Member of Armenian National Chess Team Gabriel Sargsyan is participating in the 3rd Sharjah Chess Masters underway these days in the United Arab Emirates, the country’s chess federation reported.
As the source details, the major tournament has brought 178 chess players from 31 countries, including 35 grand masters. After six rounds played, the table is topped by Ernesto Inarkir. Gabriel Sargsyan has scored 4 points.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 19
By Matanat Nasibova – Trend:
The issue related to tariffs for Russian gas remains one of the most frequently discussed ones in the media in Armenia, Trend reports via Sputnik Armenia news agency.
The authorities of Armenia and the company Gazprom Armenia for two months given for making a decision didn’t agree on the issue of gas prices, according to the report.
“On Dec. 31, 2018, the company Gazprom Armenia issued a statement announcing an increase in gas prices at the border,” the report said. “It was noted that the company will continue working with the relevant agencies of the Armenian government on the structure of domestic gas tariffs.”
On Feb. 6 this year, answering the question of Sputnik Armenia, Deputy Director General of Gazprom Armenia Vakhtang Mirumyan stated that the preliminary terms of the discussions were determined – about two months from the moment of the company’s statement.
However, no results have been achieved on any agreements so far.
Sputnik Armenia also quotes Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan as saying that the government of Armenia won’t subsidize the price of natural gas for domestic consumers, and no shares or enterprises will be transferred in exchange.
Thus, following the Armenian-Russian negotiations, it was decided that gas prices will be at $165 per 1,000 cubic meters, instead of the previous $150.
In turn, well-known Russian expert, head of the Laboratory of Political and Social Technologies Aleksey Nezhivoy, commenting on possible solutions to this problem, told Trend that in the current situation Russia won’t give in to Armenia in this issue.
He said that Russia after the well-known events in Armenia will “exert pressure” over the new government in Armenia by its very non-flexible trading instruments.
“The outcome of such a policy can be deplorable for Armenia, which can very soon be left without support,” the Russian political analyst noted.
Economic revolution in Armenia will triumph, assures Pashinyan
14:47,
YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has presented how citizens can have participation in the economic revolution and the government’s steps aimed for ensuring this participation.
Asked at a press conference on how citizens can participate in the economic revolution, the PM noted that the citizens should do this with their economic activity.
“Today, we are doing everything for loan interest rates to drop and loans to become more accessible for citizens. We are also encouraging people, and must encourage, for them to try and organize economic activity for themselves. I saw numerous uncultivated lands in the village of Ranchpar. Our objective is to make the cultivation of these lands profitable for people, and then to have the chance to sell their harvest at worthy and profitable prices to companies. We will also create opportunities for people to undergo specialized training. Today there are 3-4 thousand vacancies in Armenia’s IT sector, we must help people so that those who are able get trained and fill these vacancies, because salaries in this sector are very high,” Pashinyan said.
He also mentioned that the planned amendments in the Tax Code will define a threshold for micro-businesses, by which certain businesses with up to 24 million drams in annual turnover will be exempt of taxes.
“One of our main topics of discussions with the EU is for loan resources to be brought to Armenia especially for micro-businesses, that will be affordable, so that people will be able to take loans and invest it in the business. We are exempting individual cab drivers from taxes, which means that their monthly revenue will increase by 12 thousand drams from that moment. We are willing to change the social benefits system in a way that even if the given individual is employed they won’t be reprieved from benefits. Meaning, we should encourage the work of these people,” he said.
The government is also creating conditions for bootleggers to enter the legal arena and have the chance of selling and exporting alcoholic drinks of their production.
The PM said the government is maximally facilitating regulations that are an obstacle for businesses.
Pashinyan expressed certainty that the economic revolution in Armenia will triumph. According to him, citizens will participate in it the way they participated in the political revolution.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
TEHRAN, Mar. 03 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Bahram Ghasemi announced that Iran does not want its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan be influenced by Nagorno- Karabakh conflict.
The Iranian official made the remarks in a reaction to the sidelines of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's meeting with his Iranian religious fellows during his last week’s visit to Tehran, where some flags were hoisted in Armenian about Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Ghasemi underscored that Iran condemns the act.
“As I have announced repetitively, Iran’s stance toward its neighbors is vivid and our neighbors are our priorities in foreign policy,” the spokesman admitted.
“Iran seeks expansion of firm ties with its neighbors based on mutual respect and no interference in each other’s interior affairs,” he added.
On February 27, Tehran and Yerevan signed two economic cooperation agreements during a visit by Nikol Pashinyan to the Iranian capital.
HJ/IRN83229456
Acknowledging the historical reality or a pressure card on Turkey?: Armenian National Committee’s reaction to reports on UAE’s recognition of Genocide
09:10,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Committee of Middle East is closely following the Arab media reports according to which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is going to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Committee views these reports in the context of regional developments.
Vera Yakubyan of the Armenian National Committee of Middle East told ARMENPRESS that such reports on recognizing the Genocide have also been circulated in case of Egypt, but with no concrete result till now.
“You know that as for Egypt there were many rumors that the parliament is going to adopt a resolution, but all these remained in the propaganda field, and no practical steps were taken. We are reacting cautiously to all reports regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. It’s not ruled out that these statements are a step to exert pressure on Turkey, and we know that today certain Arab states have tense relations with Turkey”, she said, adding that the UAE is among those Arab countries which currently has a difficult process of relations with Turkey.
“It’s known that in recent years Turkey has supported the Islamists in the Arab world. And now there is a competition who will be more influential in the Arab world. And therefore the issue of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is being raised on the background of problems with Turkey. Of course, we are following the developments, but are not so excited at the moment because maybe the relations with Turkey will normalize. You know that there are strong economic ties between some Arab countries and Turkey”, Vera Yakubyan said.
She noted that some Arab countries were among the first ones to provide shelter to many Armenians who survived the 1915 Armenian Genocide. These countries enabled Armenians to settle there, have their church, open a memorial stone and commemorate the Genocide victims. “Therefore, we can state that some Arab countries indirectly acknowledge the historical reality of 1915”, Yakubyan said.
As for the possibility of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the UAE, she said it will pave a way for the recognition by the remaining Arab countries.
“If they recognize, that will be an unprecedented phenomenon in the Arab world. It can have a chain reaction effect and the remaining Arab countries will also take such an action. In any case now it’s difficult to understand whether the UAE will recognize the Genocide or not”, Vera Yakubyan noted.
According to the Arab media reports, the UAE may recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, which will further increase the tension between Abu Dhabi and Ankara. The media outlets report that the UAE’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide may be announced on April 24.
Interview by Anna Gziryan
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Վարչապետ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանը հեռախոսազրույց է ունեցել Լիբանանի կառավարության ղեկավար Սաադ Հարիրիի հետ: Նիկոլ Փաշինյանը շնորհավորել է Սաադ Հարիրիին Լիբանանի նոր կառավարության ձևավորման և վարչապետի պաշտոնում վերանշանակվելու կապակցությամբ:
Վարչապետը հաջողություն է մաղթել Սաադ Հարիրիին և նրա թիմակիցներին կարևոր առաքելության մեջ և համոզմունք հայտնել, որ Հարիրիի ղեկավարությամբ նոր կառավարությունը երկիրը կտանի դեպի զարգացում և տնտեսական առաջընթաց:
Զրուցակիցները կարևորել են երկու երկրների միջև տնտեսական կապերի ամրապնդումը: Պայմանավորվածություն է ձեռք բերվել անցկացնել հայ-լիբանանյան միջկառավարական հանձնաժողովի նիստն այս տարվա ապրիլին:
ARS 35th anniversary gala committee at work ahead of the March 9 event
This year, the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA is celebrating its 35th Anniversary with a Gala at the Glendale Hilton on March 9.
At the time the Western Region was established, there were 15 chapters in the Western United States. One of the first challenges for the ARS of Western USA was to find a headquarters from which to conduct its activities, including managing the network of ARS Saturday Schools and the ARS Social Services Centers that opened in 1979.
Thanks to a generous donation from Armenouhi Nazigian, the ARS Western Region finally found a home at 517 W. Glenoaks Blvd in Glendale, opening its doors just days before the devastating earthquake that struck Armenia on December 7, 1988.
The Nazigian Center immediately became the nerve center of the ARS Western Region in the days, weeks and months after the quake. Boxes of containers full of aid were collected at the tiny Center and air freighted to Armenia. More than $4.5 million in aid was raised with the cooperation of the Western Prelacy; and went toward building housing for the homeless, sending medical and dental equipment, establishing mental health clinics and renovating hospitals and schools in the earthquake zone areas of Gyumri and Spitak. For 27 years, until 2015, the ARS Western Region sent aid to 2,000 orphans of the earthquake.
The 35th Anniversary Gala committee meets to plan March 9 event
The ARS, recognizing that it had outgrown its small domicile, built a 2-story, 7,100-square foot complex that houses its offices, the ARS Social Services Center, Guidance Center, and parking in 1999.
The ARS Western Region has also had a big role in aiding Armenian communities in Artsakh, Javakhk, Iraq, Syria and other areas where there have been political upheavals and societal conflict. To this day, the ARS Western Region, with the support of its 25 chapters, provides operational expenses for 2 kindergartens in Artsakh and 2 youth centers in Javakhk, located in Georgia. In 2016, when homelessness in Los Angeles became rampant, the ARS Western Region started a program called the ARS Families in Need Fund with the help of many of its chapters.
Proceeds from the 35th Anniversary Gala of the ARS of Western USA will benefit the ARS Families in Need Fund. Headlining the Gala will be a video and proclamations honoring Jasik Boniatian Jarahian, who has selflessly served the ARS of Western USA for 30 years in advancing its cause to help communities both locally and internationally.
