16:57,
YEREVAN, 22 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 22 December, USD exchange rate stood at 405.62 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.55 drams to 446.91 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 4.42 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.09 drams to 515.87 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price up by 80.20 drams to 26625.78 drams. Silver price up by 2.81 drams to 315.40 drams.
17:55,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan discussed issues related to the South Caucasus, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation said.
The parties emphasized the leading role and special responsibility of the states of the region in maintaining stability and security in the South Caucasus.
"Both sides confirmed their commitment to maintaining a close dialogue on the issues of regional and European security," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
18:28,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.
It is noted that Russia’s Lavrov with his Iran counterpart discussed a number of topical issues on the regional and bilateral agenda in the context of implementing agreements reached during the highest-level talks in Moscow on December 7.
In a phone conversation with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Lavrov exchanged views especially on current matters on the bilateral and international agenda, emphasized the situation in the South Caucasus, taking into account the special role of the countries of the region in the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
According to the source, some aspects of Russian-Turkish cooperation were also touched upon, including the schedule of upcoming high-level contacts.
18:54,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of the Republic of Armenia has ratified a protocol by which Armenian citizens will have the opportunity to enter the United Arab Emirates without a visa requirement.
88 MPs voted in favor of making amendments to the memorandum of understanding signed on June 21, 2009 between the governments of Armenia and the UAE on the exemption from the requirement to obtain an entry visa for persons holding diplomatic passports. No lawmaker voted against or abstained.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan noted that the cooperation between Armenia and the United Arab Emirates is developing with dynamism in almost all domains. Vahan Kostanyan noted that the UAE is the first trade partner of Armenia in the region.
“There are approximately 30 weekly flights between Yerevan and various cities in the UAE. As a result of the protocol's ratification, citizens of the two countries, possessing passports with a validity period of not less than six months, can enter, exit, and move through the territories of their respective countries without a visa or fee. Passports exempt from the entry visa requirement include valid, diplomatic, special, official, and ordinary passports from both countries. Holders of these passports are permitted to stay in the other country's territory for a maximum period of 90 days," said Kostanyan.
19:45,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Kyrgyzstan will partially change the design on the country's national flag, with a corresponding law signed by President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, said his press service on Friday.
The law on amendments to a law "On State Symbols of the Kyrgyz Republic" was adopted in order to improve one of the main state symbols of Kyrgyzstan: the country's flag, according to the service.
The adopted law changed the shape of the sun's rays on the flag of Kyrgyzstan from wavy to straight.
20:35,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan participated in the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum held in Tehran. The delegations from Armenia, Bolivia, China, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Iran, Iraq and Mexico participated in the meeting chaired by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran.
Following the meeting, the Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir Abdollahian welcomed the heads of delegations from member-states and delivered a concluding speech, the foreign ministry has said.
In his statement, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan highly valued the centuries-old cultural ties between Armenia and Iran and the bilateral cooperation on protection of cultural heritage. The Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized the role of the Forum as a platform for cultural dialogue and cooperation, aimed at preservation and popularization of the rich cultural heritage of ancient civilizations.
According to the source, Vahe Gevorgyan presented the policy of deliberate destruction and alteration of the identity of Armenian monuments, churches, and holy sites in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed the importance of support from international partners to prevent the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage. In this regard, the urgent need to deploy UNESCO's independent expert mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories was underscored.
The Forum's Ministerial Meeting was concluded with the adoption of the Tehran Declaration, outlining provisions on protecting cultural heritage in conflict situations and fostering international cooperation in this field.
21:24,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held phone talks, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
The ministers discussed issues on the agenda of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia, as well as the current regional situation.
21:46,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia on Friday organized the visit of accredited mass media representatives to the northeastern border zone of the Republic, the ministry said.
The media representatives visited military unit N and combat positions, talked with military personnel, familiarized themselves with their daily routine, conditions of military service, and the progress of fortification and engineering work.
LOS ANGELES— The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region announced its endorsement of John Harabedian for California State Assembly District 41 and Yvonne Yiu for California State Senate District 25.
John Harabedian is a former elected official, an attorney, and an advocate for the Armenian-American community. Harabedian was born and raised in the small town of Sierra Madre, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. His post-secondary education saw John graduate from the prestigious schools of Yale, Oxford, and Stanford Law School. John Harabedian is a former Councilmember and Mayor of Sierra Madre, California, where he served from 2012 to 2020. He carries a diverse background in law, business, and public service. Harabedian is currently an attorney and investment manager at Omni Bridgeway. He also serves as a Regional Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and a California State Commissioner.
