Category: 2022

Li Keqiang addresses Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties

Emil Lazarian

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 13:54, 6 April, 2022

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and China, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang sent a message to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

The message, in particular, reads,

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
Your Excellency,

On behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and on my personal behalf, I convey my heartfelt congratulations, best wishes to you, and to the Government and people of the Republic of Armenia, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Armenia.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, healthy and sustainable development dynamics has been observed in the Chinese -Armenian relations during the last 30 years. The political mutual trust between the two countries is constantly deepening, the practical cooperation in different spheres is progressing, and the cultural and humanitarian exchanges are getting closer.

Taking the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, I express my readiness to make joint efforts with you to deepen bilateral relations in various spheres, to enrich the agenda of the Chinese-Armenian friendly relations for the benefit of our countries and peoples.

I wish success in your mission and good health. I wish eternal friendship between China and Armenia”.

Ardashes Kassakhian selected as Glendale Mayor

Torgomian Varazdat

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 14:51, 6 April, 2022

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Glendale City Council Member Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian was selected as the City’s Mayor by fellow councilmembers on Tuesday, Asbarez reported.

Kassakhian takes over the position from outgoing Mayor Paula Devine. This is Kassakhian’s first time serving in the role of Mayor.

Born in Boston, Mayor Ardy Kassakhian has been a resident of Glendale since 1986. Prior to his election to City Council, Mr. Kassakhian served as the elected City Clerk for Glendale for 15 years, having been elected and re-elected four times by Glendale’s voters.

Armenian national futsal team departs for Bulgaria

Emil Lazarian

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 15:10, 6 April, 2022

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenian national futsal team left for Bulgaria, where the qualification tournament of C group of World Cup 2024 will take place, the Football Federation of Armenia said.

Headed by Ruben Nazaretyan the following players left for Bulgaria.

Luan Muller – AD Fundao (Portugal)

Emin Gharabekyans – FC Iracom (Iran)

Rodriginho – MFK Norilsk Nickel (Russia)

Vladimir Sanosyan – MFK Norilsk Nickel (Russia)

Joao Guilherme Carvalho – Gazprom-Ugra (Russia)

Lucas Rozenski – Al Tadhamon SC (Kuwait)

Vitinho – FC Wiener Neustadt (Austria)

Nikita Khromikh – Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)

Sargis Margaryan – VRZ Gomel (Belarus)

David Aslanyan – VRZ Gomel (Belarus)

Artur Melkonyan – FC Ukhta (Russia)

Saro Galstyan – Yerevan FC

Garegin Mashumyan – Yerevan FC

Hamlet Manukyan – Yerevan FC

Rafik Melikyan – Yerevan FC

 

Tournament schedule: 

Armenia-Scotland, 08.04.2022, 18:30

Bulgaria-Kosovo, 08.04.2022, 21:00

Kosovo-Scotland, 09.04.2022, 18:30

Bulgaria-Armenia, 09.04.2022, 21:00

Kosovo-Armenia, 11.04.2022, 18:30

Scotland-Bulgaria, 11.04.2022, 21:00

Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to peace talks two years after Nagorno-Karabakh fighting

Hambardsumian Paul
Deutsche Welle, Germany
April 7 2022

EU leaders brokered the agreement, which will see a joint border commission established. The two countries’ leaders met for the third time in six months as tensions continue to flare in the region.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to kick-start peace talks over the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory, following a Wednesday meeting of the two countries’ heads of state.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia said in a statement that he and his Azeri counterpart had agreed to set up a bilateral border commission by the end of April.

The two leaders “instructed their foreign ministers to begin preparations for peace talks,” Pashinyan’s statement read.

No statement from Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev was immediately available.

The summit came more than two years after renewed heavy fighting over the region in 2020, which saw 250,000 people displaced.

Since the 1990s, tensions have simmered between the two breakaway ex-Soviet republics over Nagorno-Karabakh — the border territory sandwiched between the two nations.

In a 1991 war, Yerevan forces occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, which is home to ethnic Armenians but was internationally recognized as belonging to Baku.

