17:26,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction rejected today the motion to change the pre-trial detention of former Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan.
Aghvan Hovsepyan will remain in pre-trial detention.
He was arrested on September 7, 2021 on suspicions of bribery, grand theft and money laundering.
17:43,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. Newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to Armenia, Mr. Akambi André Okounlola-Biaou (residence in Moscow, Russia) presented his credentials to President Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Presidential Office said.
Congratulating the Ambassador on appointment, the Armenian President wished him a productive activity in the development of cooperation between the two republics. He highlighted the opportunities existing for mutual partnership, also considering the presence of Armenian community in the Republic of Benin.
Both sides highlighted harmonizing the partnership and efforts in education, commercial spheres, as well as within the framework of La Francophonie.
17:49,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. Fly Arna, Armenia’s national airline and a joint venture company between the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) and Air Arabia Group, announced the signing of a service agreement with Cross Technics company to provide all the necessary line maintenance services to Fly Arna’s aircrafts at Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, Fly Arna said in a statement.
Cross Technics LLC is an Armenian-based Part-145 line maintenance organization, aimed to provide a high quality maintenance services to the airlines in Yerevan.
As part of the partnership between Fly Arna and Cross Technics, the maintenance organization has been able to hire an additional 18 highly qualified engineers and staff to support Fly Arna’s growing fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.
Following Fly Arna’s launch, flights are now open for sale and customers can book their flights by visiting Fly Arna’s website (), calling the call center (+374 41 38 00 83) or through travel agencies.
Inaugural flights will take off from Zvartnots International Airport to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt starting from July 3, 2022. Fly Arna team is continuously working on expanding its network and will soon announce the new destinations the airline will operate to.
About Fly Arna
Fly Arna is Armenia’s national airline and a joint venture company between the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) and Air Arabia Group. Based in Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) in Yerevan, Fly Arna follows the successful low-cost business model operated by Air Arabia that focuses on offering comfort, reliability, and value-for-money air travel.
For further information, please visit:
17:53,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. The “Civil Contract” faction of the National Assembly of Armenia came up with the initiative to convene an extraordinary session on July 1. The issue of relieving Ishkhan Saghatelyan and Vahe Hakobyan of their posts is on the agenda.
The session is scheduled on June 30, at 19:15.
Ishkhan Sagahtelyan is the Vice President of the National Assembly from the opposition. Vahe Hakobyan is the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs.
19:01,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. A consultation chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was held, during which issues related to land reforms were discussed, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.
In particular, the reduction of unused land plots of agricultural significance, the distribution of land plots, the expansion of irrigated areas, the main reasons for the land plots not being used, and some works carried out so far within the framework of land reforms were referred to. Issues related to land enlargement, implementation of a pilot program for land market development, development and application of proposed economic mechanisms for land cultivation and consolidation were discussed.
Inventory of lands that are irrigated but not used, measures to be taken to increase the efficiency of land cultivation were highlighted.
An exchange of views took place on the above-mentioned issues, various proposals and observations were submitted by the heads of the concerned departments.
Prime Minister Pashinyan attached importance to the implemenation of land reforms and increase of the profitability of farms, including as a result of enlarging the cultivated lands. The Prime Minister instructed the officials in charge to form a relevant working group, which will develop a roadmap for action. The Prime Minister considered it necessary to implement a pilot program, which will help identify the problems and further implementing the reforms effectively.
19:10,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. Political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Serbia took place in Yerevan on June 30. The Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan, the Serbian State Secretary Nemanja Starović.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, recording the high-level political dialogue between Armenia and Serbia, the sides discussed the opportunities and the practical measures to deepen the friendly Armenian-Serbian relations and strengthen the interstate ties.
A number of international and regional issues were touched upon during the consultations. Reference was made to Armenia’s steps aimed at establishing peace and stability in the South Caucasus region. The Armenian side stressed the need to repatriate Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees in the context of humanitarian issues resulted by the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan, as well as the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Azerbaijani-held territories.
At the end of the consultations, the Serbian delegation was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. Minister Mirzoyan highlighted the mutual visits and contacts at different levels, aimed at the continuous expansion of the political dialogue between the two countries and the outlining of new directions of mutually beneficial multifaceted cooperation.
