Category: 2022

 15:16,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian-American molecular biologist, neuroscientist, and Nobel Prize laureate Ardem Patapoutian visited the Yerevan State Medical University’s “COBRAIN” Scientific-Educational Center for Fundamental Brain Research where he planted the seed of the plant from which he obtained the well-known molecule.

After touring the Center, Ardem Patapoutian delivered a lecture on “How do you feel? The molecules that sense touch” topic in the Yerevan State Medical University.

“One of the reasons of my visit to Armenia is to get acquainted with the developments in Armenia’s science sector. I expect to lay a foundation for a new cooperation. The government tries to increase the funding for science, research, which is one of the first key steps for the development of the sector. I hope that the young students, after seeing my example, will try to achieve better results”, he said.

YSMU Rector Armen Muradyan said that their cooperation with Mr. Patapoutian started back in 2016 when he delivered his first lecture on perception of touch.

 Ardem Patapoutian received a Nobel Prize for the discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch.

Armenian FM presents situation in South Caucasus to Bulgaria’s President

 15:42,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. On June 14, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who is in Bulgaria on an official visit, met with President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, the foreign ministry reports.

Congratulating each other on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Bulgaria the sides noted that during the past three decades the cooperation between two states has developed based on mutual trust and respect.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Rumen Radev touched upon the prospects of the development of the Armenian-Bulgarian relations, expressing mutual readiness to deepen the political dialogue between two countries, the cooperation in the spheres of trade and economy, transport, tourism, education. 

The interlocutors agreed that mutual visits, including at the highest levels, would promote the full realization of the existing potential for cooperation in the spheres of mutual interest. The role of the Armenian community in Bulgaria as an important bridge connecting the two countries was also highlighted.

Referring to the prospects of international cooperation within the sphere of transport infrastructure, the interlocutors emphasized the importance of the implementation of active works towards the establishment of the “Persian Gulf-Black Sea” transport corridor.

During the meeting a reference was also made to the issues of regional and international security. 

Minister Mirzoyan briefed the President of Bulgaria on the situation in the South Caucasian region, particularly the recent developments regarding the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the process of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Both sides stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved through exclusively peaceful negotiations. In this regard Minister Mirzoyan stressed the role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in the lasting resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and highly valued the  balanced position of Bulgaria on the settlement of the conflict under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

Among other urgent humanitarian issues, the need for repatriation of the Armenian prisoners of war and preservation of Armenian religious and historical-cultural heritage in Artsakh was stressed.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia presented the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey to the President of Bulgaria.

 16:01,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Newly-appointed Ambassador of Syria to Armenia Nora Arisian presented her credentials to President Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Presidential Office said.

“It’s a great honor for me to represent Syria in Armenia. I will make maximum efforts for the development of the bilateral relations for the benefit of the two friendly countries and peoples”, the Ambassador said.

Congratulating the Ambassador on assuming office, the Armenian President said that the Armenian-Syrian relations have been formed on historical friendly basis.

“I am confident that your diplomatic experience and knowledge will contribute to the development of the Armenian-Syrian relations”, the President said.

Both sides emphasized the necessity of giving a new content to the Armenian-Syrian multisectoral cooperation, including taking practical steps to develop new cultural and educational programs.

 16:14,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. The Board of the Central Bank of Armenia decided to keep the refinancing rate unchanged during today’s session, setting it at 9.25%, CBA Governor Martin Galstyan said at a press conference, stating that in May 2022, the 12-month inflation has increased, comprising 9.0%. The 12-month normal inflation has also increased, comprising 8.4%.

Martin Galstyan said that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict continues negatively impacting the economic and financial market developments of Armenia’s main partner countries.

“Continued disruptions of world value chains and constant increase in prices in international commodity markets lead to the expansion of global inflationary environment. The central banks of developed countries are announcing a tightening of a monetary-credit policy at relatively faster rates. Therefore, the inflationary impact from the external sector on Armenia’s economy is still maintained”, he said.

The CBA Governor said that the high activity of the Armenian economy is maintained in the second quarter of 2022. The major inflow of foreign visitors and the growth in domestic private spending contribute to the increase in services and the whole demand. This leads to the expansion of the overall inflationary environment and the increase in inflationary expectations. The major growth in export of Armenian services and the financial inflow contributes also to the devaluation of the dram in the exchange market. The latter is assessed to have a positive effect in easing the domestic inflationary environment.

“In such situation the Board finds it appropriate to keep the policy rate unchanged”, he said, adding: “It is forecast that the 12-month inflation will gradually decline and approach the targeted 4% in the medium-term horizon”.

 16:23,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. On June 14, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan who is in Sofia on an official visit, held a tête-à-tête conversation with the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Teodora Genchovska which was followed by the meeting in an extended format with the participation of the delegations, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reports.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Teodora Genchovska commended the current level of Armenian-Bulgarian interstate relations based on centuries-old friendship, expressing readiness to promote the cooperation between the two countries in bilateral and multilateral formats. The importance of official reciprocal high-level visits and regular consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries was emphasized. 

The sides touched upon the prospects of expanding the trade turnover and investments and emphasized the utilization of the existing great potential in these spheres. In this regard, the role of the works of the Armenian-Bulgarian Intergovernmental Commission and the promotion of business to business contacts was underlined.

Both sides stressed the importance of the works carried out towards the establishment of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea International Transport Corridor.

The sides exchanged views on the further development of the Armenia-EU partnership.

The interlocutors touched upon the ties between Armenia and Bulgaria in the spheres of education and culture. In this regard, Minister Mirzoyan expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian authorities for their caring attitude towards the Armenian cultural heritage and for organizing the education of Armenian citizens in Bulgarian universities within the framework of a bilateral intergovernmental program.

The sides discussed a number of issues on regional and international security. Minister Mirzoyan presented to his Bulgarian counterpart the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the position of the Armenian side on the processes aimed at establishing regional peace and stability and the negotiations on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The mediating role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in promoting the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was underlined. In this regard, Ararat Mirzoyan highly valued the position of Bulgaria.

Minister Mirzoyan expressed concern over the continuous anti-Armenian and warmongering rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities, and provocative actions against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. He also drew his colleague’s attention to the fact that in gross violation of the norms of international humanitarian law, Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages.

Special emphasis was given to the prevention of  Azerbaijan’s policy of distortion and destruction of the identity of Armenian monuments that are part of the universal cultural heritage in the territories fallen under Azerbaijani control due to the 44-day war. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the urgency of a clear and targeted response of the international community, as well as the imperative of the involvement of relevant international organizations in Nagorno-Karabakh, especially the unimpeded implementation of UNESCO fact-finding mission.

Ararat Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the recent developments of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.  

Within the framework of the visit of the Foreign Minister of Armenia, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria the ceremony of signing the 2022-2025 cooperation program in the sphere of culture between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia and the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria took place. From the Armenian side the program was signed by the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, and from the Bulgarian side – the Minister of Culture Atanas Atanasov.

 16:25,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia has revised its forecast for the GDP growth, CBA Governor Martin Galstyan said at a press conference today.

The Bank’s previous forecast for the GDP growth has been 1.6%, but now it has been revised to be 4.9%.

“The figures of the industry branch review – construction, services, contributed to this. It is mainly connected with the visits of foreigners to Armenia, as well as with not so bad performance of the Russian economy in the short-run, as we expected in February”, the CBA Governor said.

 16:33,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and Bulgaria’s Minister of Culture Atanas Atanasov signed a cooperation plan on June 14, the Armenian MFA said in a statement.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and the Minister of Culture of Bulgaria Atanas Atanasov signed the 2022-2025 cooperation program in the sphere of culture between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia and the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria”, the statement says.

 16:41,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Health of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan, who is included in the Armenian Prime Minister’s delegation during the official visit in Qatar, met with Qatari Minister of Public Health Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, the Armenian ministry of health said.

During the meeting the sides stated that thanks to the inter-agency cooperation, the partnership in healthcare sector will develop. Moreover, the meeting, they said, will contribute to establishing direct ties between healthcare and medical institutions, to the reforms of the healthcare system and improvement of the medical service. It was stated that Qatar also attaches importance to the development of medical tourism.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

 17:04,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Graduates of military-training institutions in Armenia will receive a 3-room apartment in Yerevan regardless of the place of their service, Member of Parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction Armen Khachatryan said.

“A respective bill will be submitted to the Parliament soon, according to which starting July 1, 2022, the government will provide a 3-room apartment in Yerevan free of charge for the representatives of our future officers admitted to the military-training institutions of Armenia”, the MP said.

The lawmaker said the place of the officer’s service won’t matter, as he will have a 3-room apartment in Yerevan after graduation. He called on young people aged 18-23 to apply to a military-training institution.

The respective bill was approved during the recent Cabinet meeting.

 17:50,

YEREVAN, 14 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 14 June, USD exchange rate up by 0.99 drams to 419.63 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.26 drams to 437.93 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 7.39 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.20 drams to 507.25 drams.

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

Gold price up by 69.72 drams to 24700.76 drams. Silver price up by 0.28 drams to 290.87 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.