Category: 2022

 15:25, 1 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Various specialists from Armenia and abroad continue presenting new ideas with new solutions for the design of the statue of Jesus Christ to be built in Armenia.

The author of the initiative, leader of the Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan said in an interview to the Kentron TV that he is getting acquainted in all details with each work. During the shooting he got acquainted with the design by sculptor Armen Samvelyan.

The statue proposed by him has several components – there is a separate area for candle lighting inside, and a museum is planned to open at the top. The statues of 12 apostles will be erected in the territory of the complex. Tsarukyan said the statue must be 33-meter high. 

Tsarukyan said he wants to discuss the interesting ideas with the public, stating that this is a competition of mind, idea.

“I have said that it first of all must be acceptable by the majority of the people. There have been many suggestions, everyone will submit their works on February 20, and we will select the best one. After that we will discuss the place where the complex will be installed”, he said.

A tender has been announced in Armenia for the construction of a statue of Jesus Christ. The tender is initiated by the family of Gagik Tsarukyan.

 16:09, 1 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia expects that this year, compared to 2021, the prices of food products will increase at slower rates. The Bank has also calculated the inflation expected as a result of the increase in electricity, water tariffs, CBA President Martin Galstyan said at a press conference.

“The prices of food products have increased by nearly 12%. And it is mainly caused by two sources: the first one is the inflation coming from external markets which is a global phenomenon. For instance, at this moment the inflation in Armenia is 7.7%, meanwhile the United States ended the year with nearly 7% inflation, the country hasn’t seen such inflation since 1982. If I am not mistaken, the inflation in Russia is 8.4%”, the CBA Governor said, recalling that the inflation in Armenia has decreased to 7.7% from 9.6%.

The second source of inflation is the increase in prices of several seasonal goods. “To expect that this year inflation in terms of food products will repeat its behavior of 2021, I think it is not so according to our base scenario. We expect that the food prices will increase at slower rates”, he said.

The Central Bank has also calculated the expected inflation as a result of the change in prices of water and electricity. Accordingly, it will comprise nearly 0.6%.

The Central Bank assesses its work in terms of restraining the prices as positive. “Our calculations show that if last year we haven’t taken actions, and if those actions haven’t been directed for the future, our inflation would have been 15%, not 11% for the food products, which supposes that the food inflation would have been more than 20%. We expect that we will approach our targeted figure by the end of the year”, Martin Galstyan said.

The price of electricity increased in Armenia by 4.7 drams starting February 1, 2022.

 16:30, 1 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko held a telephone conversation with the European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar at the latter’s initiative, the Russian foreign ministry reported.

The officials thoroughly discussed the current situation of the Geneva international talks over the security and stability in the South Caucasus, ahead of the next round of discussions, as well as the settlement process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

 16:30, 1 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. According to the estimates of the Central Bank, the external sector will still have an inflationary impact on the economy of Armenia, but the Bank expects that the 12-month inflation will gradually decline and will approach the targeted 4% figure in a predicted horizon.

During a press conference today, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia Martin Galstyan reminded that during today’s session the Board of the Central Bank decided to raise the refinancing rate by 0.25%, setting it at 8.0%. The 12-month inflation in December 2021 declined, comprising 7.7%.

“The 12-month inflation declined in accordance with the CBA forecasts and comprised 7.3%. the economic recovery continues in main partner countries of Armenia”, he said.

Another wave of the pandemic is spreading in Armenia at rapid rates, however, according to the CBA Governor, its impact on the economy is estimated as “mild”. A high economic activity was registered in construction and industry branches in late 2021. The Board of the Bank agrees that the total demand remains high at the expense of external demand which contributes to the maintenance of inflationary environment.

Therefore, the Board found it appropriate to raise the refinancing rate. “As a result of these policy actions the 12-month inflation will gradually decline and will approach the targeted 4% in the predicted horizon. The Board believes that the uncertainty with macro-economic prospects conditioned by geopolitical developments is still high. In case of risks, the Board will respond adequately and will ensure the price stability goal”, Galstyan said.

 16:56, 1 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The ruling Civil Contract party of the Armenian parliament nominated the candidacy of Vahagn Khachaturyan, the current Minister of High Technological Industry, for the President of the Republic, Speaker of Parliament, Acting President of Armenia, Alen Simonyan said.

“The discussion about the nomination of a candidate for president was held in the format of the Board of the Civil Contract party. Later it was also discussed with the faction, other candidacies were also considered. The discussion lasted too long, and very different facts were presented. After long discussions we made that decision”, Simonyan said.

 17:14, 1 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian airline FlyOne Armenia is ready for the first Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flight scheduled on February 2, Aram Ananyan, Flyone Armenia Chairman of the Board of Directors, told Armenpress.

He said that all preparation works have been done, the coronavirus-related measures have been taken into account.

According to Ananyan, there is an interest to the Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights. He says the current activeness level over the flights is in accordance with the preliminary predictions of the company.

“We attach importance to the restoration of air communication in this direction on the basis of reciprocity. As we have already said, it’s a very good opportunity to strengthen the ties between the Armenian community of Istanbul and the Homeland”, Aram Ananyan said.

The airline also pays special attention to the coronavirus-related measures. Wearing a face mask on the plane will be mandatory. The airplanes are equipped with HEPA filters which remove 99,97% of viruses and bacteria from the air. Aram Ananyan emphasized that the health and safety of passengers are a priority for them.

Initially, it is planned to carry out Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. However, the airline is planning to increase the number of flights in the future, operating them on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The FlyOne Armenia airline has recently received a permit from the Turkish government to operate roundtrip flights from Yerevan to Istanbul. The airline received the permit from Armenian authorities earlier in late December 2021.