Category: 2022

 13:16,

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The repair and checking works of the damaged gas pipeline in Artsakh have been completed, and at night the natural gas was already supplied to the reception point of Artsakhgaz CJSC, State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan said on social media.

He informed that the gas supply to more than half of the customers has been restored, and the natural gas will be delivered to the rest in the coming hours.

“They will already be able to cope with their heating and other problems in these extremely cold weather conditions. About 30-40 cm of snow fell in Stepanakert today, the snowfall was even heavier in other settlements of Artsakh, which is unprecedented for March. And in such conditions the population of Artsakh has been left without gas supply for more than 11 days due to artificial and deliberate obstacles created by Azerbaijan”, the State Minister said.

Fitch affirms Armenia at ‘B+’; Outlook Stable

 14:14,

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Fitch Ratings has affirmed Armenia’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B+’ with a Stable Outlook, Fitch Ratings said in a statement.

“Armenia’s ‘B+’ IDRs reflect strong per-capita income, governance and business environment indicators relative to peers, as well as a robust macroeconomic and fiscal policy framework and credible commitment to reform, underpinned by IMF support. Set against these strengths are a high share of foreign-currency denominated public debt, relatively weak external finances, and geopolitical risks”, the statement says.

According to the statement, Armenia will be adversely affected by spillovers from the crisis in Russia, given important linkages between the two economies, but Fitch presently expects that the sovereign’s policy buffers, financing options, and long-dated commercial debt profile can help it navigate the shock without major impairment of repayment capacity.

 15:20,

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russia to meet for talks, BBC reports.

“We have always insisted on negotiations. We have offered dialogue, offered solutions for peace. And I want everyone to hear me now, especially in Moscow. It’s time to meet. Time to talk”, the Ukrainian President said in a video address.

 16:27,

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Lila Pieters Yahia was summoned to the Armenian Foreign Ministry today, the ministry said.

At the meeting the Acting UN Resident Coordinator was informed that the Foreign Ministry of Armenia strongly condemns the involvement of the UN Office in Azerbaijan in the event organized in Shushi on March 18, and was handed a note of complaint on that occasion.

The Foreign Ministry also urged the United Nations to take steps to restore the UN’s neutral position in the context of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

 17:31,

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Fitch Ratings has affirmed Armenia’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B+’ with a Stable Outlook on March 19.

The Ministry of Finance of Armenia said that “given the macro-economic uncertainties conditioned by the current regional developments, the reaffirmation of the rating granted to Armenia by the agency is a very positive signal and proves the reliability of the reforms and especially the macro-economic policy being carried out by the authorities of Armenia”.

“Armenia’s ‘B+’ IDRs reflect strong per-capita income, governance and business environment indicators relative to peers, as well as a robust macroeconomic and fiscal policy framework and credible commitment to reform, underpinned by IMF support. Set against these strengths are a high share of foreign-currency denominated public debt, relatively weak external finances, and geopolitical risks”, Fitch Ratings said in a statement.

According to the statement, Armenia will be adversely affected by spillovers from the crisis in Russia, given important linkages between the two economies, but Fitch presently expects that the sovereign’s policy buffers, financing options, and long-dated commercial debt profile can help it navigate the shock without major impairment of repayment capacity.

Despite the current situation, Fitch forecasts some slowdown in Armenia’s economic growth for 2022, but says “growth will return to 4.2% in 2023 (‘B’ median: 3.6%), reflecting favourable domestic investment prospects and an expected positive contribution of net trade”.

Armenia premieres its entry song and the official music video for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

 19:16,

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Rosa Linn, Armenia’s representative at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, has just released her entry song “Snap”, together with the official music video.

Rosa says this song is a journey into her inner world, a personal story everyone can relate to: “I think we’ve all been at a snapping point, where it felt like there’s no way out and that the entire world is just crumbling down around you. You start questioning everything, including yourself. I have been there. And what I realized was that I had the strength to shape my reality – it just took getting out of my own way and finding inner-peace. It’s all about self-love and accepting that you are enough. Writing “Snap” was a form of therapy for me and I hope that it can be that for others who are also going through hard times.”

“Snap” was written by Rosa Linn, Larzz Principato, Courtney Harrell, Allie Crystal, Tamar Mardirossian Kaprelian. Lyrics by Rosa Linn, Larzz Principato, Courtney Harrell, Allie Crystal, Tamar Mardirossian Kaprelian, Jeremy Dusoulet 

Channel One’s music producer Anushik Ter-Ghukasyan says minor adjustments have been made to the initial version of the song composed by Rosa. “Snap” is honest, uplifting and very emotional. That’s because Rosa wrote the song herself and she’s telling her own story. When it comes to production, I am very happy that this year we have an extraordinary team working on “Snap” – from Yerevan all the way to LA.”

The song was produced by Alex Salibian, Ethan Schneiderman, Larzz Principato, Ben Samama, Lilith Navasardyan (Armenia). Mixing and mastering was done by Grammy winner Tony Maseratti, who collaborated with Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, Sia, Selena Gomez, Sher, Lady Gaga and other world-famous artists.

 “Snap” is a vulnerable, honest, well-crafted pop song,” says Nvak co-founder Tamar Kaprelian. “It will hopefully bring new attention to this up-and-coming generation of Armenian singers, songwriters, and producers.”

 The music video was directed by Aramayis Hayrapetyan. “Once I heard “Snap”, I kept thinking that I had to show the artist’s emotions as comprehensibly and correctly as possible. Not leaving the artist in the background was an important precondition for me. We made the video for the purpose of giving the viewers a chance to travel to another, extraordinary reality through artistic and visual solutions,” says Hayrapetyan.