The fighting lasted four years, ending only after Russia’s intervention. Some 30,000 people were killed.

Although a peace agreement was signed in 2008 to solidify a resolution, there have been flashes of violence in the region over the years.

In 2020, those tensions boiled over, resulting in heavy fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azeri forces deployed ballistic missiles, cluster munitions and drones to take back the region.

In November, the conflict officially ended following a peace deal that saw Armenia relinquish control of the region and Russian peacekeepers step in.

Wednesday’s meeting was hosted by the European Council in Brussels.

It’s the third in six months between the country’s leaders.

With proposed talks, there’s renewed hope that this agreement can be sustained despite clashes recorded as recently as November.

European Council President Charles Michel, who engineered the discussions, said he was “confident” that the talks are going in the right direction for the two parties, but also “it doesn’t mean that everything is solved, of course.”

sl/sms (Reuters, AFP)

43 MEPs sent letter to Charles Michel, alerting about Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 6 2022
April 6, 2022, 23:49

 1 minute read

On the initiative of the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) François-Xavier Bellamy and Loucas Fourlas, 43 MEPs from all the major political groups addressed a letter to President of the European Council Charles Michel and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Joseph Borrell, ahead of the Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting in Brussels. 

MEPs express their concerns about Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing against the native Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh/ Artsakh. They urge the EU leadership to use all available leverage to pressure Azerbaijan to stop its aggressive policy in Artsakh, immediately withdraw its military forces back to their initial positions and stop any action that could endanger the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The letter refers in particular to the provocations unleashed by Azerbaijan in Artsakh in the recent weeks, such as the incursion of the Azerbaijani armed forces into the Armenian village of Parukh, to difficult situation caused in the village of Khramort, as well as to the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh following the cut of gas supplies by Azerbaijan. The MEPs conclude their letter by stating that the EU cannot allow ethnic cleansing in its neighborhood.

Commenting on the letter, the President of the EAFJD Kaspar Karampetian emphasized:

“This initiative of the Members of the European Parliament is a strong signal to EU executive leaders, as it provides a clear assessment of the policy pursued by Azerbaijan, qualifying it as a policy of ethnic cleansing. We must continue to be consistent for the EU to put pressure on Azerbaijan to end its anti-Armenian policy of forcing the native Armenian population out of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh.”

https://en.armradio.am/2022/04/06/43-meps-sent-letter-to-charles-michel-alerting-about-azerbaijans-policy-of-ethnic-cleansing-in-artsakh/

At Times Square, Nasdaq congratulates Orion supporting Armenian startups for raising $27 million

Dabaghian Diana
Public Radio of Armenia
April 6 2022
April 7, 2022, 12:31

 1 minute read

One of the world’s largest stock exchanges, Nasdaq, has congratulated BAJ Accelerator and Orion Worldwide Innovations for attracting  $27 million in investments in 2021.

The investments were made in Armenian startups operating in the fields of Security, SaaS, Robotics, FinTech, and AI. Orion is a New York-based company that opened an office in Armenia two years ago. Startups in the accelerator portfolio are on pace to attract another $20 million in 2022.

The congratulionboth BAJ Accelerator and Orion Worldwide Innovations was published on the large Nasdaq screen in Times Square, New York with the following text:  “NASDAQ congratulates BAJ Accelerator & Orion Worldwide Innovations for their program companies raising $27M in 2021.” 

“We are very honored to be recognized by Nasdaq. Armenian talent invent many innovative products, and we are glad that through Orion the successes of the Armenian startups are becoming more visible to the world. For the first time this upcoming summer, we will organize the “Orion Summit 2022,” which will be an opportunity to highlight achievements together with rising unicorns that are part of our portfolio, and the Armenian startup ecosystem overall,” said Diana Arzumanyan, CEO & Co-Founder of Orion Armenia.

Orion Worldwide Innovations (“Orion”), is a startup growth and ecosystem acceleration hub and offers a full-service package to make companies investable and enter the US market, enhance their customer acquisition strategies, stay competitive, and protect their innovation. Orion is a U.S.-based company that was formed in 2017, with offices in New York City, U.S., and Yerevan, Armenia. Orion partners with companies and investor networks worldwide.

BAJ Accelerator is a growth stage accelerator and is for startups at the Seed to Series A+ levels. BAJ Accelerator is the first one in the world “accelerating the acceleration of technology” by offering high-touch relationships for funding and growth, business and legal, investment and academia. Topics span an impressive range including technology, legal, finance, sales, marketing, leadership, storytelling and exponential thinking. BAJ Accelerator brings fast-paced Firing Range drive with the unique vision of “Less Talk, More Deals” slogan.

Tech giant NVIDIA establishing research center in Armenia

Manouk Vasilian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 6 2022
April 7, 2022, 13:37

 1 minute read

NVIDIA, a world leader in visual computing technologies, is establishing a research center in Armenia, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan informs.

In 2019, the Armenian delegation headed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited NVIDIA’s headquarters in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company`s founder and CEO Jensen Huang briefed the Armenian officials on the future of gaming, visual computing and AI.

“At that meeting we also discussed possible cooperation with NVIDIA. Today, I’m thrilled to announce that NVIDIA is coming to Armenia. One of the world`s leading tech giants with $27 billion in revenue and more than 20,000 employees worldwide is opening the doors of their new office in Yerevan,” Arsahakyan said in a Facebook post.

Leading the site is Rev Lebaredian, vice president of Omniverse and simulation technology, who’s been with the company for two decades.

NVIDIA’s invention of the GPU in 1999 sparked the growth of the PC gaming market and has redefined modern computer graphics, high performance computing and artificial intelligence.

The company’s pioneering work in accelerated computing and AI is reshaping transportation, healthcare and manufacturing, and fueling the growth of many other industries. In Yerevan, the company is building a fully-fledged site for hundreds of engineers, researchers and more.

Security guarantees and status of Artsakh should be a subject of negotiations – Armenian PM

Ophelia Vardapetian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 7 2022
April 7, 2022, 17:10

 1 minute read

Guarantees of the security of the people of Artsakh, protection of their rights and freedoms, as well as the clarification of the final status of Nagorno Karabakh are included in Armenia’s answers to Azerbaijan’s proposals and should be the subject of negotiations, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the government sitting today.

“Of course, as before, we consider the involvement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs essential in this process, and we must continue to work in that direction,” the Prime Minister said, briefing the cabinet on the results of the Brussels meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the EU Council Charles Michel.

“Naturally, there was a discussion about the deterioration of the security environment in Nagorno Karabakh, particularly the events in Parukh, but those discussions did not lead to a joint assessment of the situation. I must also say that I did not consider the further discussion of this particular topic appropriate in the Brussels platform, because it is about the intrusion of Azerbaijani units into the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno Karabakh. Therefore, the issue should rather be discussed with the participation of the partners from the Russian Federation, and we are going to do that,” PM Pashinyan said.

“We expect that the peacekeepers of the Russian Federation in Nagorno Karabakh will take measures to ensure the withdrawal of Azerbaijani units from their area of responsibility,” he added.

Armenia interested in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with the Dominican Republic

Antonian Lara
Public Radio of Armenia
April 7 2022
April 7, 2022, 18:02

 1 minute read

Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos, newly appointed Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Republic of Armenia (residence in Moscow), handed over the copies of credentials to Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

Congratulating the Ambassador on his appointment, the Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized that the Republic of Armenia is interested in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with the Dominican Republic.

Expressing gratitude for the reception and good wishes, the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic highlighted that he will spare no effort to deepen the multifaceted relations between the Republic of Armenia and Dominican Republic.

Paruyr Hovhannisyan informed the Dominican Ambassador about recent developments regarding Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the position of Armenia.

Issues related to the development of political dialogue, the development of the legal framework, trade-economic and multilateral cooperation were discussed at the meeting.

The interlocutors also touched upon a number of urgent regional and international issues.