Emma Nadirian – Page 45 – Armenian Directory & News

Lake Sevan level rises by 3cm

April 23, 2020April 23, 2020 Emma Nadirian

16:37,

GAVAR, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. The water level of Lake Sevan has increased by 3 cm compared to April 21 of 2019, the HayHydromet Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations told ARMENPRESS.

As of Lake Sevan is situated at an altitude of 1900 meters and 53 centimeters above sea level.

Between January 9 – April 21 of 2020, 44 million 563 thousand cubic meters of water flowed into Lake Sevan through the Arpa-Sevan tunnel. An increase in discharge is observed in the lake’s inflow rivers.

Reporting and Writing by Khosrov Khlghatyan in Gavar; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Creative Armenia Announce $2,000 ‘Quarantine Challenge’

April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 Emma Nadirian

Artists from across all fields are welcome to submit a single artwork to Creative Armenia’s “Self-Quarantine Challenge”

YEREVAN (Creative Armenia)—Creative Armenia today announced a special edition of its creative challenge series, in partnership with Ucom, which will award a $2,000 top prize to the filmmaker, musician, writer, or artist who can capture the idea of “self-quarantine” in a single artwork. The work, to be titled “Self-Quarantine,” must be created in the place of the artist’s self-quarantine and submitted by May 15.

The challenge welcomes original and unpublished artworks across all fields. To participate, artists can submit a single photograph, a page of creative writing, an illustration, a short film or song (no longer than three minutes), or any other short-form creative work. There are no limitations regarding the style and genre of work. The only condition is to develop the artwork from the place of self-isolation.

The Self-Quarantine creative challenge is open to everyone. Applicants should submit their work via the application portal on the official website and fill in a short application form. The deadline for submission is 11:59 p.m. on May 15, Armenia time. Learn more about the Self-Quarantine creative challenge and apply online.

The Self-Quarantine creative challenge is launched in partnership with Creative Armenia’s communications partner Ucom.

Residents banned to leave Karabakh from April 22

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 Emma Nadirian

PanArmenian, Armenia

– 16:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Residents will be banned from leaving Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) beginning from April 22 in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, Commandant Grigori Martirosyan said Monday, April 20.

Only cargo truck drivers and their companions will be able to cross the border to Armenia, Martirosyan said.

Also, people will be able to leave Artsakh to attend the funeral of a close relative or family member, as well as those making an official trip to Armenia.

Seven coronavirus cases have registered in Karabakh so far, two of which have recovered. A total of 21 people have been quarantined.

Armenpress: Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs to hold video-conference on April 21

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 Emma Nadirian

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs to hold video-conference on April 21

21:28,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held a video conference with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov (Russia), Stéphane Visconti (France), Andrew Schofer (USA), as well as with Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the participants discussed the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan touched upon the general elections held in Artsakh.

The imperative of unconditionally observing the ceasefire amid the global fight against the COVID-19 was emphasized.

The participants exchanged views on the steps aimed at the continuity of activities under the current circumstances. In this context it was agreed to hold a video conference between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on April 21 with the mediation and participation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Armenia television company owner criminal case transferred to another judge

April 16, 2020April 16, 2020 Emma Nadirian

News.am, Armenia

16:31, 15.04.2020

YEREVAN. – The first court session on the criminal case of Armenia’s 5th Channel television owner Armen Tavadyan and Varuzhan Mkrtchyan took place Wednesday.

But at the hearing, Artur Mkrtchyan, Chairman of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan, transferred this case to Judge Karen Farkhoyan. Tavadyan's lawyer Hovhannes Khudoyan informed Armenian News-NEWS.am about this.

This criminal case has been joined to the activist Vardges Gaspari v. Armen Tavadyan criminal case, which Judge Farkhoyan already presides over.

Tavadyan is accused of bribing a victim of the March 1, 2008 criminal case in order to give false testimony in court. He was detained for two months.

On March 12, the Criminal Court of Appeal ruled to release Armen Tavadyan from pretrial custody. His lawyer Hovhannes Khudoyan had told reporters that the reason for granting their respective appeal was the absence of a reasonable doubt.

Asbarez: Catholicos Karekin II Calls for Kocharian’s Release

April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 Emma Nadirian

April 14, 2020

Former president Robert Kocharian with Catholicos Karekin II

His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians on Tuesday cited the coronavirus pandemic as his reason in calling for the immediate release of Armenia’s former president Robert Kocharian, who is in custody and awaiting trial on charges of breaching Armenia’s Constitution by allegedly ordering security forces to fire on protesters after the 2008 presidential elections resulting in the deaths of eight civilians and two police officers.

