10:32,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. On August 30-31 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to the Russian Federation, the ministry said in a statement.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will hold a meeting with Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov. The meeting will be followed by a press conference.
Within the framework of the visit, a meeting with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas is also envisaged.
Editing by Aneta Harutyunyan
10:39,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. A total of 275,138 vaccinations against COVID-19 have been carried out in Armenia so far, of which the first dose is 176,552 and the second dose – 98,586, the ministry of healthcare reports.
Vaccinations with AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Sinopharm and CoronaVac in Armenia are available for people aged over 18.
Vaccinations are carried out on voluntary basis.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
11:23,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Football Team left for Skopje on August 30 for the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier against North Macedonia scheduled for September 2.
The team has left for Skopije with the following squad:
Goalkeepers:
David Yurchenko – Alashkert
Anatoly Ayvazov – Urartu
Arsen Beglaryan – Urartu
Defenders:
Kamo Hovhannisyan – Kairat (Kazakhstan)
Arman Hovhannisyan – Pyunik
Taron Voskanyan – Alashkert
Hrayr Mkoyan – Ararat
David Terteryan – Ararat-Armenia
Midfielders:
Tigran Barseghyan – Astana (Kazakhstan)
Khoren Bayramyan – Rostov (Russia)
Solomon Ime Udo – Atyrau (Kazakhstan)
Eduard Spertsyan – Krasnodar (Russia)
David Davidyan – Khimki (Russia)
Artak Grigoryan – Alashkert
Wbeymar Angulo – Ararat-Armenia
Zhirayr Shaghoyan – Ararat-Armenia
Erik Vardanyan – Pyunik
Forwards:
Alexander Karapetyan – Noah
The football federation said that André Calisir, Hovhannes Hambardzumyan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Vahan Bichakhchyan, Arshak Koryan and Sargis Adamyan will join the team later today in North Macedonia, while Stanislav Buchn, Artyom Avanesyan, Ishkhan Geloyan will join the team tomorrow, and Varazdat Haroyan on September 2.
11:41,
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani soldier who was apprehended by Artsakh security forces after illegally crossing the border and taking hostages has been remanded into pre-trial custody, the Investigative Committee of Artsakh said.
The serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, identified as Jamil Babayev, was arrested by Artsakh National Security Service agents and police officers on August 26. Babayev had illegally crossed into Artsakh, breached into an apartment in Martakert and threatened to kill children who were inside the home.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
11:51,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will have 56 athletes at the upcoming first CIS Games due September 4-11 in Kazan, Russia.
The Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan held a meeting with the athletes and coaches ahead of their departure to wish good luck. “I wish victories and success to you all. I want you to convey positive emotions to our people, which we need a lot today,” Dumanyan told the athletes.
“In terms of sports the result is highly important for us, and we will definitely return with medals,” Dumanyan’s deputy Karen Giloyan added.
More than 2500 athletes from 11 countries are expected to participate in the tournament.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
12:16,
ROME, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Italy Tsovinar Hambardzumyan has participated in the annual Premio Marzani award organized by Europe-Mediterranean Association (Associazione Campania Europa Mediterraneo) in San Giorgio del Sannio.
The Ambassador of Armenia received an award during the event for contribution to the strengthening of peace and friendship between peoples, as well as delivered remarks touching upon the consequences of the 2020 war launched by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, ARMENPRESS correspondent reports.
In her remarks the Ambassador also touched upon Turkey’s role in the Artsakh War. She said Azerbaijan doesn’t return the Armenian captives and continues holding many Armenian POWs in captivity. Azerbaijan destroys the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories which have come under its control, she said. The Ambassador noted that the war, although, has been stopped, the Artsakh issue is not resolved yet.
Ambassador Hambardzumyan said the most important for the Armenian side is the Artsakh-Armenians’ right to live and create freely in their own land, and the only way to exercise this right is to recognize their right to self-determination. The Ambassador also presented the event participants on the Azerbaijani encroachments on the border with Armenia. She presented the dangers from Turkey and its aspirations to unite with Azerbaijan via the territory of Armenia.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
15:42,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. 3,3% decline in GDP has been registered in Armenia in the first quarter of 2021 according to the economic research carried out by the Eurasian Expert Club.
Member of the Club, Doctor in Economics, Professor Tatul Manaseryan told a press conference in Armenpress that the domestic political developments and snap elections in Armenia have left their impact on the economy.
“2020 was a declining year for us [coronavirus pandemic and the 44-day Artsakh War]. In 2021 as well the domestic political developments, the snap elections have left their impact on our economy. We expect that the economy of Armenia will pay more serious attention to the science financing in the coming years. The investments in infrastructure are also important. We expect that the analysis of expert community and economists would be demanded which will help decision-makers to take scientifically-based actions”, Manaseryan stated.
Presenting Armenia’s economic situation in the first half of 2021, the economist said some improvement in economic indicator has been observed that period.
“GDP decline by 3.3% has been registered in the first quarter of 2021. Compared to the same period of 2020, GDP has been dropped by 34.8%, which is quite a concerning figure. Positive signs are seen in other areas, especially in the field of agriculture, which is connected with the more favorable weather conditions. This in turn allowed to increase the export rates”, Manaseryan said, adding that Armenia’s economy is currently at a recovery stage.
He attached importance to paying attention to solar energy and alternative energy in general. According to him, this field is the future of Armenia and especially Artsakh as energy infrastructure are under the adversary’s target.
As for the expectations, the economist noted that the forecasts on Armenia’s economy are positive.
“In general, if we talk within the context of Armenia’s membership to the Eurasian Economic Union, 3.8% growth in GDP is expected in all countries – Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In 2020 the GDP registered a 2.9% decline. The economy of Belarus, which has its peculiarities, is expected to grow by 3.3%, for Armenia we forecast 6.5-7% growth which would not compensate the 8% decline registered last year. We do not rule out more positive dynamics”, he said.
As for inflation, the professor said combined actions are needed here.
“We must in all possible means direct our intellectual potential to the GDP growth. There are restraining factors for this, for instance inflation. In order to restraint this phenomenon, coordinated actions are needed which will be carried out by the ministry of economy, the state commission for protection of economic competition, the ministry of finance, the state revenue committee and the central bank”, he said.
The economist also informed that international organizations made positive forecasts for the economies of Armenia and Russia.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
15:59,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Recovery growth has been registered in almost all branches of the economy of Armenia in the first half of 2021 according to the results of the economic research conducted by the Eurasian Expert Club.
Coordinator of the Club, political analyst Aram Safaryan told a press conference in Armenpress that in 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic and the Artsakh War, Armenia has registered an economic regress, nearly by 8%.
“After last year’s coronavirus pandemic, we are registering significant recovery growth rates in the first half of this year. We can be optimistic after this fact, moreover, in July 2021, compared to May, these developments are of a progressive nature. This shows that the economy’s recovery dynamics is at a positive field”, Aram Safaryan said.
According to him, this recovery growth registered in all branches of the economy has a tendency to continue. He said there are exclusively opportunities for Armenia’s economic development thanks to its membership to the Eurasian Economic Union.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
16:51,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has registered a 23% growth in export in the first half of 2021 according to the 7th ongoing economic research of the Eurasian Expert Club.
Member of the Club, Doctor in Economics, Professor Ashot Tavadyan told a press conference in Armenpress that economic growth of a country with small economy is ensured by export.
“23% growth in export has been registered in 2021 compared to 2020, but this has been ensured mainly thanks to external factors. Internal factors remain expensive and not effective. The export to Russia grew by 35%, and to Kazakhstan by 2 times”, he said.
The economist noted that there are positive trends in terms of import as mainly the import of various types of fuels has increased.
“We have a very low figure in tourism sector. We have a serious problem with transformation of economic governance”, Tavadyan said.
As for the possible foreign investments, he said all enterprises in Armenia are Closed Joint Stock Companies and it’s not known what an investor must do in that case, whether he must start from zero on his own.
He noted that investors must be attracted by reforms.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
17:26,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan received today the delegation led by US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy, the ministry told Armenpress.
The defense minister introduced the US Ambassador on the current situation in Armenia’s borders, stating that the Azerbaijani side is regularly taking provocative actions. Arshak Karapetyan reaffirmed the readiness of the Armenian side to solve the issues with peaceful means, at the same time highlighting the determination to protect the borders and territorial inviolability of Armenia.
The opportunities of giving new impetus to the Armenian-American cooperation in the defense field were also discussed.
The sides expressed readiness to continue the productive cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan