09:47,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Yerevan.

Grigoryan and Amir-Abdollahian “were pleased to underscore the importance of the continuity of high-level political dialogue developed on the basis of mutual respect between the two friendly countries and millennia-old brotherhood of the two peoples,” the Office of the Security Council said in a press release.

Issues pertaining to bilateral economic and security relations were discussed, and the sides attached importance to the deepening of Armenia-Iran partnership in this context, as well as the implementation of effective steps in the direction of fulfilling agreements in that direction.

The sides also discussed the Crossroads of Peace project developed by the Armenian government and attached importance to the imperative of having lasting peace in the region.

 10:18,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The existing “difficulties” in the Armenia-Russia relations are "temporary" and will be resolved in case of political will, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

In an interview with TASS, Lavrov said that Armenia remains a strategic partner for Russia in the South Caucasus, but noted that ‘unfortunately, official Yerevan, yielding to the pro-Western beliefs, is trying to transform its foreign policy vector.’

Lavrov claimed that Western countries do not seek to bring peace and stability to Armenia and overall, their objective is to push Russia out of the South Caucasus.

 10:30,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. France has declared two employees of Azerbaijan's embassy persona non grata in a move of "reciprocity", Reuters reported citing the French Foreign Ministry.

Azerbaijan's foreign ministry on Tuesday declared two employees of France's embassy persona non grata over "conduct that is not compatible with their diplomatic status".

The French foreign ministry said in a statement it "categorically denies" the allegations, noting it had summoned Azerbaijan's ambassador "to communicate these elements".

 11:54,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Inna Sahakyan’s animated documentary Aurora's Sunrise has been included in MovieWeb’s 16 Best Animated Movies of 2023.

“Animation has a significant advantage over live-action filmmaking in that it can convey abstract ideas in a way that makes sense, both visually and spacially. Though there's a stigma surrounding animation in the west, with some likening the medium to children's entertainment, we occasionally get a film that demonstrates a level of maturity and emotional depth you simply can't find elsewhere.

“This is best exemplified by Aurora's Sunrise, an animated documentary film based on the life of the titular Aurora Mardiganian. A survivor of the Armenian Genocide, Aurora's life is depicted with a unique combination of live-action footage and brilliant animation, showcasing her journey from Eastern Anatolia to the streets of Hollywood. Inna Sahakyan directed this melancholic tale, with Aurora Mardiganian appearing in a handful of snippets taken from the 1919 film Auction of Souls.

“The animated portions of Aurora's Sunrise illustrate Aurora's journey in a way that simply wouldn't be feasible otherwise. Through the utilization of Armenian symbolism along with interview segments and archival footage, we're given an intimate viewing of Aurora's life against the backdrop of the Armenian Genocide. For those who may not have a full grasp of the Armenian Genocide's impact, Aurora's Sunrise presents this tragic event from a unique and informative perspective. Aurora's Sunrise is streaming on PBS,” MovieWeb said in the review.

[see video]

 14:23,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The order books of the world’s biggest defense companies are near record highs after growing by more than 10 per cent in just two years because of rising geopolitical tension, including the conflict in Ukraine, the Financial Times reports.

An analysis by the Financial Times of 15 defense groups, including the largest US contractors, Britain’s BAE Systems and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, found that at the end of 2022 — the latest for which full-year data is available — their combined order backlogs were $777.6bn, up from $701.2bn two years earlier.

The trend’s momentum continued into 2023. In the first six months of this year — the latest comprehensive quarterly data available — combined backlogs at these companies stood at $764bn, swelling their future pipeline of work as governments kept placing orders.

The sustained spending has spurred investors’ interest in the sector. MSCI’s global benchmark for the industry’s stocks is up 25 per cent over the past 12 months. Europe’s Stoxx aerospace and defense stocks index has risen by more than 50 per cent over the same period. 

Total global military expenditure increased by 3.7 per cent in real terms in 2022 to a new high of $2,240bn, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Military expenditure in Europe had its steepest year-on-year increase in at least 30 years as governments in the region announced new orders for ammunition and tanks to replenish national stockpiles depleted by donations sent to Ukraine.

 14:34,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan has held a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin.

During the meeting Mayor Avinyan attached importance to the relations between Yerevan and major Russian cities and stressed that the ties have prospects of development, City Hall said in a readout. As an example of successful partnership, Mayor Avinyan told the Ambassador that recently the city authorities introduced changes into the architectural licensing and blueprinting procedures, where the experience of Rostov-on-Don, Yerevan’s sister city, has been taken into account.

Ambassador Kopyrkin said that Yerevan and various Russian cities have collegial relations that will allow to enhance the circle of partnership and carry out new joint projects in some sectors of city administration.

Anna Donchenko, the Head of the Armenian-Russian Trade Representation, was also present at the meeting. Speaking about business circles, Mayor Avinyan attached importance to active participation of Russian companies in the bid solicitations announced by Yerevan City Hall.

 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.