12:42,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Today, we join with Armenians mourning all who were killed in Sumgait in 1988, the US Embassy in Armenia said in a statement issued Tuesday.
“Our deepest sympathy rests with the families of those killed, injured, and displaced. We will continue to work for peace in the region, so such tragedies will not be repeated,” the embassy added.
15:19,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has issued a statement on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the Armenian massacres in Sumgait, Azerbaijan.
The statement reads as follows:
"On February 27, 1988, at the initiative and with the full connivance of the leadership of Soviet Azerbaijan, massacres of the Armenian population of Sumgait commenced, accompanied by cases of violence, brutality, enforced disappearances, deprivation of property, and massive violations of human rights. Hundreds were killed, including women, children and elderly, thousands were forcibly displaced.
The Sumgait tragedy was followed by massacres of Armenians in Kirovabad, Baku and other Armenian-populated settlements of Azerbaijan. This chain of events, as well as the complete annihilation of Armenians from Nakhijevan earlier, showed that the mentioned crimes were not separate episodes of violence based on national identity but regular manifestations of a state-orchestrated and state-led policy of Armenophobia. This policy resulted in forcible displacement of about 500.000 ethnic Armenians from Soviet Azerbaijan.
It is noteworthy that these events targeted not only the Armenian population: they were also accompanied by deliberate actions to destroy the Armenian heritage and to erase the Armenian trace in general.
Already in the 21st century, under the conditions of complete impunity, Azerbaijan continued the same policy of ethnic cleansing by terrorizing the native Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, inhumane siege, starving them to death and finally depopulating Nagorno-Karabakh through the use of force: ethnic cleansing was completed even in spite of the three legally binding decisions of the UN International Court of Justice.
Today, as well, Azerbaijan continues the policy aimed at erasing the Armenian trace in the territories under its control, desecrating, vandalizing and destroying Armenian religious and historical and cultural monuments. Today as well, the continuing xenophobic and hostile policy towards the Republic of Armenia is accompanied by hate speech, threats and aggressive rhetoric at the highest level, which is an obstacle in the path of overcoming hostility between nations and establishment of peace and stability in the region.
The international community must give an adequate assessment of the committed mass crimes and use all available mechanisms to prevent the recurrence of such crimes and to contribute to the genuine efforts of Armenia to achieve a dignified and lasting peace in the South Caucasus."
15:33,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia Ambassador Vassilis Maragos has expressed his condolences to those who lost their relatives and friends as a result of Azerbaijani atrocities in Sumgait 36 years ago.
“I express my deep condolences to all those who lost relatives and friends 36 years ago in Sumgait. We all need to continue with strongest efforts to achieve reconciliation and a sustainable, lasting peace in order to make sure that such tragedies never happen again ," Ambassador Maragos said in a post on X.
Today marks the 36th anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms, which have become one of the most tragic and hideous pages in the recent history of the Armenian people. From February 27 to 29, 1988, in the city of Sumgait, located just 40 kilometers from Baku, with the criminal connivance and even at the direction of the Azerbaijani authorities, mass pogroms against the Armenian population took place, accompanied by murders, torture and other atrocities.
18:51,
YEREVAN, 27 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with the Speaker of the Greek Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas in Athens.
The Speaker of the Greek Parliament welcomed the Prime Minister's visit to Greece and emphasized the centuries-old friendly relations between the two countries. Konstantinos Tasoulas expressed confidence that the visit of the Armenian Prime Minister would give a new impetus to the strengthening of bilateral multi-sector relations, the PM's office said.
According to the source, Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and noted that the historical ties between Armenia and Greece are also reflected in interstate relations.
The Prime Minister mentioned that they held important discussions with the Greek President and Prime Minister, covering a broad agenda of bilateral and multilateral relations. It is mentioned that Konstantinos Tasoulas awarded the Armenian Prime Minister the Gold Medal of the Greek Parliament. Nikol Pashinyan expressed appreciation for the honor.
According to the Prime Minister’s office, Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with members of the Armenia-Greece parliamentary group. Hayk Konjoryan, head of the NA "Civil Contract" faction and the head of the Armenia-Greece friendship group, was also present at the meeting.
The Greek MPs emphasized that they stand by Armenia and the Armenian people during this difficult period.
20:08,
YEREVAN, 27 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas welcomed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to Greece and emphasized the centuries-old friendly relations between the two countries.
During the meeting with Nikol Pashinyan, the Greek parliamentary speaker assured that as a result of the visit, Armenian-Greek relations would be further enhanced and strengthened.
"Mr. Prime Minister, our two countries have consistently supported the international law, despite facing numerous challenges to our rights. We collaborate on both bilateral and international platforms with the aim of safeguarding the international law, which serves as the cornerstone of civilized cooperation," Tasoulas stated.
The Greek parliamentary speaker noted that only with cooperation and a commitment to the principles and norms of international law it is possible to move forward and have such friendly and allied relations as Greece has with Armenia.
16:25,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. As a result of the package of draft laws, it will become possible to solve the issues of the privileges established for the Free Economic Zones (FEZ) operators working in the Republic of Armenia within the framework of the localization works of the 5th measure Harmful Tax Practices of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Program connected with the ‘harmful’ tax regimes, the Acting Deputy Minister of Economy Narek Teryan said.
At February 27 Armenian National Assembly sitting , the package of draft laws on Amending the RA Tax Code and on Amending the Law on Free Economic Zones authored by the Government, was debated in the first reading, he press service of the Armenian National Assembly said.
According to the key rapporteur Narek Teryan, it is designed to set the kinds of permissible activity on the FEZ territory, which were chosen, taking as a basis the priorities of the Armenian Government economic policy, promoting the development of a number of spheres: processing industry, agriculture, sector of information technologies, tourism.
It is proposed by the draft that besides the kinds of the activity of processing industry and software elaboration activity, the spheres as the priorities of the economic policy of the Government will be included. In particular, from the service sphere the kinds of the activity aimed at the development of tourism were included, for example, the organization of hotel services, accommodation and catering. A guidebook will be established for the assessment of the FEZ operators’ business programs.
16:42,
The German lawmaker noted that the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia had informed the members of the German delegation that one of the important components for the Armenian side is the process of demarcation and delineation between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on Soviet maps.
16:52,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The addenda and amendments being proposed to the law ''On Medicine'' and the enclosed laws will promote the processes of medicine registration, the regulation of the clinic experiment sphere, and the medicine import will be harmonized, the press service of the Armenian National Assembly said.
At the National Assembly sitting the Armenian Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan informed and added that during the implementation of the implementation of the law on Medicine adopted in 2016 a number of shortcomings were revealed, which impede the full regulation of the sphere.
Certain problems were also recorded in the legal practice of the Armenian Health and Labor Inspection Body, including the implementation of the examinations. By the minister’s observation, the law does not envisage definition of the organization implementing examinations and professional observations in the state regulation of circulation of medicine. Authorizing norms are necessary for changing the decisions of the Government.
According to Anahit Avanesyan, one of the shortcomings is that refusal system of permission of parallel import and its providing is designed, without specifying the connection with the import certification processes and the refusal bases.
It was noted that while making up the package the proposals of the importing companies was taken into consideration.
17:15,
YEREVAN, 27 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 27 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 404.41 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.24 drams to 438.87 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 4.39 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.23 drams to 512.83 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 3.90 drams to 26357.82 drams. Silver price down by 2.67 drams to 292.68 drams.
17:47,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. As part of Ucom's fixed network expansion strategy, the company has made its fixed communication services available in the city of Ashtarak.
Now, residents of Ashtarak have access not only to mobile communication services but also to fixed line internet, television, and telephone connections. They can benefit from all regional offers of Ucom, including Unity packages, which encompass mobile, fixed internet, and fixed telephone services.
Furthermore, residents of Ashtarak who subscribe to Unity 7000 and 9000 packages for a 12-month period until April 30 will enjoy three months of free Ucom services. Additionally, subscribers of the Unity 9000 package will receive a discounted rate of only 8,000 drams per month.
Connection for subscribers in Ashtarak will be completed within three days after submitting the application.
"Providing high-quality internet communications in the regions is a crucial strategic direction for Ucom, and we spare no effort in achieving these goals. Ashtarak is one of the key directions in this regard, and we take pride in launching our network in this city. I'm confident that the residents of Ashtarak will appreciate the speed of our connection and the balance of price and quality of our services," said Ralph Yirikian, Director General of Ucom.
Ralph Yirikian visited Ashtarak on February 27 to mark the network's launch, meeting with the first fixed-line subscriber and presenting them with a certificate for free use of the Unity Super 20000 package for six months.
“We appreciate Mr. Yirikian’s efforts very much and we follow his work, especially his regional visits. We connected to Ucom’s fixed network once it became available and we are very happy with the connection quality. I think it has the best speed in Ashtarak”, said Sargis Sargsyan.
It's worth noting that as part of the expansion of Ucom's fixed network, the company has installed networks in four new cities over the past year: Ijevan, Goris, Gavar, and Sevan.