“John is a product of the Armenian-American community, and we are confident that he will be a strong voice for our issues in the California State Assembly,” said Raffi Kassabian, Esq., Vice-Chair of the ANCA-Western Region. “We look forward to working with him on the issues that matter to our community and ensuring Armenian-Americans are well represented in the State Legislature.”
“I’m extremely honored to receive the endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region. The ANCA-WR’s endorsement is deeply personal for me and the 41st Assembly District, which is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States,” said John Harabedian. “I share the ANCA-WR’s mission of supporting a free, united, and independent Armenia and Artsakh. I look forward to working with the ANCA-WR to attain our shared goal of having more robust Armenian representation in Sacramento.”
Assembly District 41 consists of portions of San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties, including the whole Cities of La Verne, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, La Cañada Flintridge, Bradbury, Claremont, and San Dimas, as well as portions of the Cities of Hesperia, Monrovia, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and a portion of Duarte. Pasadena alone accounts for nearly 30 percent of the available voting base in AD41. This district includes foothill communities of the San Gabriel Mountains. Communities in the region share interests and concerns related to the environment, wildlife management, and transportation.
Yvonne Yiu is a local business leader who opened her own firm with over $1 billion in assets under her management – all before the age of 40, and currently serves as a Monterey Park City Council member. Yvonne’s family immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong when she was 16, following the passing of her father. Her family struggled to make ends meet, and her mother worked in a factory to take care of Yvonne and her sisters. Ever since then, Yvonne has been a firm believer that the American dream should be accessible for everyone including women, communities of color, immigrants and young people.
“The California State Senate District 25 race is of paramount importance to the Armenian American community, as the victor will have to fill the void left behind by Senator Portantino who has been a champion of Armenian American issues for years,” said Nora Hovsepian, Esq., Chair of the ANCA-Western Region. “After months of vigorous review of all the candidates, we are pleased to endorse Yvonne Yiu for the CA State Senate District 25, and look forward to working with her to advance the priorities of our community through the California Legislature.”
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR), a leading advocacy organization representing the Armenian-American community. This endorsement highlights our shared commitment to addressing critical issues and amplifying the voices of the diverse communities within our district, and underscores the contributions of Armenian-Americans, whose resilience, cultural heritage, and invaluable societal impact continue to enrich and strengthen our community,” said Councilmember Yvonne Yiu. “I look forward to collaborating closely with the ANCA-WR and continuing our work to champion equality, justice, and progress for all residents.”
Senate District 25 includes the cities of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Duarte, Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Claremont, Upland, and Rancho Cucamonga. It also is home to the core of the Armenian-American population centered in Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena.
Pursuant to the organization’s long-standing endorsement protocols, the ANCA-Western Region Board is the sole entity authorized to issue official ANCA endorsements in California State Elections. The primary elections will take place on March 5, 2024. The general election will be held on November 5, 2024. Visit hyevotes.org for more voter information.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif.—In the spirit of Christmas generosity, the C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School has concluded its “Sponsor a Student” campaign and met its goal of sponsoring 40 students forcibly displaced from Artsakh.
During a visit to Armenia, Merdinian Principal Dr. Souzy Ohanian toured the Khoren & Shooshanig Avedisian School, a sister school. Inspired by the stories of the 40 recently enrolled students displaced from Artsakh, Dr. Ohanian initiated a campaign upon her return. The administration and students rallied to have each class sponsor a student through the Armenian Missionary Association of America.
In just a couple of weeks, the students, families, faculty, and staff began collecting donations to raise $300 per student to sponsor their tuition. This sponsorship ensures the students’ tuition and essential school supplies and books.
“The true essence of Christmas lies in the joy of giving and making a difference in the lives of others,” remarked Dr. Souzy Ohanian. “I extend my deepest gratitude to all those who contributed to our campaign, helping our fellow compatriots and ensuring that the future of these students is shaped with hope and opportunity.”
The Merdinian administration will frame the name and biography of each sponsored student and prominently display it in every classroom, fostering a connection that allows all students to learn about the resilient journeys of their peers from Artsakh.