Author: Christine Harutyunian

 16:30, 1 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. According to the estimates of the Central Bank, the external sector will still have an inflationary impact on the economy of Armenia, but the Bank expects that the 12-month inflation will gradually decline and will approach the targeted 4% figure in a predicted horizon.

During a press conference today, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia Martin Galstyan reminded that during today’s session the Board of the Central Bank decided to raise the refinancing rate by 0.25%, setting it at 8.0%. The 12-month inflation in December 2021 declined, comprising 7.7%.

“The 12-month inflation declined in accordance with the CBA forecasts and comprised 7.3%. the economic recovery continues in main partner countries of Armenia”, he said.

Another wave of the pandemic is spreading in Armenia at rapid rates, however, according to the CBA Governor, its impact on the economy is estimated as “mild”. A high economic activity was registered in construction and industry branches in late 2021. The Board of the Bank agrees that the total demand remains high at the expense of external demand which contributes to the maintenance of inflationary environment.

Therefore, the Board found it appropriate to raise the refinancing rate. “As a result of these policy actions the 12-month inflation will gradually decline and will approach the targeted 4% in the predicted horizon. The Board believes that the uncertainty with macro-economic prospects conditioned by geopolitical developments is still high. In case of risks, the Board will respond adequately and will ensure the price stability goal”, Galstyan said.

 10:58, 21 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Detroit Pistons assistant coach Rex Kalamian will be the new head coach of the Armenian National Basketball Team, the Basketball Federation of Armenia said.

Kalamian will lead the team to the European Championship due June 28-July 3 in Malta.

Earlier, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted : “Detroit Pistons assistant Rex Kalamian has agreed to become the new head coach of the Armenian national team, Kalamian tells ESPN. His grandmother escaped the Armenian genocide as a teenager to come to the United States, and both his parents are Bronx-born Armenian-Americans.”

Earlier in January, sources familiar with the matter told ARMENPRESS that Kalamian could become the new head coach of the Armenian basketball team.

Kalamian serves as assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA.

He previously had coaching terms with the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Toronto Raptors.

 14:16, 21 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Achieving progress in the delimitation and demarcation issue of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border would enable to significantly advance in the issue of normalization of relations between Yerevan and Baku, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Launching the delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is a priority issue, as well as the unblocking of regional transportation and economic connections. Achieving progress in this direction will enable to advance in the issue of the normalization of relations between Yerevan and Baku,” TASS quoted the foreign ministry as saying in the statement.

In the statement, the Russian foreign ministry called for swiftly launching the delimitation.

“We are making consistent efforts to resolve the situation at the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, where, unfortunately, from time to time incidents with the use of weapons are taking place, causing deaths. It is necessary to form and launch as soon as possible the bilateral commission for the delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. We are ready to provide consultative support to Yerevan and Baku in this process,” the Russian foreign ministry said.

It added that Moscow is actively participating in the process of repatriating prisoners of war.

 19:50,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova assures that it will not be possible to cast a shadow on the activities of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports Zakharova said in a briefing, referring to the remark that the Azerbaijani armed forces recently made another provocation in Artsakh direction, opening fire including in the direction of civil population and to the opinion that by that and other similar provocations the Azerbaijani side tries to cast shadow in the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh.

"Even if someone wants to cast a shadow on our peacekeepers, they will not succeed. Their work is clear, it is for the benefit of crisis management," Zakharova said.

On January 10, the Azerbaijani side made another provocation, targeting a number of civilian objects and civilians in a number of communities in Artsakh. For example, from the positions near the Karmir Shuka settlement in the Martuni region, the Azeri servicemen opened fire irregularly in the direction of the village, as a result of which the car belonging to a civilian parked near the kindergarten burned.

 16:16,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan congratulated Ioannis Kasoulides on his re-appointment of the Foreign Minister of Cyprus.

“My sincere congratulations to good friend of Armenia Ioannis Kasoulides on assuming the position of Foreign Minister of Cyprus. Looking forward to our effective cooperation for the benefit of friendly people of Armenia and Cyprus”, the Armenian FM said on Twitter.

Ioannis Kasoulides is serving as the Foreign Minister of Cyprus for already the third time.

 15:12, 5 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan was appointed as the Armenian side’s chairman at the Armenia-Iran Joint Inter-Governmental Commission.

The Armenian side’s composition in the commission was approved by the Prime Minister back in 2019, and then-Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan was appointed as chairman.

Papikyan was appointed Defense Minister in 2021.