Category: News

President Serzh Sargsyan received participants of the Pan-Armenian scientific conference due on September 21-23 in Yerevan, among them renowned Armenian scientists from the US, Russia, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Spain and several other countries.

Held under the RA President-supported Young Scientists Support Program, the conference is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Welcoming the scientists, the President congratulated them on the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of holding the conference in Armenian capital Yerevan with the participation of well-known Armenian scientists representing almost all the fields of fundamental research.

According to the President, events like that provide a good opportunity to not only bring together Armenian scientists from all over the world, but also to use their experience and contacts in order to properly represent young scientists of Armenian descent on international platforms and keep in touch with the development trends in modern science.

The scientists in attendance shared with the President their impressions and expectations of the conference. Serzh Sargsyan answered the questions of interest to scientists, outlining the main directions of State policy in the field of education and science. In particular, the President dwelt on the programs aimed at providing additional incentives in support of young researchers’ activities.

The Armenian scientists and the President exchanged views on ways of making joint efforts to help promote the development of science and education in our country.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier has welcomed the signing of the Paris Climate deal by Armenia.

“I welcome the signing of the Paris Agreement on the Reduction of Climate Change by Armenia on September 21 in New York,” the Ambassador said in a statement.

“France, as a COP 21 chairing country, encourages the Armenian authorities to ratify the agreement as soon as possible and thus help the deal enter into force by the end of 2016.

The Agreement will come into force after being ratified by 55 countries, which account for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions.

On September 21 – the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence – Armenian Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian chaired the sitting of the UN General Assembly in New York.

A number of Heads of State offered speeches during the sitting.

The Armenian Government today approved the bill on amendments to the structure of the executive body.

Under the proposed bill, the Ministry of Economy will be renamed Ministry of Investments and Support of Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources will be called the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources, the name of the Ministry of Transport and Communication will be changed into Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies. The Ministry of Urban Development will be excluded from the list.

According to Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, the Ministry of Investments and Support of Entrepreneurship will support the businessmen and address the issues they raise, consider their objections and proposals.

Speaking about the IT sphere, the Prime Minister said “the field has its peculiarities and it’s logical for the Ministry of Transport and Communication to address issues of IT, as well.”

On September 20, at the UN Headquarter, Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed on behalf of Armenia the Agreement adopted in the result of Climate Change Conference held in Paris under the aegis of the United Nations.

The agreement outlines a series of steps of the international community aimed at confronting global warming.

Last year Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, participated in the opening ceremony and delivered remarks at the Paris Conference.

The UK’s Minister for Europe and the Americas, the Rt Hon Sir Alan Duncan MP, congratulates the Armenian people on the occasion of the country’s 25^th Independence Day.

Sir Alan Duncan said:

“The UK enjoys a strong relationship with Armenia – a young country with a long history. We work closely with the Armenian government and people to promote democratic and governance reform and to strengthen our economic and cultural ties. We fully support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs to broker the resolution of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, building  a peaceful and prosperous future for Armenia and its neighbours. On behalf of Her Majesty’s Government I am delighted to send my congratulations to the Armenian people on the 25th anniversary of independence.”

The European Union has congratulated the Republic of Armenia and its people on the 25th anniversary of its independence. The message reads:

The Republic of Armenia has undergone profound developments in these past years and we as the European Union look forward to continuing to work closely with the country in the future. The  European Union has and will continue to support the development of strong democratic institutions, the rule of law, and economic prosperity, for the benefit of all citizens.

We look forward to the future EU-Armenia Agreement, which would, alongside our engagement in the Eastern Partnership framework, enable the European Union to enhance our dialogue with the Armenian authorities, to support them in their reform efforts and to increase our contacts with the population.

A preliminary by the Council of Europe’s constitutional law experts (the Venice Commission) criticizes draft modifications to the constitution of Azerbaijan, which will be put to a national referendum on Monday 26 September.

Many proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of power by giving “unprecedented” powers to the President, according to the Venice Commission opinion.

For example, the extension of the presidential mandate from five to seven years “cannot be justified” given the already very strong position of the President, who since 2009 can be re-elected without term limits.

Another reform gives the President power to dissolve parliament, which does not only make political dissent in parliament “largely ineffective”, according to the opinion, but also affects the independence of the judiciary, since parliament’s role in the approval of judges will be reduced.

The Venice Commission experts were “particularly worried” by the introduction of the figure of unelected Vice-Presidents, who may at some moment govern the country, and the President’s prerogative to declare early presidential elections at his convenience.

The opinion also criticizes the procedure of the referendum as having lacked proper debate in parliament and having been carried out too quickly and without real public discussion beforehand.

Indeed, due to time constraints, the opinion rapporteurs themselves were unable to visit Azerbaijan and did not benefit from direct consultations with the authorities, experts and other stakeholders. In this context, the Venice Commission regrets that the authorities of Azerbaijan did not consult it prior to submitting the draft to the referendum.

The experts praised proposed amendments in the human rights chapter of the Azeri constitution, such as the introduction of the concept of “human dignity” and of the right to “conscientious treatment excluding arbitrariness” by state bodies and of certain procedural rights. They also praised the proposal to elevate the “principle of proportionality” to the constitutional level, which means that every restriction to human rights should be proportionate to the aim the state seeks to achieve.

However, the experts expressed reservations with other proposed changes in the human rights chapter, in particular one which provides for limitations to public gatherings for the sake of “public order” and “morality”, since this provision risks to be too broadly interpreted. The opinion also is concerned about a proposed provision on withdrawing citizenship that “reduces the scope of the current guarantee” that prevents withdrawal of citizenship in absolute terms.

The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades sent on Tuesday a congratulatory message to the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Independence of Armenia, underlining that “the bonds between Cyprus and Armenia are as strong and resilient as ever,” Cyprus Mail reports.

He further reiterates Cyprus’ commitment to the enhancement and deepening of bilateral relations and notes that “Cyprus will continue to stand in solidarity and in support of Armenia’s efforts for prosperity and regional peace”.

According to an official announcement, Anastasiades also notes that both countries share common values and traditions, as well as a historical and cultural connection.

He refers finally to the presence of a vibrant Armenian-Cypriot community in Cyprus, whose invaluable contribution and achievements, he notes, enrich all aspects of society.