Category: 2022

 14:32,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministers of the CSTO member states adopted a statement on international security issues with the results of today’s session in Yerevan, as well as approved the consultation plan of the representatives of the CSTO states for the next three years on foreign policy, defense and security affairs, Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas after the session.

“We completed the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which was attended by the Foreign Ministers of the CSTO member states and the CSTO Secretary General. This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and I want to once again congratulate all of us on this occasion. During the narrow and extended-format sessions we discussed with the Foreign Ministers of the CSTO member states the situation development trends in the field of international and regional security and their impact on the security of our states. We also touched upon the issue of improving the crisis response mechanisms, which, as you know, is the priority of Armenia’s presidency at the CSTO. In January the Organization responded to the incidents in Kazakhstan on the right time, but the issue connected with the incursion of the Azerbaijani troops into Armenia’s sovereign territory, which started in May 2021, still remains open. We also discussed the implementation process of the agreements that were reached at the level of the leaders of the CSTO member states in September 2021 on the sidelines of the session of the Collective Security Council, as well as Armenia’s chairmanship priorities”, the FM said.

Mirzoyan said Armenia has been and remains committed to the initiating cooperation within the CSTO aimed at expanding the mutual partnership between the member states, including developing the foreign policy coordination within the CSTO and raising the role of the Organization in the international arena.

Based on the session results, that took place in the Armenian Presidential Palace, the CSTO Foreign Ministers agreed to hold the next session of the Council again in Yerevan in the fourth quarter of 2022.

 15:34,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. The activities of the session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers in Yerevan were held in a very constructive and good environment, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said during a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan after the session.

The Secretary General said the CSTO Foreign Ministers paid a great attention especially to the discussion of the situation of international and regional security. Stanislav Zas said the situation is this respect is really very complex in all the three regions of the collective security. As for the situation in the Eastern-European region, it gradually deteriorates, according to him.

“A document has been agreed on and approved with the discussion results, the statement of the foreign ministers about the international security where foreign ministers express their deep concerns over the continuous deterioration of the international security. The document reflects the position of the member states in the strong observation of the principle of equal and inseparable security and the impermissibility of strengthening the security of our states at the expense of others”, the CSTO Secretary General said.

With the adopted statement the CSTO Foreign Ministers have also expressed their support to the strengthening of the leading role of the UN Security Council in maintenance of peace and stability in the world.

The session agenda also included the issue on improving the CSTO crisis response mechanisms which is one of the main priorities of Armenia’s chairmanship at the CSTO, which was also stated by Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan.

Over the matter Stanislav Zas said that the first experience of the CSTO in this respect was the peacekeeping mission carried out in Kazakhstan in January.

“In fact, it was our first experience during the peacekeeping operation in Kazakhstan, when the CSTO crisis response system was put into operation. It paved the way for us for improving our activity in this area. The foreign ministers informed me about the activities that have already been done in our working bodies of the CSTO, and we are planning to draft a document on this matter in coming months”, Stanislav Zas said.

The CSTO Secretary General thanked the Armenian side and the Armenian FM personally for presenting a number of proposals aimed at improving the crisis response mechanisms, as well as for hosting the event in a well-organized manner.

 

Reporting by Aram Sargsyan

 16:22,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. 17 Armenian IT companies will participate in VivaTech, an annual technology conference, dedicated to innovation and startups, in Paris, France, on June 15-18, with the support of the Ministry of High Technological Industry.

9 tech companies will be presented in a single pavilion “Armenia”, the ministry of high-tech industry said.

8 more Armenian startups with a big potential will participate in the event, having an opportunity to attract the attention of leading tech representatives and reach prospective agreements.

 16:41,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas, the PM’s Office said.

Addressing the meeting participants, the Armenian PM said: “Dear friends, I welcome you all in our country, in our capital. I welcome the holding of the session of the Council of CSTO Foreign Ministers in our country.

This year we have a double jubilee as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. It’s a great pleasure to see that on this jubilee year the dynamics, we have had traditionally, is being restored again after the coronavirus pandemic. And as we have stated it repeatedly, I think that this jubilee is a very good occasion to analyze the past path, highlight our achievements and success and talk about the shortcomings noticed during the existence and activity of our organization.

