Category: 2022

 15:12,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. UK imports from Russia have plunged 97% to record low, Bloomberg reports citing data released by the Office for National Statistics.

Figures showed UK fuel imports from Russia, which averaged £499 million a month in the year through February, fell to zero for the first time in data going back to 1997. 

Prior to Russia sending troops into Ukraine , Russia was the UK’s largest supplier of refined oil, the ONS said. The nation accounted for 24.1% of all imports of that commodity. It also supplied 5.9% of the UK’s crude oil imports, and 4.9% of the gas imports. 

But “as a result of the UK government’s ambition to phase out imports of Russian oil and gas, there were no imports of refined oil, crude oil, gas or coal, coke and briquettes from Russia by June 2022,” the ONS said. “This has prompted importers to seek alternatives. There have been increases in imports of refined oil from Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Kuwait in recent months; partially compensating for reduced imports from Russia.”

Total imports of goods from Russia totaled £33 million in June, down about 97%.

 15:24,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) and STARMUS International Festival signed a memorandum of understanding ahead of the STARMUS VI Festival to be held in Yerevan on September 5-11.

As a leader of transforming educational and scientific ecosystem in Armenia, FAST will be the partner of STARMUS in science, art and music fields, contributing to the fulfillment of the organization’s mission and the holding of events in Armenia aimed at popularizing science. Committed to the vision to develop education in science sector, FAST has acquired 100 tickets of STARMUS which it will provide to students of Armenia’s high schools so that they take part in this important event.

The Foundation will also participate in the Science Camp on the sidelines of the Festival, which will take place in the Freedom Square of Yerevan. The Science Camp will focus on different topics. FAST will have a separate pavilion at the Camp where it will present its 5-year activity in artificial intelligence, as well as the products of local AI companies aimed at popularizing the sector.  

FAST Founding Director Armen Orujyan highly valued this cooperation, stating that it will contribute to raising interest among new generation towards science. “Our goal is to support Armenia to be included in the list of top five innovative countries in data science and artificial intelligence by 2041.We know that this path is difficult and requires a lot of work, but Armenia’s scientific traditions inspire hopes that in case of having a developed innovative ecosystem we will be able to utilize our potential correctly and ensure that very much desirable drastic growth”, Armen Orujyan said.

“The main goal of STARMUS is to inspire youth to be interested and engaged in science. From the very start we were convinced that we are going to cooperate with FAST and are confident that it will continue in the future as well because the main purpose of FAST is the development of science and technologies in Armenia which is fully in accordance with the tasks set before us. I am sure that we have a long path to pass with FAST in order to draw world’s attention to Armenia as a country of scientific achievements”, STARMUS Founding Director Garik Israelian said.

The Science Camp will take place from September 8 to 11, at 17:00-23:00, it will be open for all visitors. 10 innovative startups, that are beneficiaries of different projects of FAST, will present their AI solutions. The visitors will have a chance to take part in interesting games and competitions by acquiring new knowledge and impressive experience.

The format of STARMUS Festival involves scientific debates, panel discussions, exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and many other events.

This year FAST will hold already the 4^th Global Innovation Forum (GIF22) on October 5-6 in Yerevan under the title “Life Altering Technologies”.

 16:27,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The United Nations launched a final report on the humanitarian Inter-Agency Response to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between October 2020 and December 2021, the UN Office in Armenia said.

More than 40,4 million USD were mobilized and allocated to implement the Inter-Agency Response Plan (IARP) activities that comprehensively addressed the needs of the 90,000 persons who arrived to Armenia as a result of the escalation of the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh (NK).

As the co-coordinators of the inter-agency response, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency -, together with the United Nations (UN) Country Team, Partners, and Representatives of the Government of Armenia presented the final report on the implementation of the 2021 Armenia Inter-Agency Response Plan (IARP). At the very outset of the NK conflict, the UN and Partners conceived the IARP to complement the efforts of the Government of Armenia, to provide humanitarian assistance including shelter, health services, food and cash and protection support to the 90,000 individuals (88 per cent being women and children) from in and around NK in Armenia. 

The IARP partners coordinated efforts within five humanitarian thematic working groups and in close coordination with national and local authorities such as municipalities as well as other stakeholders. Assistance provided under the IARP directly benefited both the refugee-like population and the host communities.

At the official launch, the results and achievements documented in the final report were presented to both Government and partners, including the UN agencies, international and national NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, government entities, and international organizations.

In his welcoming remarks Deputy Foreign Minister, Vahe Gevorgyan, expressed gratitude for the effective cooperation with the UN and all the partners during the inter-agency response and highly appreciated the work done.

“Humanitarian and development partners together with the UN in Armenia have made an important difference to the well-being and lives of those displaced: 71,218 individuals benefitted from basic assistance; 45,745 individuals – from seasonal items; 26,730 individuals/6,051 households reached through protection monitoring; 8,383 children and adolescents – various activities enabling a good learning environment, etc. The IARP and the underlying coordination architecture created a platform for coordinated mobilization of critical support and channelling solidarity through enhanced humanitarian donor engagement,” noted Ms. Lila Pieters Yahia, UN RC a.i. in Armenia, at the launch.  

“UNHCR sincerely thanks the donor states for their commitment and support for the vulnerable displaced population in Armenia.” said the UNHCR Representative in Armenia, Ms. Anna-Carin Öst. Built on the effective coordination and cooperation between the state and NGO partners, the 2021 multi-donor contribution enabled the UN Family in Armenia to ensure timely and crucial support to the displaced families. It improved the protection environment and eased the burden-sharing of the communities which have warmly welcomed and hosted the displaced families with vulnerable women, children and elderly,” Ms. Anna-Carin Öst concluded.

