Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

 13:25, 7 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. 8 more Armenian prisoners of war have returned from Azerbaijan at the mediation of President of France Emmanuel Marcon and President of the European Council Charles Michel, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said.

On February 4, a remote meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took place at the mediation of Emmanuel Macron and Charles Michel.

Here are the names of the released POWs:

1. Sargis Tarzyan
2. Vardges Balayan
3. Armen Petrosyan
4. Artur Babayan
5. Hmayak Sargsyan
6. Gurgen Galoyan
7. Grigor Kyureghyan
8. Vagharshak Maloyan

 14:44, 3 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. A citizen of Armenia was found guilty of making “grave insults” by a Yerevan court, the first verdict under the new paragraph 137,1 of the Criminal Code since it took effect.

The Armenian parliament criminalized “Grave Insults” in 2021.

The person who was found guilty was charged on November 5,2021, after calling the Yerevan Police Department and verbally abusing and voicing grave insults towards Prime Minister Pashinyan and the Minister of High-Tech Industry and their families over “improper organizing the public transport’s operations of Yerevan”.

The caller confessed in making the insults during questioning.

Under the verdict the defendant is fined 500,000 drams.

The prosecution further said that a total of 263 criminal cases were opened by 2022 under the same article, with 25 being dropped, 5 being suspended and 11 others merging into other criminal cases.

214 other criminal cases are being probed and 31 persons face criminal charges.

 19:35, 26 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The 73rd Republic Day of India was celebrated at the Embassy of India in Yerevan (Armenia) on 26th January, 2022, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Embassy of India. 

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Republic of India to Armenia and Georgia, K. D. Dewal unfurled the national flag in the morning of 26th January in presence of a large gathering comprising of Indian nationals and Armenian friends of India.

On the occasion, Ambassador read out the address to the nation by the Hon'ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Ji Kovind delivered on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day.

Ambassador conveyed his greetings to all attendees and congratulated them on the Republic Day of India. Befitting the occasion, a cultural programme was also performed by the local Armenian artists from Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO and Indian students of Medical Universities in Armenia Ambassador K. D. Dewal handed over token gifts to the artists.

Keeping in view of the Corona advisory in Armenia, precautions were taken for wearing of masks, social distancing and proper hygience for all guests.

 10:23, 27 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenians and Iranians – two neighbors and friendly nations having millennia-old historical ties – are marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between their modern states – the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On the occasion of this important anniversary, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia H.E. Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri gave an interview to ARMENPRESS, noting that the historical relations between the peoples of Iran and Armenia are a very good foundation for the further expansion of the bilateral interstate ties.

Ambassador Zohouri underscored that especially in the economic sector the partnership should reach the excellent level of the political relations.

“It’s been almost two years that I am in Armenia, and it is my impression that we should raise the level of our awareness about each other,” Ambassador Zohouri said, stating that relations can be improved in all areas because there are no big obstacles for doing so.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia H.E. Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri gives an interview to ARMENPRESS journalist Aram Sargsyan at the Embassy of Iran, Yerevan. 

Among a number of issues, the Ambassador attaches importance to the intensification of contacts between Armenian and Iranian business communities and the completion of the renovation projects of interstate roads.

The Persian Gulf-Black Sea International Transport Corridor Project (the North-South road in Armenia being part of it) initiated by Tehran can greatly contribute to the development of transport connection.

“We are speaking about a situation when the huge population of the Indian ocean and Persian Gulf basin is acquiring a convenient route for transporting shipments to the Black Sea and Europe, and as a rule all countries located at the entire length of this route will mostly benefit from it,” the Iranian Ambassador said.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia H.E. Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri

According to Ambassador Zohouri, one of the most influential and important sections of the project is a section of the Tranche 4 of North-South, which would connect Kajaran and Sisian through a number of bridges and tunnels.

The main transit route viewed by Iran is the Norduz-Syunik-Yerevan road.

Iran welcomes the negotiations process between Armenia and Azerbaijan on unblocking transport and economic connections which is carried out in adherence to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries. The Iranian Ambassador said that if the Nakhijevan roads were to be opened, Iran and Armenia would get a shorter railway connection by the Julfa-Nakhijevan route.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia H.E. Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri

At the same time, Ambassador Zohouri underscored that the newly proposed options cannot be a reason for ignoring the importance of the road through Syunik province and the North-South project.

 12:35,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The reception on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the formation of the Armed Forces, originally scheduled for January 28 at the Dvin Hotel in Yerevan, is delayed due to a coronavirus outbreak among invitees, First Channel News reported.

According to the report, the Chief of the General Staff, other high ranking military officials and several invited guests tested positive for COVID-19.

 14:35,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomes Armenia: with this title in Armenian, English and Arabic, the visitors of the Expo 2020 Dubai were welcome at the Saudi Arabia’s pavilion.

On January 20, Armenia and Saudi Arabia held a joint cultural event on the sidelines of the Expo 2020 Dubai. The proposal to hold a joint concert was made by the Armenian pavilion, and the concert took place in the pavilion of Saudi Arabia which is the biggest and the most visited during the Expo.

Director of the Armenian pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai Lilit Hakobyan told Armenpress that the pavilion of Saudi Arabia approved with pleasure Armenia’s offer to hold a joint concert program.

“First of all, I would like to note that a new page is opening for the two countries. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian visited Saudi Arabia last year in October. And so, the Expo 2020 Dubai is a wonderful opportunity to show the connection between our countries by using the cultural potential of the two nations”, she said.

From Armenia, composer Mihran Gurunian performed at the concert together with vocalists of “Shushiki Band”, and from Saudi Arabia – the Saudi Folk Group.

“Our musical traditions have rich roots which serve as an inspiring source. It was especially important to show how music unites us all. Eventually, we wanted to support the main idea of the Expo 2020 Dubai – Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, Lilit Hakobyan said.

She said that the concert has appeared under the spotlight of the Expo visitors.

The Expo 2020 Dubai global international exhibition launched in the United Arab Emirates on October 1, 2021. 192 countries, including Armenia, are participating in the exhibition. Days of Armenia will take place on the sidelines of the Expo on January 30.

Reporting by Anna Gziryan

 16:12,

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a US$25 million financial support to Ameriabank in Armenia for on-lending to private businesses in the country.

As part of the financing package Ameriabank will receive US$ 10 million under the Women in Business (WiB) programme for on-lending in local currency to women-led small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). The programme combines financing, technical assistance, risk mitigation in the form of first-loss cover for local financial institutions, supported by the Small Business Impact Fund,and business advisory services to support women-led SMEs. Technical assistance and advisory services are jointly funded by the European Union (EU),and Sweden.

Additional US$ 10 million will be to support the development of the local micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs).

Ameriabank will also receive US$ 5 million under the EU4Business-EBRD credit line, supported by the EU, for on-lending to local SMEs with export potential for investments in upgrading technologies and services to the EU standards while promoting the use of green technologies.

The EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line is a flagship initiative helping local companies increase their competitiveness at home and abroad by upgrading their production facilities and processes to the EU standards. At least 70 per cent of the loan proceeds will be used to finance investments in green technologies in accordance with the EBRD Green Economy Transition (GET) approach. Borrowers are eligible to receive incentive grants and technical advice, both funded by the EU under the EU4Business initiative.

Ameriabank is one of the leading banks in Armenia and ranked first by assets, loan portfolio and clients accounts and deposits. It is a major contributor to the Armenian economy, with assets exceeding AMD 1 trillion. Being a dynamically developing universal bank, Ameriabank provides a large package of innovative banking services through its omni-channel distribution platform and with clear focus on digital products. Ameriabank is committed to doing business responsibly and advancing Armenia’s transition towards a sustainable future. Since 2015 the EBRD is also a shareholder in the bank holding a 17.8per cent stake.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Armenia. The Bank has invested more than €1.51 billion in 189 projects in the country’s financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 88 per cent of those investments in the private sector.