You know that CSTO is one of the key factors in ensuring the security of our countries, and I should regretfully state that the situation under the responsibility zone of our organization is not so stable. In this context, I believe, we should closely cooperate, exchange information and situation assessment in order to use the mechanisms for preventing and managing the crisis situations at the necessary moment.

I also want to note that we are very glad to host different CSTO events with this intensity. Recently we have hosted the session of the Council of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan, and now we are hosting this important event. We are waiting for the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the CSTO states on June 17. These are really very good occasions to talk about and discuss the agenda that our organization has.

I once again want to welcome you and hope that you are having a productive session and time in our republic”.

At the meeting PM Pashinyan also touched upon the current situation in the region, speaking about the activity of the Armenia-Azerbaijan delimitation and border security commission, the opening of regional communications and the return of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other civilians still held in Azerbaijan. In this context Pashinyan highlighted the international community’s support.

The PM said Armenia is interested in the unblocking of regional communications, and all roads, to be opened, must operate under the sovereignty of the country through which they pass. He said there couldn’t be any “corridor” logic, and this is a common perception. In the context of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Armenian PM considered the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh vital and stated that the conflict must be settled peacefully, within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

Pashinyan said that the issue of the incursion of the Azerbaijani troops into Armenia’s sovereign territory since May 2021 still remains open, over which Armenia applied to the CSTO. In this context views were exchanged on improving the CSTO monitoring and rapid response mechanisms, which will raise the efficiency of the activity of the organization and the servicing of the security challenges of the member states.

 17:23,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. The first plane of Armenia’s national airline Fly Arna landed at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport on June 10.

The Airbus A320 plane carried the delegation of Air Arabia Group.

The ceremony was attended by Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, representatives of the government, the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF), the Civil Aviation Committee and the Zvartnots International Airport.

Fly Arna is a joint venture company between ANIF and Air Arabia Group.

The airline will firstly operate flights in 4 directions – Egypt (Hurgada and Sharm El-Sheikh), Kuwait and Beirut.

The first flight will take place on July 3 to Hurghada.

ANIF Executive Director Davit Papazian told reporters that safety is the most important for Fly Arna.

The company also plans to operate flights to European countries in the future. Papazian hoped that the EU black list for Armenia will be revised soon.  

Fly Arna CEO Antony Price said in turn: “We look forward to seeing how this airline is going to further expand in coming weeks and months. We are waiting for several directions by which Armenians will be able to go for vacation, as well as bring other people to Armenia to reveal the country here”.

Currently, Fly Arna has 63 employees, 85% of whom are Armenians. “The only area where we have not involved Armenians, are the pilots and flight attendants. We try to get also Armenians involved”, Antony Price said.

Fly Arna’s Airbus A320 aircraft consists of 174 seats. The company is planning to have its second aircraft when the other routes are approved. The company plans to have 3-5 planes in the next two years.

Customers can book their tickets by visiting the Fly Arna website, contacting the call center or via travel agencies.

 17:30,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei highly assesses the relations with Armenia in all spheres, in an interview with ARMENPRESS the Foreign Minister of Belarus noted that particularly political and economic relations develop dynamically. According to the Minister, the trade turnover between the two countries recorded unprecedented rate.

Vladimir Makei also spoke about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, emphasizing that Belarus is categorically against the solution of the problem by military means, and that the conflict should be settled exclusively through diplomatic and political means.

– Mr. Makei, what issues were discussed and what decisions were made at the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CSTO?

– You know that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty, and the 20th anniversary of the decision to establish the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Of course, these important dates leave a mark on the discussions related to the activities of our organization. Today you see the dangers and challenges facing the post-Soviet countries, including the member states of our organization. These are global challenges: climate change, pandemic, as well as circumstances that pose real threats to our organization, such as the situation in Afghanistan, the strengthening of NATO on the organization’s western border, and so on. Of course, marking those jubilee dates, we are not going to be satisfied with the existing successes, on the contrary, at this session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers we discussed the issues of strengthening our organization, determining the organization’s place in the new geopolitical situation in the context of international relations. We believe that our organization should be able to adequately respond to the challenges and dangers that emerge almost every day. We paid great attention to this issue at the Council meeting, first in a narrow format, then in an expanded format. We exchanged views on the development of international events. I informed about the measures that NATO is taking on our western borders. Unfortunately, we see an increase in tension, which is directed also against our organization. The number of NATO troops on our borders is increasing, the number of military exercises conducted by NATO every year is increasing, and so on.