Saying “human life is of utmost importance, and caring for it is the responsibility of each of us,” the Catholicos stressed the need for changing the preventive measure against Kocharian.

He said given the opinion of medical professionals regarding Kocharian’s health he should be released.

“A number of preventive humanitarian measures are being carried out in different countries around the world in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, among them are including changes to incarceration of prisoners who are at risk or have chronic or underlying conditions,” Karekin II told news.am.

Armenpress: 16 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Armenia, bringing total to 937

April 12, 2020April 12, 2020 Emma Nadirian

16 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Armenia, bringing total to 937

11:09,

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. 16 new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Armenia, bringing the total number of infected to 937, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said today.

1 more patient has died, bringing the total number of deaths to 11.

5,144 people tested negative so far.

The number of recovered patients has reached 149, as 11 more patients have recovered in the past one day.

The active cases are 777.

On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to battle the spread of COVID-19. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, 17:00.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

World Bank cuts 2020 GDP forecasts for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

April 9, 2020April 9, 2020 Emma Nadirian

KITCO

April 9 2020

Reuters Thursday 13:06

TBILISI (Reuters) – The World Bank has slashed its 2020 economic growth forecasts for the South Caucasus countries Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia as they are hit by the spread of the new coronavirus, but projected a recovery in 2021.

Georgia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to slow to around 0.1% in 2020, before seeing a rebound to around 4% in 2021.

The bank said the Georgian economy would be severely impacted as transport restrictions affect the travel and tourism sectors while containment measures dampen domestic demand, partly offset by a fiscal stimulus of around 2% of GDP.

It had forecast growth of 5% in October 2019.

For Armenia the World Bank forecast growth would slow to 1.7% in 2020, or a quarter of the average rate seen over the past three years, but said it was an optimistic scenario.

It said the deceleration was expected to be cushioned by fiscal expansion, both by increased current spending, particularly in health and social spending, as well as support to businesses and higher public investment.

It expects Armenia’s economy to expand by 4.5% in 2021.

GDP in oil-rich Azerbaijan is meanwhile expected to contract by 0.2% in 2020 but should rebound by 2.2% next year.

“Non-energy growth will be affected by deteriorating consumer confidence and plummeting receipts from tourism, trade, and hospitality, but partially cushioned by recent government

support policies,” the World Bank said.

The bank previously forecast Armenia’s 2020 growth would be 5.1% and Azerbaijan’s 2.3%.

Reporting by Margarita Antidze and Nvard Hovhannisyan; Editing by David Holmes

Minister of Justice: No data on Armenia citizen shall be accessible for foreign companies

April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 Emma Nadirian

News.am, Armenia

April 3 2020

06:51, 01.04.2020

YEREVAN. – There can be no motivation to keep the phone calls’ and location data. Even if the suspicion is toward law enforcement, this information is of no interest to law enforcement. Armenia’s Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan said this at a press conference Wednesday, referring to the package of amendments to the law on amendments to the Law on Legal Regime of State of Emergency, which envisages locating people's and tracking their phone calls during a state of emergency in the country.

Asked if the public can rest assured that the respective data will be destroyed once the current state of emergency is over in Armenia, the minister replied as follows, in particular: "I am confident that there are and there will be no leaks, especially since it is being carried out by the state body within the framework of the fight against the [coronavirus] epidemic."

He also assured that no data on Armenian citizens shall be accessible for foreign companies.

Robert Kocharyan addresses people of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 Emma Nadirian

News.am, Armenia

13:07, 29.03.2020

First President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and second President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has addressed a message to the people of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) which reads as follows:

“Dear people of Artsakh,

During these crucial days, I am addressing you to share my thoughts and concerns with you.

The Republic of Armenia followed the example of several countries and declared a state of emergency to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Artsakh has not reported any case of coronavirus yet, but the close cooperation between Armenia and Artsakh clearly entails risks. This sparks deep concern since the pandemic can spread quickly and take many lives. The spread of the pandemic can also deal a serious blow to our security, especially in the current geopolitical situation.

In this sense, the authorities of Artsakh have to make decisions responsibly and place the security of Artsakh and the safety of its people above everything else.

In this situation, what is also important is the consolidation of the people. It is clear that the election campaign entailed certain objective difficulties. I am addressing the candidates and the population of Artsakh to be maximally responsible and show restraint to overcome these serious and pan-national challenges with honor.

As I was following the events and developments this past month, once again, I became convinced that Artsakh needs a leader with a heroic past and a leader who will be able to make decisions responsibly. I hope the people of Artsakh elect a person who has proved his unconditional dedication to the independence of Artsakh through the life he or she has lived.

Dear people of Artsakh, during these crucial days, I wish you unbreakable will and unity.”