Category: 2022

 16:13, 1 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian government officials visited the Kursk II Nuclear Power Plant construction site on August 30, 2022.

The Armenian delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures and the executives of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.

The Armenian delegation was led by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan.

The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the Russian advanced technologies in constructing nuclear power plants and the “ВВЭР-ТОИ” technical solution (VVER-TOI : Water-Water Energy Reactor Universal Optimized Digital generation III+ nuclear power reactor ).

The delegation examined the construction site, visited the reactor building, the turbine building, viewed the cooling towers and visited the manufacturing plant of armored metal units and other facilities.

Kursk NPP Director Alexander Uvakin welcomed the delegation.

“The construction of VVER-TOI power units in Kursk 2 is of strategic significance for nuclear industry. The capacity of every new power unit surpasses the capacity of any active power unit in Russia and is 1255MW. The launch of Kursk 2 will provide energy security of the central federal region, which comprises more than 39 million people,” Uvakin said.

Minister Sanosyan thanked Rosatom for the opportunity to visit the construction site.

“For Armenia, which considers atomic energy one of the primary areas of development of energy industry, it is very important to get acquainted with modern technologies and solutions and we are grateful that the global nuclear industry leader Rosatom organized this tour for us during which we got acquainted with construction and conceptual solutions for a turning point project like VVER-TOI,” Sanosyan said.

 16:54, 1 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Ruben Vardanyan has renounced his Russian citizenship and announced that he is moving to Artsakh and launching the Artsakh Security and Development Front.

In a statement released through his IDea Foundation, Vardanyan called on Armenians around the world to join the struggle of Artsakh.

“The existential Sardarapat moment has reached us, Armenians. We can’t feel it, like we can’t feel radiation. But if we don’t stand shoulder to shoulder, we will lose what’s our backbone,” Vardanyan said.

He renounced his Russian citizenship and is coming to Artsakh as an Armenian citizen, “because that’s the right thing.”

 09:31, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian women’s football team lost 1:2 to Kosovo in the qualifier for the UEFA 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The match took place in Pristina, Kosovo.

 09:37, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. A significant economic activity growth has been recorded in Armenia over the course of the past 7 months. However, the economy is developing at a rate which is higher than its potential and this leads to the risk of an overheated economy, Amberd Analytical Center’s expert Mary Hovsepyan told ARMENPRESS.

“Upon studying the statistics of the 7 months it becomes clear that in the past months we are facing risks of overheated economy all the time. In the 7 months period the economic activity index was 13,1 percent, while in July alone the year-on-year growth was 19,4 percent,” Hovsepyan said.

Services grew 27,5%, construction grew 13,6%, trade grew 12,5% and industrial output grew 7%.

Trade and services contributed a 11,45 percentage point to the GDP growth, Hovsepyan said.

“The main locomotive of the growth was trade and services, then construction and followed by industry,” she added, noting that only agriculture had negative contribution (-0,15 percentage point).

Hovsepyan says the significant activeness of the trade and services is linked with external factors. A significant inflow of transfers was recorded despite earlier forecasts suggesting an expected decline.

The impact of increased tourism and visits of international visitors is also noticeable on the economy.

As a result, service market grew, the national currency appreciated, activeness is seen in the real estate market, and prices have increased.

According to Hovsepyan, the risks are that despite these circumstances having a positive effect in short-term and contributing to economic activity and growth, nevertheless due to external factors these circumstances could potentially create risks for the economy and after the possible resolution of external factors these flows could simply significantly drop.

“In short-term, international flows have very positive impact and we see this immediately in economic activity indicators. But, from the moment when for example the situation gets stabilized, the conflict hypothetically gets resolved, it is possible that both the transfers and international visitor flow stop, which would naturally have negative impact. The “phenomenon” of this growth is a short-term phenomenon, which means that in long-term a policy must be developed in order to try and create maximally attractive conditions for foreign capital in Armenia so that the capital which has come doesn’t exit the country and become an investment in the real segment of the economy.”

