economic cooperation and boosting the commercial ties. They specifically highlighted the great cooperation potential in science, education and biotechnologies.

The President also highlighted the development of tourism between the two countries, mentioning the existence of direct air communication between Yerevan and Brussels as a key contributing factor.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:44, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan will visit the city of Dushanbe in Tajikistan from September 14 to 17 to participate in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) joint meeting of the foreign ministerial, security council and defense ministerial committees.

Bilateral meetings are expected as part of the visit, Grigoryan’s office said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:08, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian’s Purgatorio – based on the eponymous second part of Dante’s Divine Comedy was played at the Ravenna Festival in Italy on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the Italian poet’s death.

The concert was conducted by Riccardo Muti.

Speaking to ARMENPRESS, Mansurian praised the excellent performance. “What Riccardo Muti did with the orchestra, the choir, baritone Gurgen Baveyan and cellist Giovanni Sollima was dimply wonderful. I’ve rarely heard such good performance. There’ve been good performances, but very few like this. I am very happy. The audience was also happy and accepted Purgatorio very well. I think one of my best works was born on the 700th anniversary of death of Dante,” Mansurian said.

Venice’s Center of Armenian Culture Studies and Documentation Director Minas Luryan said that Muti wanted to cooperate with Mansurian and Sollima very much for the event. Sollima also wrote the music for Divine Comedy’s Hell, while the music for Heaven was written by Valentin Silvestrov.

“Muti decided that he’d conduct only Mansurian’s work, while the other works would be conducted by younger conductors,” Luryan said, adding that more concerts are planned in Italy soon.

A concert is due September 14 in the opera theater of Florence, and at the Philharmonic hall of Verona on September 15.

Angela Hambardzumyan

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:34, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian addressed a message to US president Joe Biden on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the September 11 terror attack, the Presidential Office reports.

The message says:

“20 years have already passed since the 9/11 terror attack in the United States. More than 3000 innocent people, including American-Armenians, were killed, and over 10,000 were injured. Our hearts still grieve for the innocent victims, and our prayers are with those who survived and with their families.

Armenia strongly condemns all manifestations of terrorism and the violation of human values. We stand by the American people, in defense of ideas of freedom and peace. During the entire course of the history, suffering and tragedies have been the fate of our country, we know how unbearable that pain could be. We are convinced that we can fight jointly with all civilized nations against terrorism and evil. Terrorism and other harmful acts must not exist in our world. Armenia has already shown its commitment to supporting that international fight.

The common history, values and visions are a firm base for the strengthening of the relations and the deepening of the cooperation between our countries.

The Armenian-American relations have always been based on mutual respect, shared ideas and firm belief towards a more prosperous future”.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:44, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, 13 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 13 September, USD exchange rate down by 0.97 drams to 491.88 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 3.41 drams to 579.98 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.03 drams to 6.74 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.75 drams to 679.93 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 44.66 drams to 28380.36 drams. Silver price down by 2.65 drams to 379.94 drams. Platinum price down by 141.39 drams to 15450.58 drams.

 18:00, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. By the decree of President of Armenia, Tigran Mkrtchyan has been appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Greece, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office.

 18:12, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received on September 13 French Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Stephane Visconti and Deputy Head of Department for Continental Europe Mr. Sylvain Guiaugue.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, a broad scope of issues related to Karabakh conflict was the key topic of the discussions.

Ararat Mirzoyan drew the French Co-Chair’s attention to the humanitarian situation created as a result of the 44-day war, emphasizing the need for the immediate and unconditional repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and civilians held in Azerbaijan.

The interlocutors stressed the need to resume the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan noted that the Armenian side supports the position expressed in the joint statements of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs following the 44-day war, in particular, the need for a lasting and stable settlement of the conflict based on well-known principles.