Category: 2022

China launches new satellite via Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket

 09:40, 23 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. China on Tuesday successfully launched a new satellite into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Xinhua news agency reports.

The Chuangxin-16 satellite, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was launched at 10:36 a.m. (Beijing Time) by a Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket and entered the planned orbit successfully.

The satellite will mainly be used for scientific experiments and verification of new technologies.

 09:42, 23 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed a congratulatory message on the 32nd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia, the PM’s Office said.

The message reads:

“Dear people,

Dear compatriots,

Today marks the 32nd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia. The Declaration, adopted by the Supreme Council on August 23, 1990, states that the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic is beginning the process of establishing an independent state.

That process de jure ended with the independence referendum of 1991 September 21 and the recognition of the Republic of Armenia by the international community.

De facto, that process has not ended till today, not because we don’t have independence, but because independence is like health, which even if you have it, you have to take care of it every day.

The government is fighting for the independence of the Republic of Armenia every day. Independence is security for us, and the international procedures ensuring it are cracking before our eyes, and one of these first cracks was unfortunately reflected in Nagorno Karabakh.

Independence is normalized relations with neighbors: we have excellent relations with some of our neighbors, but there is no significant progress in the relations with others because they demand a very high price from us or they think that we demand a very high price from them.

Independence is firm allied relations for us, but allies are not always allies of you, but of those who ally against you.

Independence is confrontation, and for the sake of our independence and statehood we must have a will to confront ourselves, our history and worldview. Independence is a mindset, a state-centered mindset, and its non-existence squanders sovereignty, security and future.

Independence is freedom, and in our view, people have created an independent state to feel free and secure there. Independence is education, and as long as every child living in the most remote village does not have the same access to education as it is in the center of the capital, we must yearn for our future.

Independence is a legal procedure, a rule of law, respecting law, not overturning it, should be a mark of superiority. 

Independence is work, a work that should create not spoil.

Independence is like the Parable of the Ten Minas of the Bible, the meaning of which is the following: whoever has, he will be given, whoever doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Therefore, let’s have independence, we will have independence.

I congratulate all of us on August 23”.

 10:44, 23 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The Chairman of the Urban Development Committee Armen Ghularyan and the Head of the Department of Urban Development Project Implementation Arsen Mirzoyan recently visited the Province of Syunik to inspect the construction project of the new district in Shurnukh.

The new district includes 13 houses. The construction of 9 houses is nearing completion and the remaining 4 are in process, the Urban Development Committee said in a press release.

The construction of engineering infrastructures and gates has also commenced, among other work.

The construction features a new sewage system with a cleaning station, power lines and street lightings, as well as barns for every household.

The 1,2 billion dram construction of the new district in Shurnukh began in April, 2021. The district is expected to be commissioned in Q4 2022.

 10:45, 23 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. A part of the Christapor Street where the Surmalu Trade Center is located will be reopened after being shut down for safety precautions following the August 14 blast.

The Petak trade center is also located on the same street.

“A part of Christapor Street was closed since August 14 after the explosion which took place in the Surmalu trade center. Yesterday businesses of the Petak trade center were demanding to know a concrete date when they will be able to return to work. I am hereby informing that yesterday officials from police, investigative committee and the ministry of emergency situations held a discussion over the issues raised by the businesses. A decision was made to open a one-sided part of the street by maintaining safety precautions. We are now working in that direction,” Ministry of Emergency Situations spokesperson Hayk Kostanyan said in a statement.

 11:30, 23 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan partook in a solemn ceremony of opening of a children and youth sports ground built with funds of “Future generations” Charitable Foundation in the Khantsq community of the Askeran region, the Artsakh presidency said in a press release.

According to the President, development projects of the community are in the spotlight of the Government of Artsakh, and next year it is planned to asphalt the road leading to the community with state funds.

The Head of the State also visited St. John the Baptist Church in Khantsq.

Head of the Artsakh Republic President's Office Karen Shahramanyan, State Adviser to the President, Founder of "Future generations" Charitable Foundation Grigori Gabrielyants, and other officials accompanied the President during the visit.

 09:38, 24 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The search-and-rescue operations in the Surmalu trade center have been suspended Wednesday morning after authorities said they couldn’t find the body or remains of the last presumed missing person.

“Thorough search operations were carried out in the epicenter of the blast and the entire nearby area, in some parts even double search operations. Unfortunately, the body or remains of the missing person weren’t found,” Ministry of Emergency Situations spokesperson Hayk Kostanyan said in a statement.

The August 14 blast killed 16 people and injured more than 60.

1 person is presumed missing in the explosion.

Robert Arzumanyan named new manager of FC Noah

 09:17, 24 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Retired Armenian football player Robert Arzumanyan is the new manager of Yerevan’s FC Noah, the club announced.

“Robert Arzumanyan new Noah manager.

We are pleased to announce that Noah signed a contract with 37-year-old former Armenian National Team player Robert Arzumanyan. His previous club was Urartu, which was headed by Arzumanyan from March 2021 till June 2022. Welcome to the Noah family,” FC Noah said in a statement.

 10:22, 24 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The 2020 war heavily affected the economic development of Artsakh, causing decline in virtually all branches.

In 2021, the GDP dropped 12,7%, while industrial output declined 33,6% compared to 2020.

In response to a query from ARMENPRESS, the Minister of Finance and Economy of Artsakh Vahram Baghdasaryan said that the biggest drop was recorded in agriculture because nearly 75% of Artsakh’s arable lands, 85% of pastures, most part of fertile grounds and nearly 90% of irrigated agricultural areas are in territories which Azerbaijan captured and is now occupying.

The number of livestock was reduced by over 50%. Agricultural output dropped 51,1% compared to 2020.

“The only branch where we recorded growth after the war is construction, and this is due to the large-scale apartment-building projects implemented by the government. In 2021, the volume of capital construction carried out with all sources of funding grew 48,3% compared to the previous year,” the minister said.

The economy of the post-war country: Problems facing businesses in Artsakh

Businesses in Artsakh suffered heavily due to the war materially, logistically and in terms of resource, among them are organizations that were working in territories which were lost during the war.

Minister Baghdasaryan says the Artsakh Government’s priority is to restore the economy in a short period of time by applying promotional programs, modern technologies and effective mechanisms which will enable to ensure small industrial capacities with high-level quality and increase of work productivity.

“Particularly, we are planning to implement programs in agriculture, industry (mining, light and process manufacturing) and in several other branches. Our goal is to create the kind of an economic system which would generate all the mechanisms through which it will be possible to solve the security issues and ensure the continuous increase of the levels of employment and livelihood of the population,” Baghdasaryan said.

SME activities in post-war Artsakh

The government of Artsakh is carrying out a number of programs to support SMEs and improve the business climate after the war. A large-scale tax privilege package was initiated which covers nearly all types of taxes aimed at easing the tax burden of businesses.

“Most businesses working in the 10% profit tax rate sector were exempted from paying profit tax before 2022, and the rate will be set 5% starting 2023. Private entrepreneurs were similarly exempt from revenue tax in the same period. Agricultural output trade is exempt from VAT until 2026,” the minister said.

 

Other programs include privileged terms and direct support for the restoration of lost businesses:

Companies and individuals who suffered material damages due to the war are offered a treasury promissory note with a 5-year maturity date and 7% yield. The individuals and companies are able to receive the money earlier starting 2023 July in case of presenting a business plan which envisages the recovery of a lost business or launch of a new one.

In 2021 the government also launched a grant program promoting innovation and entrepreneurship aimed at developing agriculture, process manufacturing and village tourism.

Problems and Solutions Regarding Exports and Imports

Some enterprises having had sustainable export volumes and who were already well-known in foreign markets are regrettably among the businesses which are left in territories occupied by Azerbaijan.

“This all can’t not have an impact on the country’s export volumes and structure, which caused various new challenges and requires more effective mechanisms of state support to advance domestic products in foreign markets. From this perspective, the ministry of finance and economy is taking practical steps to promote the exports of domestic products and provide support to producers, as well as projects aimed at representing the range of products of domestic producers in foreign markets,” Minister Baghdasaryan said.

The government plans to ensure the representation of domestic producers in international expos and seminars soon.

 10:30, 24 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Assistant to the U.S. President for National Security Affairs Jake Sullivan and Israeli National Security Advisor Dr. Eyal Hulata discussed a broad range of global issues and issues of mutual concern during the meeting at the White House, NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a press statement.

“Mr. Sullivan underscored President Biden’s steadfast commitment to preserve and strengthen Israel’s capability to deter its enemies and to defend itself by itself against any threat or combination of threats”, the statement says. “They discussed plans for the upcoming U.S.-Israel Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology, and ways to expand and enhance bilateral cooperation on critical and emerging technologies to further solutions to address global challenges. Mr. Sullivan also stressed the need to take continued steps to improve the lives of Palestinians, which are critical to peace, security and prosperity”, it added.