Category: 2021

 12:50,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. FLYONE Armenia says its first flight from Yerevan to Moscow was cancelled due to “circumstances beyond their control, including due to the Russian authorized bodies’ concerns relating to countering the coronavirus epidemic.”

The airline was thus forced to cancel the Yerevan-Moscow-Yerevan flights scheduled for December 15 and 16.

“The airline has already ensured the swift and safe transfer opportunity for all passengers of the abovementioned flights to their points of destination,” FLYONE Armenia said in a statement.

“Our employees maintain permanent and individual contact with all passengers of the abovementioned flights for duly rendering the full package of air transportation and other services,” it added, emphasizing that FLYONE Armenia’s passenger support service is available to all passengers and is ready to swiftly resolve any issues.

“We are informing that our flights to other destinations will proceed as scheduled. FLYONE Armenia apologizes to our passengers for the inconvenience and informs that we are making all efforts to overcome the existing issues as soon as possible.”

 13:21,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The Omicron coronavirus variant has not been detected in Armenia as of December 15, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Healthcare said in response to the inquiry of ARMENPRESS, stating that the identifications of the virus strains are taking place on a regular basis in the country.

The Omicron variant has been detected in more than 70 countries.

The World Health Organization has expressed its concerns, noting that the risk of the variant spread is quite high.

 13:36,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with President of Moldova Maia Sandu in Brussels on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership summit.

In a Twitter post, the Moldovan President called the meeting with Pashinyan “productive”. “We discussed opportunities to launch a joint business forum and explore mutual investment opportunities in Moldova and Armenia. We also agreed to take joint actions to increase trade volumes between our countries”, she said.

 14:40,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Germany Viktor Yengibaryan presented his credentials to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on December 14, the Armenian Embassy reports.

Congratulating the Armenian Ambassador on appointment, the German President wished him productive work and success.

In turn Ambassador Yengibaryan thanked for the reception and congratulations and stated that he will make all efforts to further strengthen the friendly ties between Armenia and Germany.

The prospects of developing the Armenian-German cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other areas were discussed during the meeting.

 14:44,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The relevance of the development of integration processes within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Union’s enlargement is more than obvious to all those who are familiar with the mutual relations between its member states and the regional developments, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin said during the 7th annual conference of the Eurasian Expert Club, commenting on the 7th anniversary of Armenia’s membership to the EAEU.

“I want to say that Russia, Armenia and other member states are closely cooperating in the Eurasian Economic Union, and as we are in Yerevan now, I would like to specifically highlight the constructive, interested approach of the Armenian side on integration development matters. Armenia plays a great role in the expansion of the EAEU’s ties with the third countries”, the Russian Ambassador said.

He said that one of the key directions of the Union’s work is the expansion of its geography through the establishment of ties with third countries and regional integration unions.

As of now, EAEU has five member states – Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Moldova, Uzbekistan and Cuba have a status of an observer. Trade agreements have been signed with five more countries, such as China, Iran, Vietnam, Singapore and Serbia.

In this context Ambassador Kopyrkin reminded that the 2019 October meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council was also attended by the leaders of Iran and Singapore.

According to him, Armenia’s economic benefits gained from the EAEU are also obvious. The evidence of this is Armenia’s mutual trade growth with the other member states of the EAEU. “In the first 9 months of this year, Armenia’s export volumes to the EAEU states have increased by almost 30%. Moreover, the growth has been registered with all partners”, Kopyrkin added.

The annual conference of the Eurasian Expert Club was also attended by the Ambassadors of Belarus, Kazakhstan to Armenia, the representatives of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia and members of the Eurasian Expert Club.

 16:15,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Justice of Armenia Karen Andreasyan met with Justice Minister of Georgia Rati Bregadze in Venice, the Armenian justice ministry reported.

Karen Andreasyan introduced his Georgian counterpart on the ongoing reforms in Armenia in the field of public services, compulsory enforcement of judicial acts, highlighting Armenia’s interest to localize the practice of Justice Houses of Georgia.

The Georgian justice minister accepted the Armenian counterpart’s invitation to visit Armenia to outline the directions of reforms, as well as discuss the details of organizing the 4th Armenian-Georgian legal forum in Georgia.

 17:23,

YEREVAN, 15 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 15 December, USD exchange rate down by 6.43 drams to 482.02 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 8.72 drams to 543.28 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.11 drams to 6.53 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 6.96 drams to 638.92 drams.

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

Gold price down by 538.52 drams to 27537.15 drams. Silver price down by 5.36 drams to 343.58 drams. Platinum price down by 565.23 drams to 14118.04 drams.

 17:37,

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan convened a meeting of the Security Council today, his Office said.

President Harutyunyan told the Security Council members that the crisis problems of this year are mainly overcome, but noted that still a lot needs to be done to resist both the domestic and external challenges.

The President of Artsakh gave same instructions to the responsible officials for solving the existing security problems.

 18:27,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Russia welcomes the processes of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, ARMENPRESS reports the representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova said at a press conference.

"We assume that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will contribute to the improvement of the general situation in the region, will contribute to the formation of an atmosphere of neighborliness, trust and confidence in the region and among the peoples. From this point of view, we welcome Ankara's and Yerevan’s recent willingness to start a bilateral dialogue to discuss normalization of relations”, Zakharova said.

As for the appointment of representatives by the two countries, Zakharova said it was a logical, reasonable step.

"We are ready to support that process by all means," Zakharova concluded.

Earlier, the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated that Armenia, like always in the past, is now ready for the process of normalization of relations with Turkey without preconditions, which is enshrined in the Armenian Government Action Plan. "In this regard, we welcome the statement of the Turkish Foreign Minister on the appointment of a special envoy for the normalization of relations, confirming that the Armenian side will appoint a special envoy for this dialogue," spokesman of MFA Armenia Vahan Hunanyan said.

Russia hopes Brussels discussions will contribute to implementation of agreements between Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan

 18:36,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Russia welcomes the continuation of direct contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS reports official representative of the MFA Armenia Maria Zakharova said, referring to the Brussels meeting between Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev on December 14.

“The meeting of the two leaders took place yesterday evening, the information about the content of the discussion continues to be received, we are analyzing it”, Zakharova said.

According to her, Russia hopes that the results of the Brussels talks will contribute to the further implementation of the trilateral agreements reached by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, which were reached during the previous three meetings.