Category: 2022

ArmInfo. The Embassy of France in Armenia and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia launch the "Armenia. Exploring, preserving  and enhancing heritage" project , which is funded by the Solidarity  Fund for Innovative Projects (FSPI) of the French Ministry for Europe  and Foreign Affairs. The program notes France's commitment to  supporting the preservation, restoration and appreciation of  Armenia's cultural heritage, the French Embassy in Armenia said in a  statement.

The project, worth 600,000 euros, is planned to be implemented in  2022. Within the framework of the program, it is planned to carry out  activities aimed at supporting the preservation of the cultural  heritage of Armenia, developing the potential of specialists in this  field, as well as implementing and developing museum policy.

The project was developed and implemented in cooperation with the  Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of  Armenia, the National Heritage Institute of France, the Louvre  Museum, the Scientific Research Centre for Historical and Cultural  Heritage and the Erebuni Museum. The three-pronged project covers  various areas of cultural heritage and draws on the skills and best  practices of the French and Armenian partners. As part of the first  component, it is planned to strengthen and develop the skills of  specialists in the restoration and preservation of cultural heritage  through continuing education courses. It is implemented by the  National Heritage Institute in cooperation with the Scientific  Research Centre for Historical and Cultural Heritage.

The second component relates to the restoration of the Tatev  monastery complex. At the first stage of the project, it is planned  to conduct a historical and architectural study of the monument, and  also, before the actual restoration of the building, organize the  first volunteer labor camp together with "Rempart" and the "Terre et  Culture" association (<Land and Culture>). It is also implemented by  the National Heritage Institute in cooperation with the Scientific  Research Centre for Historical and Cultural Heritage. The third  component is dedicated to the reorganization and modernization of the  permanent exhibition of the Erebuni Museum and is aimed at assessing  the collections. It will be implemented jointly with the Louvre.

ArmInfo.On Jule 7, at approximately 16:15, units of the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire from various types of small arms, including large-caliber small  arms, on Armenian military positions located in the western part of  the Armenian- Azerbaijani border. The RA Ministry of Defense reports.

In particular, the fire was opened in the direction of the Yelpin  village of the Vayots Dzor region, as well as along the road leading  to the village. <As a result of the shelling, a civilian car was  damaged. By retaliatory actions from the Armenian side, the fire of  the Azerbaijani units was suppressed. There are no losses from the  Armenian side>, the RA Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

ArmInfo.Freedom House also urges the Armenian Prime Minister to take the concerns of the media seriously and leverage direct communication channels including  through open and transparent press-conferences to ensure a healthy  functioning democracy, reads a Twitter message by Freedom House. 

The Armenian authorities should support the independent media and  civil society by maintaining an active dialogue with them and the  people to counteract disinformation that poses threat to Armenian  democracy around crucial topics for the country.

Freedom House welcomes the decriminalization of "grave insults" in  Armenia and the government's commitment to broad consultation on  media legislation reflected in a Memorandum of Cooperation signed  between the Armenian Government and CSOs.  https://moj.am/storage/uploads/11M.pdf

At a discussion chaired by Armenia's premier, representatives of  government agencies decided to abolish criminal responsibility for  great insult, with only administrative responsibility. 

"The Criminal Code that will be enforced on July 1, 2022, will not  impose punishment for great insult," he wrote. Minister of Justice  Karen Andreasyan added that the criminal responsibility was  prescribed by the law to "prevent outrageous and inadmissible  behavior of individuals and groups amid profound social  polarization." 

"The government considers inadvisable to include an article on great  insult in the new Criminal Code and prefers the civil liability norms  in effect," the minister added. 

However, it does not mean derogatory remarks about people will not be  punished. Those abusing the freedom of speech will be fined up to AMD  3mln.

ArmInfo.Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan and Artur Martirosyan, representatives of the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF),  EU Delegation to Armenia, European Investment Bank (EIB) and IDBank  discussed the opening of two COAF SMART Centers in Syunik and  application of COAF education models in the province. 

Ms Andreasyan informed the participants of a pilot programme of  providing high-quality education in the Kapan rural communities. Two  COAF SMART Centers in Goris and Kapan will be opened. COAF will  provide unified solutions aimed at providing transport services to  ensure affordable formal and informal education. New education  standards will enable English language teachers in Syunik rural  communities to improve their professional skills. 

The COAF representative said that an appraisal mission recorded the  challenges in Syunik. He pointed out progress in cooperation. 

COAF SMART is a development initiative for community and individual  growth, an innovative way of improving the quality of life in the  rural communities.