Donors and implementing partners shared their feedback and commended on the effective crisis response.

 16:50,

Aghavno residents Avetis and Anahit swimming in the village river

AGHAVNO-YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Every time visiting Artsakh through Berdzor, probably all of us have paid attention to the houses with red roofs in Aghavno, a village with a beautiful and amazing view. However, current times are not so “good times” for the village residents as August 25 is the last day and they have to leave their homes…

Photography is often called a “universal language” as the photos taken sometimes tell more than words can convey.

In order to capture the moment and tell the world about these pictures through a camera, ARMENPRESS photographer visited Aghavno, that cozy corner, which has recently became under the focus of everyone.

Russian peacekeepers have already deployed a checkpoint at the entrance of the village and only let residents and their families in, but are not very kind to reporters and cameras. However, one of the main figures of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine, presenting himself as an international reporter, very quietly took a photo of the village and the people living there, with the accompany of the Russian peacekeepers.

The residents of Aghavno mainly stay silent these days. Many of them are engaged in taking out their last things from their homes. This silence is sometimes broken by the sounds of children playing in the river Aghavno. The youngest ones may not even realize that after a few days they will no longer hear the sound of the river and will not be able to cool off in the cold water of the river during hot summer. Teenagers, who more or less understand what is happening, are trying to keep the last warm moments in their memory…

Going up from the river, you again see the houses with red roofs of Aghavno, and outside houses – the people placing their items in trucks, for whom the most valuable and important thing will never fit in any truck…

Soul-stirring scenes…On the one hand, houses being emptied, and on the other hand, “We will return again and will live in Aghavno” written on walls. You can’t take away hope from people…

While residents of Aghavno are taking their last items out of homes, Avetis is playing as usual in his home village

Women in Aghavno try to take everything with them, even the mirror

Recently, Aghavno was deprived of electricity. Village head Andranik Chavushyan turns on the only electricity of these days – the power generator

Family is also taking the piano out of home

A woman preparing to leave her home in Aghavno. The Russian-language writing on the wall says ‘I want to live in peace’

Local men loading their belongings into a truck before departure

A baffled toddler watches his family burn pieces of their furniture

Aghavno residents prefer to burn their belongings which are too difficult to transport

A distraught woman crying outside her home

A dog confusingly watches everyone leaving the village

Children’s toys lay on the ground of the local school

Uphill view of Aghavno

 17:16,

YEREVAN, 24 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 24 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.06 drams to 404.87 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.22 drams to 401.63 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 6.75 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.29 drams to 476.61 drams.

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

Gold price up by 169.78 drams to 22734.62 drams. Silver price up by 1.20 drams to 247.19 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 17:18,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a condolence message to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov in connection with the tragic traffic accident in Ulyanovsk region, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The message reads as follows, "It is with deep sadness that I learned about the tragic traffic accident that took place in the Ulyanovsk Oblast of Russia, as a result of which Kyrgyz citizens were killed and injured.

In this regard, I offer my sincere condolences to you, the relatives of the victims and the entire people of Kyrgyzstan. I wish the injured a speedy recovery."

 17:42,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Alexander Burkov, Governor of Omsk Oblast of the Russian Federation, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister welcomed the delegation's visit to Armenia and noted that the allied relations with the Russian Federation are developing dynamically. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the periodic mutual visits and active discussions of representatives of Governments and regions contribute to this. The Prime Minister emphasized that there is a clear agenda for the development of cooperation in the economy, investments and other spheres, in the direction of which the two countries continue to cooperate closely.

Alexander Burkov thanked for the warm reception and noted that the Russian President has repeatedly mentioned the importance of developing allied relations with Armenia, so they are interested in further expanding ties with the regions of our country. According to the Governor of Omsk, interregional cooperation has great potential for development.

Cooperation in economy, trade, industry, aviation, education, culture and other spheres were considered promising.

The Prime Minister emphasized the steps towards the development of cooperation in the above-mentioned directions and emphasized the need for regular contacts and interactions.

 20:28,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Wednesday that Iran is studying the US responses received via the EU coordinator, ARMENPRESS reports, citing IRNA agency.

Kanaani said that the US government's response to the Islamic Republic of Iran's comments to resolve the remaining issues in the sanctions removal talks has been received by Tehran through the European Coordinator this afternoon.

A detailed review of the views of the US side has begun and the Islamic Republic of Iran will announce its standpoints to the Coordinator after completing the study, he added.

At the latest round of the talks, held earlier in August, the European Union presented proposals aimed at salvaging the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), which ran into trouble in 2018 after the US withdrew and reinstated sanctions on Iran.

Tehran last Monday offered its response to the proposals which the EU and the US said they had received and were assessing.

Iran has time and again said that it is serious to reach a strong, good and durable revival agreement that respects its red lines.

Tigran Avinyan participates in the resumption of Sisian’s stone processing workshop

 21:10,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Tigran Avinyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Interest Fund (ANIF), participated yesterday in the resumption of the "VH Stone" stone processing workshop in Sisian, ARMENPRESS reports Avinyan wrote on his Facebook page.

"The workshop belonging to Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine was not functioning since 2019, and this year it was restarted by the decision of the new managing staff of the Combine. It already has 40 jobs, but in the case of expansion of production capacity, it can provide up to 100 jobs," Avinyan wrote, adding that it is thanks to such economic units and appropriate infrastructures that the regions of Armenia can develop both by providing jobs to the population and by transforming the economy with technological development.