17:22,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Infrastructures are of great importance for Goghtanik residents of Vayots Dzor region. Compatriots forcibly displaced from Artsakh have recently settled in the village with 200 inhabitants. With the support of Ucom company and SunChild NGO, a solar photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 6.9 kWt was installed in the administrative building of Goghtanik settlement of Yeghegis enlarged community. The aim is to spread the green agenda and develop community infrastructure.

"Our commitment to social responsibility extends to all communities where we can make a charitable impact. Through the installation of this alternative energy receiving station in Goghtanik, we address two key issues: providing heating for the administrative building and the  adjacent cultural house, where the community's events are organized, and simultaneously, helping them save funds for addressing other essential needs," stated Ucom Director General Ralph Yirikian.

This collaboration materialized in 2023 within the framework of the memorandum of cooperation signed in August between Ucom company and the SunChild NGO dedicated to the preservation of nature and culture. Originally, the support outlined in the memorandum was intended for other initiatives. However, given the forced displacement of Artsakh residents and their resettlement in various communities in Armenia, the focus shifted towards easing the challenges associated with managing rural communities.

"SunChild NGO has been implementing environmental projects since 2006. As a result of implementing this project with Ucom, the community will be able to develop faster. The funds saved from the operation of the installed solar photovoltaic plant will be able to be redirected to the implementation of other projects. These joint works will be continuous and will be aimed at the development of community infrastructures," said Sona Kalantaryan, Director of SunChild NGO.

Artur Stepanyan, head of Yeghegis enlarged community, thanked the heads of two companies for supporting Goghtanik.

"As a result of the savings of this solar photovoltaic station, we will have the opportunity to spend that money for the improvement of other areas, for example, in the direction of compensating the damages caused  by bear attacks. The installation of the solar plant is effective and useful," said Artur Stepanyan.

Ucom is the fastest fixed and mobile services provider in Armenia. The company is the absolute leader of the local IPTV and fixed internet market, as well as occupies the key position on the Armenian mobile internet market. With modernized 4G+ and own fiber optic networks meeting the best international standards, Ucom provides a complete set of fixed and mobile communication services to more than 700,000 subscribers.

Established in 2006, The SunChild NGO is a non-profit organization renowned for and dedicated to environmental education, awareness raising, and behavior change projects.  SunChild NGO has successfully organized a range of high-profile events, including the SunChild International Environmental Festival, that have attracted significant media attention and public participation, as well as the SunChild EcoClub Network, allowing thousands of young people to obtain environmental knowledge.

 17:24,

YEREVAN, 28 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 28 December, USD exchange rate down by 0.03 drams to 405.15 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.84 drams to 450.85 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.07 drams to 4.49 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.55 drams to 518.47 drams.

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

Gold price up by 358.84 drams to 26955.74 drams. Silver price down by 5.50 drams to 313.14 drams.

 19:03,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs  Jeyhun Bayramov, stated in a press conference on Thursday that a proposal has been made for a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the state border, as reported by Azerbaijani media.

 “Foreign Ministers of the two countries can meet on the state border. We have made such a proposal. As for holding the meeting in Azerbaijan, or Armenia, why not? Sooner or later it must happen,”  Bayramov said.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister stated that the negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia should not be held hostage by third countries.

Bayramov also noted that there are still disagreements between Yerevan and Baku regarding the peace treaty, but their number has significantly decreased.

 19:20,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS.  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha has extended her congratulations to Narine Nazaryan, the director of the "Armenpress" news agency, on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the agency's foundation.

"I want to commend Armenpress for its excellent work in  covering real-time news and information. I extend my best wishes to Armenpress for the continued success.

Taking this opportunity I wish you, your family, the team of Armenpress a very happy, successful and prosperous New Year. May 2024 be filled with good health and energy," the message reads.

On December 18, “Armenpress” news agency celebrated the 105th anniversary of its founding.

 19:24,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's  spouse Anna Hakobyan on December 28 visited Hematology Center named after Prof. R. H. Yeolyan.

Accompanied by Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan and deputy director of the center, Hayk Grigoryan, Anna Hakobyan  had a meeting with the children receiving treatment, Hakobyan’s Office said.

“Deputy director Hayk Grigoryan  noted that 22 patients are receiving inpatient treatment at the center. About 90 new patients have been diagnosed this year. The center's management emphasized the acquisition of new diagnostic devices and the introduction of the latest technologies for more detailed research. Patients under the age of 25 are treated free of charge at the hematology center,” reads the statement.

According to the source, the  deputy director Hayk Grigoryan noted that the number of people traveling abroad for treatment has decreased, as many of them prefer receiving treatment in Armenia.

The deputy director said that last year, cases were also recorded where foreigners had chosen Armenia and the Hematology Center as their place of treatment.

Anna Hakobyan visited all the children, distributed New Year's gifts and talked with them. The Prime Minister's wife asked family members and doctors about the children's health condition and the dynamics of treatment.

Anna Hakobyan encouraged both the children and parents to stay strong wishing them health and patience.

 19:52,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan continued to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2023, said the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to the Azerbaijani media.

According to the source, the humanitarian aid, as well as the aid for restoration and reconstruction purposes provided to Ukraine by the Republic of Azerbaijan amounted to the total of 57 million Manats (about 34 million US dollars), half of which has been provided in the current year.

 18:29,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. A massive and coordinated physical attack was launched on bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and other Armenian community members in Jerusalem, Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statament.

"Several priests, students of the Armenian Theological Academy and indigenous Armenians were seriously injured in the attack.

Over 30 armed provocateurs in ski-masks with lethal and less-than-lethal weaponry including powerful nerve-agents that have incapacitated dozens of our clergy broke into the grounds of the Cow’s Garden and began their vicious assault. We stress again, several priests, deacons and students of the Armenian Theological Academy along with indigenous Armenians are seriously injured. Armenian clerics in Jerusalem are fighting for their lives against impune provocateurs," the Patriarchate said.

“This is the criminal response we have received for the submission of a lawsuit to the District Court of Jerusalem for the Cow’s Garden, which was officially received by the Court less than 24 hours ago. This is how the Australian-Israeli businessman Danny Rothman (Rubenstein) and George Warwar (Hadad) react to legal procedures.

The Armenian Patriarchate’s existential threat is now a physical reality. Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and indigenous Armenians are fighting for their very lives on the ground. We are calling on authorities around the world and the International Media to help us save the Armenian Quarter from a violent demise that is being locally supported by unnamed entities,” the statement reads.

The Patriarchate calls on the Israeli Government and Police to start an investigation against Danny Rothman (Rubenstein) and George Warwar (Hadad) for organizing their continuous criminal attacks on the Armenian Patriarchate and Community, attacks which seem to have no end in sight.

“Israel is a State of law and order and such criminal behavior cannot be tolerated and go unpunished,” the Patriarchate noted.

 20:42,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. After an attack by armed men on the territory of the “Cow Garden” in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem, two young Armenians have been arrested, the Movement for the Protection and Preservation of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem said.

"Tomorrow they  will be brought to the court. The lawyers hired by the Movement for the Protection and Preservation of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem will represent them during the court proceedings,” the statement reads.

The movement urges the Armenian Patriarchate to use all possible means through its connections with the police, the municipality and the government to secure the immediate release of the boys.