For further information about the Gala, please contact the ARS Regional Headquarters at (818) 500-1343 or [email protected],
The Armenian Relief Society, founded in 1910 in New York City, has chapters in 27 countries around the world. The ARS of Western USA is one of 10 regional bodies that govern the international network of ARS chapters. There are 1,240 members of the Armenian Relief Society in the Western Region.
Our region’s pivotal programs are aimed at offering assistance to individuals and families in need through the areas of educational, social and family services, humanitarian aid, cultural advancement, and more. The ARS of Western USA operates a Social Services Division; a Child, Youth and Family Guidance Center; 16-one day schools and 3 full-time day care preschools. ARS also provides support to kindergartens and youth centers in Armenia, Artsakh, and Javakhk.
New charges pressed against former President Robert Kocharyan
19:54,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The Special Investigation Service of Armenia pressed new charges against 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, Kocharyan’s defense team informed ARMENPRESS.
In addition to Article 300.1 of the criminal code of Armenia which is about overthrowing the constitutional order, Robert Kocharyan is now charged also under Article 311 (part 4 point 2), which is about receiving bribe of particularly large amount.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
Հայաստանի գլոբալ մրցունակության գնահատականներում էականորեն բարելավվել են ֆինանսական ու բանկային ցուցանիշները: Այս մասին նյութ է պատրաստել Հայաստանի բանկերի միությունը:
Նյութը ներկայացնում ենք ստորեւ. «Ինչպես հայտնի է Համաշխարհային տնտեսական ֆորումի կողմից պարբերաբար հրապարակվում է աշխարհի շուրջ 137 երկրների համաշխարհային մրցունակության զեկույցը:
Հարկ է նշել, որ հիշյալ զեկույցի հիմքում դրվում են Գլոբալ մրցունակության ինդեքսի (ԳՄԻ) 12 հիմնական ուղղություններում խմբավորված ավելի քան 100 ցուցանիշներ, որոնց շրջանակներում առանձնահատուկ տեղ է հատկացվում ֆինանսական շուկայի զարգացվածության արդյունքներին:
Առավել հատկանշական է այն հանգամանքը, որ համաշխարհային մրցունակության ինդեքսում 2017-2018թթ. Հայաստանն իր դիրքերը, ի թիվս հանրային կյանքի այլ ոլորտների, բարելավել է նաեւ «Ֆինանսական շուկայի զարգացվածություն» հատվածում՝ նախորդ զեկույցի 90-րդ հորիզոնականից տեղափոխվելով 78-րդ հորիզոնական:
Այս ցուցանիշի բարելավմանը նպաստել են մի շարք ենթաուղղություններում գրանցված դրական զարգացումները, մասնավորապես՝ «Ֆինանսական ծառայությունների հասանելիություն» հատվածում մեր երկրի դիրքը նախորդ 99-րդ հորիզոնականից տեղափոխվել է դեպի 96-րդ հորիզոնական, «Վարկերի մատչելիություն՝ միայն բիզնես պլանով եւ առանց գրավի» չափորոշիչում ունենք 6 սանդղակի չափով բարելավում եւ նախորդ 71-րդ հորիզոնականի փոխարեն զբաղեցված է 65-րդ հորիզոնականը:
Ուշագրավ է, որ ներկայացվող հատվածում զգալի բարելավում է արձանագրվել նաեւ ֆինանսա-բանկային համակարգի նկատմամբ վստահելիության բաղադրիչում, ըստ որի բանկերի հուսալիության առումով մեր երկրի դիրքը նախորդ 80-րդ տեղից տեխափոխվել է դեպի 75-րդ տեղ, իսկ արժեթղթերի շրջանառության կարգավորումների ասպարեզում 85-րդ հորիզոնականից անցում է կատարվել դեպի 79-րդ հորիզոնականը:
Գլոբալ մրցունակության գնահատականների բարելավումների շարքում առկա է նաեւ մեկ նշանակալի դիտարկում, ըստ որի օրենսդրական իրավունքների ինդեքսում մեր երկիրը զբաղեցրել է աննախադեպ բարեհաջող դիրք՝ նախորդ 68-րդ հորիզոնականի փոխարեն այժմ լինելով 30-րդը: Եվ բոլոր վերլուծությունների տրամաբանությունը հուշում է, որ օրենսդրական դաշտի ու ֆինանսական հատվածի ցուցանիշների բարելավումներում առկա է փոխգործակցություն. օրենսդրական բարեփոխումները՝ դատական վեճերի կրճատումները, իրավական ոլորտի գործունեության արդյունավետության բարձրացումը, հանգեցնում են երկրի ֆինանսա-բանկային համակարգի մրցունակության գնահատականի ակնհայտ բարձրացմանը»: