Author: Jane Topchian

 13:14, 4 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. 45.7% of the respondents of a survey conducted in Armenia see need for snap parliamentary elections, Aram Navasardyan, Director of MPG LLC, a full member of GALLUP International Association in Armenia, said during a press conference today.

“We asked the citizens whether there is a need for holding snap parliamentary elections in Armenia now. 28.8% said ‘definitely yes’, 16.9% – rather yes, 14.3% – rather no, and 27.2% definitely no. 12.8% said they have no answer”, Navasardyan said.

According to the answers of another question, 36.8% of the citizens said the parliamentary system should be maintained in Armenia, 32.6% said they support switching to the semi-presidential system and 30.5% said they have no answer.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:53,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Scientists have discovered a moth species unknown to science in Armenia, the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) said in a news release.

The scientists who discovered the specimen are experts from Germany’s Institute for Ecosystem Research, who were conducting research in CWR, Urtsadzor’s site, located in Ararat region.

“During their field trips, the scientists have implemented their research through scientific methods and have found a moth species, which was not known to inhabit Armenia before. The scientific article on this valuable finding was published recently. Initially the state of preservation of this specimen showed that it generally corresponded with external appearance of D. kondarella and D. gaalhaszlerae, however further differential diagnosis of organs, as well as DNA – barcoding showed this was a specimen unknown to science before”, the organization said.

“One female specimen was collected in year 2020 in Armenia. The moth has been collected end of May, from Armenia, Ararat Province, Vedi river valley, Urtsadzor, light trapped near CWR Eco Lodge, 1250m a s.l. by scientists H. Roweck & N.Savenkov. Depressaria urtsadzorensis – is the name given to the specimen that is derived from Urtsadzor, a village in Armenia, Ararat Province, Vedi river valley, where the type specimen was found. It is located in an area recognized as Prime Butterfly Area, so the choice of this name intends to underline its importance for biodiversity research and protection.”

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:45, 27 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The evacuation of residents in the villages of Berdzor, Aghavno and Sus of the Kashatagh region in Artsakh is halted and these settlements will remain under Armenian control, the Kashatagh regional administration chief Mushegh Alaverdyan told ARMENPRESS.

“Without elaborating, I can say that agreements were changed, we’ve received security guarantees. Under my direct responsibility we stopped evacuation in these settlements and we will remain in place,” he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:44,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan continues meetings with the business community representatives aimed at discussing issues relating to the restoration of Armenia’s economic activity and investment climate, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Today the Prime Minister received Director General of the Armenian Electric Networks CJSC Karen Harutyunyan, Gazprom Armenia CJSC Chairman of the Board-General Director Hrant Tadevosyan, RENSHIN construction-investment company General Director Eduard Marutyan, Nushikyan Association founder chairman Garegin Nushikyan.

Issues relating to the strengthening of the government-business ties, ensuring the continuation of investment programs, restoring the economic optimism were discussed.

Concrete agreements were reached based on the meeting results.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 21:28,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The United States salutes the cessation of active military operations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS reports U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a press statement.

''The United States welcomes the cessation of active hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  From the start of the recent hostilities, the United States called for an end to the violence and condemned the military escalation that resulted in significant casualties, including civilians.  We once again extend our condolences to the families of those killed and injured and call on all parties to respect their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.

Ending the recent fighting is only the first step toward achieving a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.  We urge the sides to re-engage as soon as possible with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs to pursue a lasting and sustainable political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the Helsinki Final Act principles of the non-use or threat of force, territorial integrity, and the self-determination and equal rights of peoples.  As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States remains fully engaged in this effort.

In tandem with our diplomatic engagement, the United States is providing $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support the operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organization and non-governmental organization partners to assist people affected by the recent fighting.  This funding brings total U.S. humanitarian assistance in Armenia and Azerbaijan to more than $10 million since Fiscal Year 2019, which includes nearly $3.9 million to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping vulnerable migrants, displaced people, and the communities that host them.  The new assistance, provided by the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, will support local efforts to provide food, health, shelter, and other emergency assistance to conflict-affected persons.  U.S. government humanitarian experts continue to assess the impacts of this crisis.  We recognize the contributions of our existing partners in the international community and call on other governments to join with new and increasing support for these efforts’', reads the statement.

 21:33, 10 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan emphasizes that PM Pashinyan signed the declaration on ending the war in Nagorno Karabakh based on the discussions with the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Defense Minister, heads of other bodies in charge, considering the risks and threats of future developments, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan told Public TV.

''The declaration agreed between the Armenian PM and the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan was signed for one simple reason and I will not refer to our military and diplomatic problems of the last 30 years for describing that reason. I will start from the point when the war started. On September 27, when the enemy started bombing the entire front line, martial law was declared in Armenia and the PM clearly recorded at the parliament that he is offered one option based on the documents of previous negotiations – return of 7 regions without preconditions. I think that proposal was denied by the three parliamentary factions. We chose the path of the war. the way to fight with dignity. And I want to record that during the 40 and more days that Armenian army heroically fought against disproportionate, incomparable forces. There was no where in the front line with relatively calm situation, there has been no 100 square meter territory that was not bombed'', Avinyan said.

According to him, the situation gradually led to a point where Stepanakert was already under risk, which would lead to other problems in other parts of the front line. This was a painful and forced decision for the PM. ''We have to understand that it was not only Azerbaijan that the Armenian army was resisting. It was the Turkish command staff, it was the terrorists and uncountable armored vehicles that fell on Artsakh'', Tigran Avinyan said.

 14:13,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. 79 protesters have been detained by police at an anti-government rally in Freedom Square, Yerevan, the police press service told ARMENPRESS.

“As of 13:30, 79 people were detained by police.”

Police are demanding the demonstrators to disperse because the active martial law doesn’t allow public gatherings.

The demonstration is organized by 17 political parties, including parliamentary and non parliamentary ones, calling for the resignation of the Armenian Prime Minister because of the Karabakh armistice conditions.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan