09:55,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government plans to enhance the country’s ties with its Diaspora through special commissioners who will work with Armenian communities around the world.

Diaspora Commissioners will be appointed in various cities across the world with large presence of Armenians.

Zareh Sinanyan, the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of Armenia, told Armenpress that his agency has a list of potential candidates for the job.

“Over the past two years we’ve been mostly working in the communities, explaining what the commissioner’s job is going to be like. The first commissioner was appointed in 2023 to Poland by the Prime Minister. We are now considering several candidates and the appointments will be made soon. We have a big list that’s under consideration. We will work with the candidates, and when the time comes, we will ask the prime minister to make the appointment,” Sinanyan said.

Launching the network of commissioners is expected to increase the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs.

The commissioners will have a “very simple” job, Sinanyan explained. “The Office of the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs has a limited staff, whereas we have a very big Diaspora. Therefore, we need people on the ground to act as the link between the community and my office,” he said.

“In the past there was a practice when our diplomats were the contact persons of the community. As a result they became community attachés instead of dealing with diplomacy. We want to avoid this and that’s why we are launching the institute of commissioners. We are not going to send anyone from Yerevan to the community, we will appoint the commissioner from within the community. They will be well-known, acceptable people for the community.”

The number of commissioners in any given country will depend on the size of the local Armenian community.

Upcoming appointments are expected in several countries of Western Europe.

[see video]

Interview by Anna Gziryan

 11:17,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. A Russian foreign ministry official has visited the Armenian town of Kapan to discuss Moscow’s plans to open a consulate-general there, the Russian Embassy in Armenia said in a press release.

The issue was discussed between Russian Foreign Ministry official Sergey Chashchikhin and Kapan Mayor Gevorg Parsyan.

The Russian official thanked the Kapan leadership for support.

The importance of establishing and developing close ties between Kapan and Russian cities was underscored.

Promising directions for cultural-humanitarian and trade-economic cooperation were discussed.

 11:10,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Last year Armenia received a total of 411 readmission applications from EU countries, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan told lawmakers Wednesday.

She said that Armenia approved over 92% of the applications.

Sargsyan made the comments during parliamentary committee hearings on the bill on ratifying the protocol on the application of the Armenia-EU readmission agreement between Armenia and Austria.

The Deputy Minister said that statistically Armenia is in a very good situation, which gives EU partners trust to continue cooperation with Armenia within the framework of the readmission process.

“From January to December of 2023 we received 411 applications among EU countries, and 92,99% received positive response from our side. This doesn’t imply that Armenia refuses to receive the people who are residing irregularly in various EU countries. In many cases the persons in question could still be in unclarified circumstances who are not subject to readmission. And those who are not subject to readmission did not receive positive response,” she said.

Most of the applications are made from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Romania, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Greece, Italy and Norway.

Speaking about the bill on ratifying the protocol, Sargsyan said that so far similar protocols have been ratified with Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, France, Estonia and Poland.

“Practice shows that such agreements contribute to more constructive visa liberalization talks between Armenia and the EU. This also allows to underscore Armenia’s readiness to ensure readmission processes for persons residing irregularly in various EU countries,” the Deputy Minister added.

 11:21,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) reaffirms its commitment to fostering economic development in Armenia by providing a USD 5 million senior loan facility to its long-standing partner ARARATBANK. With this new facility, the partners aim to facilitate access to finance for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and importantly those that are majority-owned or led by women and contribute to increased business competitiveness and inclusiveness in Armenia. ARARATBANK is a leading SME financier in the country with a proven strong track record in gender finance. EFSE’s investment will further solidify the Bank’s dedication to supporting women-owned or -led enterprises and promoting socio-economic empowerment and inclusiveness.

EFSE Regional Director Oxana Binzaru said: “We are honored to continue our journey with ARARATBANK, a trusted partner that shares our mission to foster economic development. This USD 5 million investment is a testimony to our joint commitment to supporting MSMEs, particularly women-owned or led enterprises, and making a meaningful impact on Armenia’s economic landscape.”

Mher Ananyan, Chairman of the Executive Board of ARARATBANK, concluded: “This strategic partnership reflects our commitment to fostering local economic progress and empowering MSMEs, which play a vital role in driving innovation, job creation, and overall economic stability. With the European Fund for Southeast Europe's expertise in financing and our bank's extensive network and resources, we are confident that this collaboration will have a significant impact on the business environment in Armenia."

 11:52,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia hasn’t been offered to engage in direct, bilateral talks with Azerbaijan, a senior lawmaker has said.

“I assume that no offer has been to Armenia to take part in bilateral negotiations with Azerbaijan at any given time and place,” Sargis Khandanyan, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, told reporters when asked to comment on statements made from Baku on bilateral talks.

“We attach importance to the formats that have already been developed to be continuous, because they convey international reputation to the negotiations, further legitimize the negotiations and make the risks more manageable. Particularly, foreign ministerial talks were held in Washington, and summits were held in the EU platforms,” the MP said.

Bilateral discussions continue in the delimitation commission talks.

Direct bilateral talks took place in December 2023 on the release of POWs. Khandanyan said Armenia is ready to continue talks.

“Our priority is the content and stipulation of the principles of the talks, regardless where they will go on, or if the talks will be bilateral. If the principles aren’t recorded, then the agreements won’t have the value we expect,” he said.

 12:16,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has ordered the top brass to prevent dedovchina and other violations of the code of conduct among members of the Armed Forces.

Pashinyan issued concrete directives to military officials during a visit on Wednesday to the Defense Ministry headquarters.

The Prime Minister’s orders came a day after the deaths of two soldiers on January 9. One of them was allegedly shot dead by his comrade in the military base, while the other victim is said to have committed suicide from what appears to be bullying.

 12:31,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday said that he presented to his visiting Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis the situation in the South Caucasus after the forced displacement of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the peace process.

“Certainly, I comprehensively presented to my colleague and his delegation the situation in the South Caucasus after the forced displacement of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and also the peace process and the details and problems of that process,” Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with Gerapetritis.

FM Mirzoyan said he also presented the Crossroads of Peace project.

He added that Armenia is committed to continue the peace talks and establish peace in the South Caucasus despite all challenges and difficulties, as well as Azerbaijan’s destructive conduct in some cases.

“We believe that in case of displaying mutual constructive approach, in case of political will, we will be able to reach a tangible destination in the issue of establishing peace in the nearest future,” Mirzoyan said.

 14:10,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has so far allocated a total of nearly 29 billion drams for support programs for forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan has said.

 16:53, 9 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. French President Emmanuel Macron appointed 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal as his new prime minister on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

Attal, a close Macron ally who became a household name as government spokesman during the COVID pandemic, will replace outgoing Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

One of the country's most popular politicians in recent opinion polls, Attal has made a name for himself as a savvy minister, at ease on radio shows and in parliament.

"Dear @GabrielAttal, I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the project of revitalisation and regeneration that I announced," Macron said on X, who at the end of last year said he would announce new political initiatives.

Attal will be France's youngest prime minister.

 17:58, 9 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece George Gerapetritis on January 10 will pay an official visit to Armenia, the foreign ministry said.

According to the source, on January 10, the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Greece will take place at the MFA of Armenia, followed by a joint press conference.