Foreign trade grew 47,7%. In July the export growth pace surpassed the import growth pace but the 7-month period shows that import growth still exceeds exports. According to the expert there is an issue of diversifying exports in terms of both products and directions.

If the current pace is maintained, the 7% economic growth forecast could be surpassed and a double digit growth will be recorded.”But forecasts can’t be accurate because the situation in the international arena is changing every day and a lot depends on these developments.”

Speaking about the euro exchange rate against the dram, which was recently lower than the dollar, Hovsepyan said that this kind of a drop of the euro was recorded last time in the 2008-2009 period. External factors are behind this, but this could directly impact the economy, particularly the exporters who trade in euro.

Exporters trading in foreign currency are diversifying to several foreign currencies or national currency, she said.

 

Anna Grigoryan

31 years ago on this day, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed

 07:15, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Today, September 2, 2022, marks the 31st anniversary of the declaration of independence of Artsakh, formerly known as the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

On this day in 1991, a joint sitting of lawmakers from the Nagorno Karabakh provincial council and the Shahumyan regional council proclaimed the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) within the borders of the former NKAO and Shahumyan region. The move was in line with the then-active legislation, particularly the April 3, 1990 law which entitled national autonomies to determine their status on their own.

On December 10, 1991, a few days before the official collapse of the Soviet Union, Nagorno Karabakh held a referendum, where the overwhelming majority, 99,89%, of the population voted in favor of complete independence from Azerbaijan. After this, Azerbaijan totally blockaded NKR and launched military aggressions.

The Artsakh Liberation War began when for the first time in September of 1991 Azerbaijan bombarded Stepanakert with Alazan rockets from Shushi. In 1994, at the request of Azerbaijan a trilateral (Azerbaijan, NKR, Armenia) ceasefire agreement was signed on May 12.

15 years after independence, in 2006, the people of Artsakh adopted the country’s Constitution through a referendum, again on September 2.

On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan, with the support of Turkey and deployment of mercenary terrorists, launched a large-scale war against Artsakh. The war lasted until November 9 when a trilateral statement at the mediation of Russia was signed. Russian peacekeepers were deployed by the agreement.

Several events are scheduled to take place in Stepanakert city on the occasion of the 31^st anniversary of the Republic of Artsakh.

 09:50, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan released an address on the occasion of the Artsakh Republic Day.

“Dear compatriots,

September 2nd of 1991 went down in history of the Armenian people as a crucial and pivotal day. The joint session of the NKAO provincial and Shahumyan regional people’s deputies adopted the declaration of independence of the Republic of Artsakh, signaling to the world the formation of the second Armenian republic. The moment was historic, the people’s decision to live free and independent was unshakable, their will was unbreakable and their spirit was undefeatable.

However, our road to building a democratic state in line with norms and principles of international law was full of unspeakable challenges and hardships.

The 44-Day War of 2020 became a new disaster for the Armenian people, claiming the lives of thousands of our brave sons, destroying many destinies. We are grateful to all martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the Fatherland and the dignified existence of the Armenian people, we bow before their bright memory and before their proud relatives,” the Artsakh president said in the address. President Harutyunyan also thanked Armenians in Armenia and Diaspora for their support, as well as the Russian Federation for their mission in Artsakh, and all countries, politicians who’ve supported Artsakh by remaining committed to justice and universal values of democracy and humanitarianism.

“After 31 years, the people of Artsakh are again decisively and resolutely announcing that despite all trials of time, they are committed to their adopted decision, to their path, which is irreversible and unshakable. Artsakh must always stand, must always be Armenian, and must always continue its course on the path to independence,” the Artsakh president said.

 10:11, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan congratulated his counterpart in Artsakh Speaker Artur Tovmasyan on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh.

“On behalf of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, I am conveying my warm congratulations and good wishes on the occasion of Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh to Members of Parliament and all Armenians of Artsakh. In order to withstand geopolitical tectonic shifts, foreign and domestic threats, now more than ever we must be united and strong, for preserving our own homeland, statehood, freedom and independence of the people. Eternal glory and honor to our brave sons who fought for preserving independence and statehood, who blessed the Armenian land with their blood.

Mr. Speaker, by once again congratulating you on this solemn day, I wish you robust health and productive work, and to the people of Artsakh eternal peace and welfare,” Simonyan said.

 09:45, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan released an address on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Artsakh.

“31 years ago on this day, the joint session of lawmakers from all levels of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast and the Shahumyan Region invoked the right to self-determination and made a decision on adopting the declaration of independence of Nagorno Karabakh.

This decision of our compatriots was a response to an existential threat, manifestations of which were the pogroms of Sumgayit, Baku and Kirovabad. This decision was made as a guarantee for the security and protection of rights of the Armenians of Artsakh.

The declaration of independence was followed by the 1991 December 10 referendum, the First Artsakh War, the Four-Day War and the 44-Day War. The fact that our compatriots continue to live in Nagorno Karabakh or in a part of it remained. And they have the right to live in their [home], in a safe environment, where their rights will be protected. Basically, this is the essence of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

All statements claiming that Nagorno Karabakh doesn’t exist as a territorial entity and that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is resolved are inappropriate as long as the issues of the security and protection of rights of the Armenians of Artsakh aren’t irreversibly addressed, and subsequently also the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh, for which the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship has a mandate approved by the international community, which is still in force.

The international community must put efforts to address the humanitarian issues that are caused by the 44-Day War and not allow the implementation of the policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh.

The Republic of Armenia will continue to provide support for ensuring normal livelihood, security and human rights protection issues in Nagorno Karabakh. Today, we address our words of appreciation to the person embodying Nagorno Karabakh and our objective is to ensure through civilized means, negotiations their inalienable right to live peacefully and to create.

Today, we bow in commemorating our brothers and sisters who fell for the protection of the rights of our compatriots in Nagorno Karabakh, and it is our obligation before them to ensure a peaceful Nagorno Karabakh, peaceful Armenia, peaceful South Caucasus,” the PM said in the address.

 11:26, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Republic of Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan will hold policy consultations across Washington, DC – including Congressional briefings, think tank roundtables, university lectures, and community gatherings – during an upcoming visit to Washington, DC coinciding with an Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Federal Policy Seminar, the ANCA reported.

Minister Babayan will offer the keynote speech at an ANCA event dedicated to Artsakh security and liberty held at the historic Woodrow Wilson House, the museum honoring the U.S. president who championed efforts to secure a U.S. mandate to support the Armenian Republic in 1918. He will also be the featured speaker at the “Capitol Hill Salute to Artsakh’s Independence,” organized in cooperation with the Congressional Armenian Caucus, which will be held on Monday, September 19th. Due to Congressional regulations related to COVID-19, supporters of Artsakh freedom must request to attend the Capitol Hill event by registering at anca.org/rsvp.

“We welcome Minister Babayan’s consultations across Washington with U.S. policymakers and foreign policy stakeholders – as well as his remarks on Capitol Hill, at the Wilson House, and at our policy conference – as a meaningful contribution to constructive U.S. engagement on Artsakh Republic status and security issues,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Artsakh’s voice – in Washington and on the world stage – represents the unbending resolve, the abiding democratic aspirations, of the Armenian nation to endure, to survive, and thrive on the very frontier of world freedom against the forces of darkness and dictatorship.”

The ANCA Federal Policy Seminar – a four-day series of presentations, roundtable discussions, and Capitol Hill visits for chapter and community leaders – will focus on targeted initiatives to advance ANCA strategic priorities: saving Artsakh, strengthening Armenia, holding Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable, and securing justice for the Armenian Genocide.

Following his Washington, DC visit, Babayan will be traveling to California for a series of events and meetings with Armenian American community leaders and elected officials.

 12:38, 2 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. A military helicopter and over 100 firefighters are deployed near the town of Ijevan to tackle a grassfire that’s been burning for already 3 days, authorities said.

Around 7 to 8 hectares of grass area is burning.

The grassfire is close to the Ijevan Wine Factory.

On September 2, the Tavush provincial rescue department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations dispatched additional fire brigades to the scene.

No injuries are reported.