We exchanged views on the mentioned situation, and agreed to work closely in the field of foreign policy of the organization. We agreed to hold closer consultations on topics related to foreign policy, military, security. Based on the results of this session of this Council, the program of relevant consultations for 2021-24 was signed, a corresponding statement was adopted on the situation in our region, which clearly states the need to create a principle of inseparability of security. The security of one state cannot be built at the expense of another state.

In general, the session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers held in Yerevan was full up, productive and fruitful. I am convinced that the decisions made within the framework of this Council session can serve as a good basis for strengthening our organization.

– Did you discuss the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the issue of the invasion into the sovereign territory of Armenia in May 2021 by the Azerbaijani troops? What is the position of Belarus on the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into the sovereign territory of CSTO member Armenia? What solutions do you see?

– I would not say that this issue was directly discussed at the session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers. The Armenian side informed about the situation and developments in Nagorno Karabakh. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also touched upon this topic during the meeting with the foreign ministers of the CSTO member states.

The position of Belarus has been and remains unequivocal: we are categorically against the solution of the issue by military means. We believe that all such issues, conflicts should be resolved at the negotiating table through diplomatic and political settlement. The whole diplomatic and political toolkit should be launched so that any conflict, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, can be resolved as soon as possible. We believe that the agreements reached by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 9, 2020, create a good basis for resolving this problematic situation.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan informed about the process of demarcation and delimitation, which is very sensitive at this stage. We fully support the efforts made by the three countries for the speedy settlement of the conflict, as we see (Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also said about that), there are some encouraging points in this regard. Of course, we will fully support this process, given that the issue should be resolved as soon as possible; it must be resolved through diplomatic and political means.

– Mr. Makei, this year Armenia and Belarus mark the 29th anniversary of diplomatic relations. How would you describe the current level of Armenian-Belarusian relations? In your opinion, in which directions should the two countries work?

– I would describe our relations as a very, very high level and dynamic. Indeed, next year we mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations between our countries. We can state that the political relations between the two countries are developing very dynamically. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko regularly meets with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan within the framework of EEU, CSTO and CIS. And within the framework of those meetings, they discuss the issues of strengthening bilateral relations.

An interdepartmental consultation was recently held at the level of foreign ministers. I met with Ararat Mirzoyan a few days ago, and we also discussed the current state of our relations, the ways to strengthen them. Inter-parliamentary ties are actively developing, the sitting of the inter-parliamentary commission on economic cooperation was held recently. So, as for the political sphere, the relations are developing quite dynamically.

Trade and economic relations also register very high dynamics. For example, last year our trade turnover increased by almost 20%, reaching almost $ 100 million, despite the pandemic. There has never been something like that in our history. And during the first quarter of this year, the trade turnover has increased by 60%. This shows that there is a potential between the two countries, we intend to pay great attention to the strengthening of trade and economic ties. I must say that in this respect our embassies are actively working, therefore, a considerable basis has been created, our task is to further develop trade, economic, political, humanitarian ties, interregional cooperation, which is very important.

I am convinced that on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations we will come out with new indicators, we will rise to a new level of our cooperation. But this does not mean that we should relax, let everything go its own way. No, I have talked to my colleague, we have agreed to instruct our Ministries to intensify our further relations. It will be a new impetus to expand and strengthen our relations in all spheres.

Interview by Karen Khachatryan

 17:35,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. A ceremony of cancelling a postage stamp and envelope dedicated to the CSTO jubilee year and Armenia’s presidency at the CSTO was held today in Yerevan following the session of the Council of the CSTO Foreign Ministers.

The postage stamps were cancelled by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas and HayPost CJSC CEO Hayk Karapetyan.

The stamp has been printed in France with a print-run of 20 000 pcs.

The author of the stamp’s design is David Dovlatyan.

After the ceremony the CSTO Secretary General reminded that 2022 is a jubilee year for the CSTO as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the CSTO. He thanked the Armenian side for all the initiatives on this occasion.

Armenia assumed the CSTO presidency on September 16, 2021 for a one-year term.

 17:41,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan attended the event dedicated to the launch of the Armenian national airline Fly Arna at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The ceremony started with the arrival of the first Airbus A320 airplane of Fly Arna from Sharjah International Airport to Armenia, bringing with it the delegation of Air Arabia Group. The airplane was welcomed at Zvartnots International Airport with a water salute.

The event was attended by Tatevik Revazyan, Chairperson of the Civil Aviation Committee, Tigran Avinyan, Chairman of the Board of the State Interest Fund of Armenia (ANIF), David Papazyan, Executive Director of ANIF, Adel Abdullah Ali , CEO of Air Arabia and other officials.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan welcomed those present and said, “Sometimes it is very difficult to regulate the mind, what to focus on. more on what we have or what we do not have? And this is a really important question, because what we have inspires us, and what we do not have, can sometimes discourage us in the sense that having so much in Armenia, at the same time we do not have so much that sometimes it seems impossible to fill the gap, accomplish the mission, accomplish the task that fits into the vast space of what we do not have.

And in this sense, we have decided not to be afraid to face all the challenges. And we have decided that we should have more and more and to give up the logic of patching. If we are doing something, we must do everything we can to do it as properly as possible, at the highest possible level.

And our political commitment has been that during the years we are in office, significant changes must take place in the field of aviation, the colors of our state flag must appear on more and more planes. I am glad that we have this opportunity today, I congratulate all of us, because with the participation of our partners from Air Arabia from the United Arab Emirates and the Armenian National Interests Fund, we are establishing this kind of an airline.”

According to Nikol Pashinyan, this has multi-sided significance, because one of the most important achievements of the pre-Covid period was that the Government was able to create an opportunity for citizens to travel at affordable prices. “And this is not just a matter of movement, this is also a political, civilizational issue, because when as wide sections of our society as possible have the opportunity to travel, to communicate with other countries, it is an opportunity for us to get to know ourselves better, better assess ourselves, have more energy, have a better idea of what to do next,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister hoped that “Fly Arna” airline will bring more people to Armenia and will take more people from Armenia. “In this sense, our country will also become a crossroads, from where people go travelling, where they return, where people go for rest, acquaintance, tourism, and those people keep a part of Armenia in their hearts, they take some positive attitude towards Armenia with them. Congratulations again to all of us on doing a step forward on the path of the development of this direction. We know more negative than positive stories about Armenia’s aviation sector, it’s time to break that chain. I hope that together with our partners we will be able to overcome the weighty package of negative news or the impression left by it with positive news, new developments, new planes, new passengers, new directions,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister, accompanied by the CEO of Air Arabia Adel Abdullah Ali, toured the first Fly Arna aircraft to get acquainted with the conditions created for the passengers.

During the official launch ceremony, Fly Arna announced the date of its first commercial flight. The first flight G6501 will be operated from Zvartnots International Airport to Hurghada International Airport on July 3, 2022. Fly Arna’s initial destinations will also include direct flights connecting Armenia with Sharm El Sheikh and Beirut.

 18:01,

YEREVAN, 10 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 10 June, USD exchange rate down by 4.90 drams to 421.95 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 10.57 drams to 446.89 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 7.39 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 9.94 drams to 524.95 drams.

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

Gold price down by 401.79 drams to 25027.25 drams. Silver price down by 3.32 drams to 297.50 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 18:16,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Armenia, received Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on International Cultural Cooperation, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian spheres and promising directions.

The sides referred to the “Armenian Culture Days in Russia” and “Russian Culture Days in Armenia” programs. The “Armenian Culture Days in Russia” event will take place on June 10-11, 2022 in Moscow and on June 13 in Kislovodsk. The event “Russian Spiritual Culture Days in Armenia” is planned in autumn of 2022.

The interlocutors attached importance to holding the above-mentioned events and stressed that they will contribute to the strengthening of the centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples.