Author: Ani Kharatian

Chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, another discussion on the development of information and communication technology (ICT) was held in the Office of Government.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the proposals on short and long term development of the ICT sector and the status of the projects under development. He was informed that discussions are underway within the joint working group of stakeholders’ representatives.

Karen Karapetyan stressed the need to push ahead with the public-private cooperation process and increase the number of ICT-minded people in civil society.

“I am pinning great hopes on you. You can be the locomotive that will change the economy, the environment and culture,” the Preme Minister stated and expressed readiness to support any constructive initiative.

The ongoing activities will be finalized and a package of specific measures will be submitted to the Prime Minister in mid-January of 2017.

Photo: AP

 

An undersea earthquake off Indonesia’s northern Aceh province has killed at least 52 people, the BBC reports.

The magnitude 6.5 quake struck just off the north-east coast of Sumatra island, where dozens of buildings have collapsed and many people are feared trapped under rubble.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency said there was no risk of a tsunami.

In 2004, Aceh was devastated by a tsunami that killed more than 160,000 people in Indonesia alone.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck just offshore at 05:03 local time (22:03 GMT Tuesday) at a depth of 17.2km.

At least 70 people have been seriously injured, officials said, and hundreds of minor injuries have been reported.

A spokesman for the national disaster agency said more than 200 shops and homes had been destroyed, along with 14 mosques. A hospital and school were also badly damaged.

On 7 December in connection with the 28th anniversary of the Spitak Earthquake Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan accompanied by top officials of the country visited the Stepanakert Memorial Complex and laid a wreath to the monument of innocent victims of the natural disaster, NKR President’s Press Service reports.

Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan participated in the 71^st regular sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers of CIS participating states in Moscow.

A number of documents regulating the cooperation between the Defense Ministries of the CIS participating states were discussed, key directions of joint work were outlined at the meeting.

Issues related to the joint air defense system, development of communication systems, humanitarian mine clearance, training of military personnel and joint field exercises, implementation of joint educational programs were discussed.

Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan had meetings with his Russian and Belarusian counterparts.

The Defense Ministers of Armenia and Russia signed the agreement on Joint Group of Forces and approved the 2017 cooperation program.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is hoping to be given a new start at Manchester United after playing a key role in their 4-0 Europa League win over Feyenoord at Old Trafford.

Mkhitaryan was named in the starting XI for only the second time since his July arrival from Borussia Dortmund and gave a performance that featured six shots and three chances created as United took a huge step towards the knockout stages.

The Armenia international has been out of favour under manager Jose Mourinho but believes his lively showing on Thursday could act as a fresh beginning.

“It was a pleasure to play again and start the game,” Mkhitaryan told BT Sport.

“I try to do my best and it’s a very good result.

“It has been difficult to watch the team from the sidelines but you have to have passion and work hard.

“I hope it is a new start for me.”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan did not show any rustiness despite having played only once for his club since 10 September. He had six shots, made 55 passes (accuracy 85.5%) and won the ball back eight times.

He linked up well with team-mates, and would have got on the end of a through ball from Rooney had the England captain not overhit it, after a slick one-touch passing move between the pair.

One of the game’s outstanding moments came when Mkhitaryan ran from his own half, taking on several Feyenoord defenders, before going down under pressure from Jens Toornstra. The Dutch champions were fortunate the referee did not give a free-kick, which would also have resulted in a red card.

The 27-year-old had six shots, including blocked efforts, and came off, alongside Rooney, to a standing ovation after 82 minutes.

“The United States supports confidence-building measures and increased dialogue between Armenians and Azerbaijanis that can help stabilize the security situation and create a more constructive atmosphere for negotiations,” Daniel B. Baer, US Ambassador to the OSCE said in address to the Permanent Council. The full speech is provided below:

The United States warmly welcomes the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group, together with the Chairmanship’s Personal Representative, and the Head of the High-Level Planning Group (HLPG), to the Permanent Council. We reiterate our strong support for their work and appreciate their unwavering engagement with the sides to advance a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The United States was alarmed by the escalation of violence along the Line of Contact in April, and concerned about allegations of atrocities. As a Co-Chair country, the United States took immediate steps to reduce tensions. Secretary Kerry took the initiative to organize a 3+2 meeting in Vienna on May 16, recognizing that the joint efforts of the United States, Russia, and France at the highest levels could help the sides stop the violence and advance the peace process. The Summit produced tangible results. The sides reaffirmed their respect for the ceasefire, and indeed, the situation along the Line of Contact quieted significantly.

The sides also agreed to expand the OSCE Monitoring Mission and agreed to work on a proposal to establish an OSCE investigative mechanism. We call on the sides to support the expansion of monitoring by the Office of the Chairmanship’s Personal Representative, as agreed upon during the Summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg, and hope that this expansion can eventually be reflected in the 2017 OSCE budget. We also call on the sides to work on a proposal to establish an OSCE investigative mechanism.

The United States supports confidence-building measures and increased dialogue between Armenians and Azerbaijanis that can help stabilize the security situation and create a more constructive atmosphere for negotiations.

The United States appreciates the close collaboration of the German Chairmanship and Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Kasprzyk, in supporting the Co-Chairs’ mediation efforts and stabilizing the situation on the ground.

We share the frustration of the sides that this conflict has gone on far too long. There can be no military solution to this conflict. As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States remains deeply committed – as Ambassador Warlick has emphasized this morning – to working with the sides to find a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict.

We join others who have expressed this morning their good wishes to Ambassador Andrieu as he continues on his journey, and we welcome his successor, Ambassador Visconti — we look forward to working with you.

“Everything is OK at Manchester United,” Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan told reporters in Yerevan today.

Despite receiving little playing time at Man Utd, Mkhitaryan says nothing can prevent him from moving forward.

“I have passed a long way to reach where I am now. Nothing can prevent me from achieving my dream,” Mkhitaryan said.

“If I give in now, it will mean I have achieved nothing and done nothing to reach there,” he said.

“I will find the strength to struggle in this situation,” the midfielder said.

Mkhitaryan pledged to do his best to reach his goal.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan talked to reporters after being appointed .

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Indonesia Edward Nalbandian and Retno Marsudi held a meeting in Jakarta today. The parties discussed the development of bilateral relations, as well as a number of urgent issues on regional and international agenda. They attached importance to the intensification of the political dialogue between the two countries, the need to boost the inter-parliamentary ties, expand the legal framework, encourage educational and cultural exchange.

The interlocutors discussed the perspectives of cooperation within different integration frameworks.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Indonesia referred to the situation in the Middle East, the Syrian crisis, the fight against terrorism and conflicts.

The Indonesian FM briefed Minister Nalbandian on the processes taking place in South-Eastern Asia and presented her country’s approaches. Edward Nalbandian presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries towards furthering the Karabakh peace process.

Edward Nalbandian invited Retno Marsudi to visit Armenia.

At the end of the meeting the Foreign Ministers signed an agreement on elimination of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, also as a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Indonesian Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education Mohammad Nazir signed a Letter of Intents on cooperation in the fields of science, technology and higher education.

The Foreign Ministers of the two countries made a statement for the press following the meeting.

Today President Serzh Sargsyan was present at the opening of the Yerevan fair trade center. The creation of the center was initiated by the SIL Concern Company. During the tour, the President was briefed by the officials of the Company on the works carried out at the first stage, investments, new jobs, and the upcoming development programs, particularly the works envisaged for the second stage.

It was noted that in January-June 2016, over 250 employees were engaged in the construction on a permanent basis with the average salary of 200.000 AMD. The segment of the fair constructed during the first stage of the works will allow to hire 550 employees with the average salary of 150.000 AMD.

According to the officials, investments at this stage came close to 2 billion 500 million AMD. After the second phase of construction works is completed, in summer of 2017 Yerevan will have a fair, which will occupy 430002 meters, with 850 pavilions for retail and wholesale trade, with all modern facilities. The fair will create over 1000 new jobs with the average salary of 150.000 AMD.