On the same day, the Serbian delegation visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, the Armenian Genocide Memorial, to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
19:34,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan took part in the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference held on June 28-29, where he delivered a speech.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, referring to the security challenges in the OSCE region, the Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the use of force or the threat of force, factual and ongoing violations of the arms control regime, and the use of foreign terrorist fighters and mercenaries in armed conflicts have called into question the OSCE’s ability to ensure security in its zone of responsibility.
“It was mentioned that continuing violations of the trilateral ceasefire established by the November 9, 2020 trilateral declaration, Azerbaijan’s steps to provoke a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh in March this year, and the obstruction of the OSCE formats that were created for the resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict demonstrate the need for effective cooperation of OSCE participating states and the reaffirmation of the fundamental principles and commitments of the OSCE,” the statement said.
Expressing support for the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the Deputy Foreign Minister highlighted the latter’s activities aimed at ensuring the realization of the rights of the people of Artsakh, including the right to decide their own future, as a key goal in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. OSCE involvement in humanitarian issues, including the release of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages, protection of cultural heritage, and the addressing of cases of enforced disappearances were also highlighted.
Within the framework of the conference, Deputy Minister Vahe Gevorgyan met with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid. A wide range of issues of common interest were discussed.
20:42,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. On June 30, the President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received the Governor of Syunik Robert Ghukasyan.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, Vahagn Khachaturyan congratulated the Governor on assuming the post and wished him fruitful work.
Governor Robert Ghukasyan presented to the President the overall situation in the region, as well as the sectoral programs being currently implemented in Syunik. The Governor provided details on the progress of implemented initiatives and approved programs aimed at improving the daily lives of Syunik residents carried out together with the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.
Haykak Arshamyan, director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, was also present at the meeting.
21:21,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Republic of Armenia Joel Lion (residence in Jerusalem) and the Honorary Consul of the State of Israel Ashot Shahmuradyan, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Health of Armenia.
“Israel’s rich experience in medicine and the reforms launched in the Armenian healthcare system are a potential for expanding the cooperation between Armenia and Israel”, the statement said.
Presenting the general situation of the healthcare system of Armenia, Anahit Avanesyan singled out a number of directions for activating the Armenian-Israeli contacts in the sphere:
It is noted that Ambassador Joel Lion welcomed the efforts to intensify the Armenian-Israeli cooperation and made proposals. In particular, the sides discussed the possibility of organizing trainings for Armenian specialists and exchange of experience in cooperation with the Israeli International Cooperation Agency MASHAV.
The Ambassador noted that within the framework of her visit to the State of Israel on the occasion of the 72nd session of the WHO European Regional Committee in September, Anahit Avanesyan will have the opportunity to personally get acquainted with the peculiarities of the Israeli healthcare system.
US House Appropriations legislation includes assistance to Armenia and Artsakh
21:34,
YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. The Fiscal Year 2023 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs House Appropriations legislation includes humanitarian assistance to Armenia in the amount of $60 million, and $2 million for Artsakh, ARMENPRESS reports the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) informed.
The report language states that the “Committee recommendation includes not less than $60,000,000 for Armenia for economic development, private sector productivity, energy independence, democracy and the rule of law, and other purposes.”
In addition, the “Committee recommendation also includes not less than $2,000,000 for demining activities in Nagorno-Karabakh…[and] remains concerned about the humanitarian impact of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and resulting challenges in the areas of housing, food security, water and sanitation, health care and other human needs.”
In addition to prohibiting the sale of defense articles to the Turkish Presidential Protection Directorate, the bill includes language on Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ), as well as House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA), have both expressed their strong concerns regarding the waiver of Section 907, which the Administration waived last week.
Chairman Menendez stated “it makes no sense to say that U.S. assistance and training has not impacted its military balance with Armenia,” and further stressed that he “will continue to conduct rigorous oversight of any and all assistance to Azerbaijan and expect the Department of State to operate with complete transparency and provide all necessary details for Congress to assess any assistance provided to Baku.”
Chairman Schiff said in part that providing military support to Azerbaijan “runs counter to our nation’s core democratic values” and “could empower the Aliyev regime to continue or escalate its provocative actions against Armenians.”
“The Assembly expresses its appreciation to Chairwoman Barbara Lee and Ranking Member Rep. Hal Rogers for including this critically important funding to help the Armenian people. We also thank the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues for their leadership and bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Committee outlining key policy issues. We look forward to continuing our work to advance assistance where it is needed most,” stated Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.