Author: Maral Chavushian

 17:20,

YEREVAN, 11 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 11 July, USD exchange rate up by 0.29 drams to 410.96 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.90 drams to 415.60 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.03 drams to 6.69 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.89 drams to 491.34 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 112.53 drams to 22966.26 drams. Silver price down by 2.79 drams to 253.68 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

 19:01,

YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. A consultation chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was held, during which issues related to land reforms were discussed, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

In particular, the reduction of unused land plots of agricultural significance, the distribution of land plots, the expansion of irrigated areas, the main reasons for the land plots not being used, and some works carried out so far within the framework of land reforms were referred to.  Issues related to land enlargement, implementation of a pilot program for land market development, development and application of proposed economic mechanisms for land cultivation and consolidation were discussed.

Inventory of lands that are irrigated but not used, measures to be taken to increase the efficiency of land cultivation were highlighted.

An exchange of views took place on the above-mentioned issues, various proposals and observations were submitted by the heads of the concerned departments.

Prime Minister Pashinyan attached importance to the implemenation of land reforms and increase of the profitability of farms, including as a result of enlarging the cultivated lands. The Prime Minister instructed the officials in charge to form a relevant working group, which will develop a roadmap for action. The Prime Minister considered it necessary to implement a pilot program, which will help identify the problems and further implementing the reforms effectively.

Armenian military denies Azerbaijani accusations on opening fire at border

 09:32, 21 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense denied Azerbaijani accusations on opening fire at the border.

“The statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry according to which overnight June 20-21 the units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire from various caliber firearms at the Azerbaijani positions located in the eastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border has nothing to do with the reality.

The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively stable and is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces”, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The narrow-format session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council held in Minsk

 21:01,

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took part in the narrow-format session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Minsk, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minster.

First, the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko met with the Heads of Government of Armenia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and then, after the video shooting ceremony, the session took place.

The Prime Ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member states discussed issues related to the strengthening of the internal market, the development of transport infrastructure, and the regulation of customs tariffs. Reference was also made to cooperation on the digital agenda.

The expanded-format session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will take place on June 21.

 16:40,

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. This year more than 250 foreigners, most of them from Ukraine, have applied for asylum and refugee status in Armenia, the Migration Service of Armenia said.

In January-March 2022, the Migration Service received applications for asylum from 13 countries of the world, including Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Lebanon, Syria, etc.

Over the past ten years Armenia has provided a refugee status to more than 1500 asylum seekers. In the past five years the Migration Service has been receiving an average of 220 applications for asylum per year.

During the 2020 war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, the Migration Service collected the data of the displaced persons from Artsakh, which it processes and sends to other agencies if necessary.

The data was obtained through home visits: in Yerevan accompanied by representatives of territorial staffs of the Yerevan City Hall’s Department of Children and Social Protection, and in provinces through representatives of staffs of local self-government authorities.

Nearly 91,000 persons, 88% of whom are women and children, have been registered in the electronic database.

Housing program for refugees forcibly displaced from Azerbaijan

Based on the 2019 November 21 decision of the government, the Migration Service carries out a housing program for refugee families who were displaced from Azerbaijan in 1988-1992 and have been left without shelter for 30 years. 270 families have been provided with apartment purchase certificates – with a total cost of 3.7 billion drams. Nearly 200 of these families (around 75% of those who received apartment purchase certificates) have already purchased an apartment.

On March 10, 2022, the government of Armenia adopted the decision N283 according to which the program will start to be implemented in the provinces. According to the studies conducted in 2013, 254 families in provinces are potential program beneficiaries. Currently, a process of re-registration of potential beneficiaries living in provinces is underway.

June 20 is celebrated around the world as the World Refugee Day.