17:04,
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Defense Ministry has decided to cardinally decrease the military activity in the direction of Kiev and Chernigov, according to the military agency’s statement following Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul read out by Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, reports TASS.
“Due to the fact that the talks on preparing an agreement on Ukraine’s neutrality and non-nuclear status as well as on providing Ukraine with security guarantees are moving to the practical sphere, considering the principles discussed during the meeting today, in order to bolster mutual confidence and create the necessary conditions for the further talks and the achievement of the final goal – the coordination and the signing of the aforementioned agreement – the Russian Defense Ministry has made a decision to cardinally, several-fold decrease the military activity in the direction of Kiev and Chernigov”, he said.
17:04,
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Rosa Linn will take the stage at the Eurovision 2022 International Song Contest at the first semi-final on May 10 under number 17 in Turin.
The second semi-final will take place on May 12, and the final on May 14.
Rosa Linn will perform her song Snap.
17:06,
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. Artashes Toumanian, advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, had separate meetings with Ali Akbar Mehrabian, Iranian minister of Energy, Javad Oji, Iranian Oil minister and Mehdi Safari, Iranian deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, the Armenian Embassy in Iran reports.
During the meetings the officials discussed issues related to the development and deepening of bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation․
In the meeting with the Iranian Energy minister, both sides exchanged views on the arrangements of sessions of Armenia-Iran Intergovernmental joint commission to be hold in the future.
17:32,
YEREVAN, 29 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 March, USD exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 490.40 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.68 drams to 541.60 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.54 drams to 5.77 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.05 drams to 642.08 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 262.21 drams to 30540.93 drams. Silver price down by 11.25 drams to 392.67 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.
17:35,
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani took place in Tbilisi, the foreign ministry said.
The ministers discussed the current agenda of the bilateral cooperation in various sectors, as well as the current situation in the region.
During his visit to Tbilisi the Armenian FM will also have a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Azerbaijan’s aggression against settlements and civilians is conditioned by geopolitical processes. President of Artsakh
17:59,
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan visited the Ministry of Defense on March 29 and held a working consultation with the participation of the Command Staff of the Defense Army and other law enforcement agencies, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Artsakh President’s Office.
In his speech, the Head of the State first of all praised the courage shown by servicemen of the Defense Army and other law enforcement agencies, as well as volunteers in the defense of the Homeland. The President paid tribute to the memory of the martyred servicemen, noting that each of them proved to be a true hero.
Touching upon the recent developments in the military-political situation, Arayik Harutyunyan highlighted that the recent military and psychological aggression of Azerbaijan against the settlements and civilians of Artsakh is conditioned primarily by geopolitical processes. Main works carried out by the Artsakh authorities on a round-the-clock basis and at various levels to de-escalate and stabilize the situation, and return the Azerbaijani troops to their starting positions were presented to those present.
A number of issues related to the country’s defense capacity were discussed during the meeting. The President gave new instructions in that respect.
18:30,
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has recently received attention from the international community supporting the advancement of science and innovation. Local and Diaspora Armenians as well as foreign companies and investors have joined the initiative undertaken by Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) to foster the development of the scientific ecosystem in Armenia. Professors and scientists Dr. Garabed Antranikian, Dr. Mary A. Papazian, Naira Hovakimyan, Armenia’s Men’s Basketball Team head coach Rex Kalamian, comedian Vahe Berberian, rock star Serj Tankian, world known footballer Henrikh Mkhitaryan are among prominent Armenians who have been raising awareness of the public about the Advance Armenia Gala inaugural fundraiser initiated by FAST.
Advance Armenia Gala aims to attract additional resources for scaling the ADVANCE STEM Research grant program, striving to provide competitive research opportunities to 10 research teams and up to 50 local scientists. The Gala will take place on March 31, 2022, at The Landmark, Los Angeles, CA. The keynote speaker of the evening is Dr. Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder of FAST, Co-Founder and Chairman of Moderna, Inc.
Thanks to the generous support of the US company, Reliance, the leading COVID-19 testing services provider, which acts as the Visionary sponsor, two new research projects will be launched. Armenian-American benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Nune Sepetjian representing Turbo Wholesale Tires, Inc. and acting as an Innovator sponsor, will facilitate one more research project to be launched. FAST is also exploring potential research collaborations with UCLA through The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA. This unique hub for world-class education, research, and outreach on issues related to Armenia and Armenians around the world is ideal for FAST’s mission.
According to Armen Orujyan, Founding CEO of FAST, scientific advancement is an indisputable necessity for Armenia and everyone’s contribution inspires hope in pursuit of success. “Armenia’s prosperity and sustainable future are embedded in the Nation’s scientific and technological advancement. Accordingly, FAST strives to deploy numerous solutions aimed at creating building blocks that will help foster Armenia’s science, innovation, and technology ecosystem. We do believe that through consistent and committed efforts of all constituencies we will be able to empower our brain trust, promising researchers and innovators, to bring cutting-edge, commercially viable, and globally competitive solutions to life. These joint efforts are crucial in ensuring Armenia’s leapfrogging”, said Armen Orujyan. What is remarkable, Orujyan exclaims, is that the vision of facilitating the transformation of Armenia through Science and Technology unites people of all backgrounds.
“Science and technology are driving forces behind modern healthcare innovation. Our Clinical Laboratory industry is benefiting from this advancement. The global pandemic has demonstrated how much the world’s health care system depends on the local advancement in science and technology. We appreciate FAST’s vision of perceiving Armenia not simply as a territory, but rather as a consciousness that is limitless in its reach, creativity, and resources. The FAST vision helps to unite people and organizations under the umbrella of their innovative projects,” said Joe Barnes, Founder/CEO of Reliance.
“We share FAST’s vision and goals for Armenia and believe that it is essential to support science and technology advancement in our motherland. As scientific research aims at gaining knowledge and finding solutions to unsolved problems, it will pave a path to many brilliant inventions, bringing progress and innovation to a thriving Armenia”, noted Sarkis and Nune Sepetjian, Turbo Wholesale Tires, Inc.
“Armenians have been making significant contributions to the world in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. UCLA is one of the top institutions in the world across various disciplines, and through The Promise Armenian Institute, we have the potential to connect Armenian researchers of FAST to scientists of the highest caliber from the university for collaboration and mentorship”, mentioned Eric Esrailian, physician, producer, entrepreneur.
An impressive collection of artwork and memorabilia are generously donated by outstanding personalities for silent auction during the gala. Partly a celebration of Armenia’s internationally recognized talent, these offerings from the fields of art, music, cinema, sport and fine beverages, include such gems as the Final Screenplay from Casablanca; Clark Gable’s original autograph and publicity photos; signed memorabilia from Serj Tankian and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and art-works by Kevork George Kassabian, Emil Kazaz and Rebecca Topakian; as well as some of the culturally and historically significant, and rich flavors of Armenian heritage.
In 2020, FAST designed the ADVANCE STEM Research grant program, to set the ground for the development of scientific directions in STEM-related fields in Armenia. The ADVANCE grant connects distinguished international scientists with local researchers for them to form a research group and work jointly on globally competitive research projects. FAST and its partners ensure comprehensive long-term institutional and financial support for the newly formed research groups. Now the amount of the grant is $65,000, but upon a successful fundraising round, FAST will be able to offer each team a grant of up to $125,000 per year. The grant covers salaries for local researchers and repatriated young scientists, laboratory supporting materials, international principal investigator salaries and travel expenses, collaborative research activities abroad, participation in conferences, publication in journals and patenting costs. Up to now 3 ongoing projects in biotechnology, machine learning and computer agriculture have engaged 4 PIs and funded 13 researchers.
***
The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) is a non-profit organization established in 2017 to help foster and accelerate the advancement of science and technological innovation in Armenia and beyond. FAST has designed and structured numerous programs and initiatives that propel Armenia to advance in Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, and other strategic fields. Focusing on core science ecosystem drivers – Education, Research, Commercialization – FAST offers a wide range of initiatives to achieve its goal. FAST aims to play a critical role in Armenia’s leapfrog and transformation into a top global innovator by 2041.
18:45,
YEREVAN, 29 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The international community should stop dictator Aliyev not allowing new aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh, ARMENPRESS reports member of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, Basque by nationality, Jon Iñarritu said, talking about the situation in Artsakh and the regular hostile actions by Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan uses the deviation of the international press on Ukraine in order to attack Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). For weeks, the armed forces of Azerbaijan has been violating the ceasefire agreement signed in November 2020. The international community should stop dictator (satrap) Aliyev.” Basque member of parliament wrote on his twitter page.
For weeks, Azerbaijan has been consistently aggravating the military, humanitarian and moral situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, trying to intimidate the Armenians of Artsakh by various means. The Artsakh authorities, human rights activists, describe it as a state policy of intimidation against the people of Artsakh.
During the last month, the local population was twice deprived of heating, in particular, gas supply. During that time, the Azerbaijani armed forces fired several times at a number of Armenian settlements and roads. The tension increased sharply when on March 24 the Azerbaijani troops, grossly violating the 2020 agreement, invaded the area of responsibility of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation in the Artsakh Republic, taking control of the village of Parukh in the Askeran region and adjacent positions, then trying to secure advancment on the eastern border of the Artsakh Republic. On March 27, the Russian peacekeeping force announced that as a result of the talks, the Azerbaijani side had withdrawn its units from Parukh.
19:56,
YEREVAN, 29 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Command of the Russian Peacekeeping Forces are making active efforts to defuse tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova said at a weekly briefing, emphasizing that the Russian peacekeepers are acting strictly following the provisions of the November 9 trilateral declaration.
Asked by a reporter of The Moscow Post what is really happening on the line of contact of Russian peacekeepers, and if that can be a provocation by the Azerbaijani side, maybe even Turkey, given that Rusia is currently focused on Ukraine, Zakharova answered, “The position of our country in connection with the recent incidents in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops is expressed in the March 26 statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry. If you look at that announcement, you will see that we have called on the parties to urgently ensure the smooth implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level on November 9, 220 on the complete cessation of all hostilities in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone.”
According to Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry is in constant contact with the representatives of Yerevan and Baku.
For weeks, Azerbaijan has been consistently aggravating the military, humanitarian and moral situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, trying to intimidate the Armenians of Artsakh by various means. The Artsakh authorities, human rights activists, describe it as a state policy of intimidation against the people of Artsakh.
During the last month, the local population was twice deprived of heating, in particular, gas supply. During that time, the Azerbaijani armed forces fired several times at a number of Armenian settlements and roads. The tension increased sharply when on March 24 the Azerbaijani troops, grossly violating the 2020 agreement, invaded the area of responsibility of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation in the Artsakh Republic, taking control of the village of Parukh in the Askeran region and adjacent positions, then trying to secure advancment on the eastern border of the Artsakh Republic. On March 27, the Russian peacekeeping force announced that as a result of the talks, the Azerbaijani side has withdrawn its units from Parukh.