Author: Suren Karakhanian

 17:54, 6 April, 2022

YEREVAN, 6 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov on April 8 will have negotiations with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who will pay a working visit to Russia, ARMENPRESS reports, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova told journalists at the briefing.

“Negotiations of Foreign Ministries of Russia and Armenia are scheduled on April 8 in Moscow”, Zakharova informed.

She mentioned that the FMs plan to discuss in detail the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in all spheres, as well as further steps of deepening of cooperation in common integration unions, in the EEU, CSTO, CIS.

“Besides, the sides will exchange thoughts on the process of implementation of agreements between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021 and November 26. We hope that the upcoming negotiations will promote the deepening of allied cooperation with Yerevan, as well as peace and stability in South Caucasus”, Zakharova announced.

 17:27, 5 April, 2022

YEREVAN, 5 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 5 April, USD exchange rate down by 1.56 drams to 481.59 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 3.35 drams to 528.26 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 5.79 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.69 drams to 632.09 drams.

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

Gold price down by 82.84 drams to 29887.75 drams. Silver price down by 1.63 drams to 381.90 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

Reuters
March 28 2022

Armenia urges Russia to make Azeri troops leave in 

 15:15, 28 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. The Chairman of the Public Services Regulatory Commission Garegin Baghramyan says he believes that there should be a discussion with the involvement of the Ministry of Economy and the Central Bank in order to understand what currency would be more convenient for paying for the Russian gas.

Baghramyan made the comments at a press briefing when asked whether or not he finds the option of paying in rubles appropriate.

“As Chairman of the Commission, within my powers, I would prefer buying gas with a more firm currency,” Baghramyan added.

Baghramyan refrained from commenting on potential effects in the economy in the event of paying in rubles for gas.

“We must assess what currency is more beneficial for us. It should be viewed from an overall macroeconomic perspective.”

Earlier on March 23, the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan said the Armenian government is discussing the possibility of paying for Russian gas in rubles.

 12:17, 24 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. We are now at the most critical moment in the history of the Third Republic of Armenia, a point where the Armenian statehood appeared not once, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

“In order for us to be able to reach a desirable resolution from this same historic point, we need unprecedented flexibility, a complete and unemotional condition. We need new formulas of mentality. And we must sail our ship to a peaceful destination from this stormy geopolitical ocean that we found ourselves in. I am convinced that we will do this, and perhaps this is our historic mission,” PM Pashinyan said, emphasizing that what’s happening in the world now began with what happened to us and what’s happening today will directly impact us.

Speaking on economic issues, Pashinyan said: “I also want to speak about optimistic news. We must note that we have good grounds to maintain our economic activity. For example, with the data of the first 20 days of March against the same period of the previous year, the number of transactions recorded with point-of-sale machines in Armenia increased with 510,000, while turnover grew more than 60 billion drams. This certainly is not a fundamental indicator, but this is a positive signal which is connected to the fact that in 2022 we have a big flow of people into Armenia and this will create rather good economic effects.”

He added that in February Armenia recorded a record number of registered workplaces at 646,077 (10,3% increase against 2021 and 12,7% increase against 2019).

Average salary stood at 223,235 drams, which is a 9% increase against 2021 and 25,3% increase against 2019.

 18:28,

YEREVAN, 25 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The positions of Russia and Ukraine are getting closer on secondary issues in the talks, but are actually stagnating on key political issues, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, Assistant to the President told journalists.

"The talks have been going on all week, from Monday to Friday, and will continue tomorrow. Negotiations are held through video conference between expert groups, two or three times a week between the heads of delegations, and the last time was last night. Now the positions on secondary issues are getting closer, but on major political issues we actually have no progress," Medinsky said.

 19:42,

YEREVAN, 24 MARCH, ARMENPERSS. The protection of the line of contact in the direction of Parukh, Khramort settlements of Askeran region, ensuring the security of the civilian population living in those communities is within the mission of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the Artsakh Republic, ARMENPRESS reports the information headquarters of Artsakh informs.

It is noted that at the moment the peacekeepers are at their bases, the negotiations are continuing.

"We once again urge the population to remain calm, the situation on all other parts of the line of contact is stable at the moment," the statement said.

The Azerbaijani armed forces violated the line of contact in the direction of the village of Parukh in Artsakh’s Askeran region.The government of Artsakh said representatives of the Artsakh Defense Army and the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh are attempting to prevent through negotiations the further advance of the Azerbaijani troops and return them to their original positions.

As a safety precaution, women and children in the village of Khramort in Askeran region have been evacuated.

 18:24,

YEREVAN, 11 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The sanctions against the Russian Federation will have negative consequences for the whole world, no one wants to implement them. As ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg gave a speech at the opening of Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

“Of course, we have imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia. No one wanted to impose sanctions. Those sanctions will have a high cost for the whole world, including for those countries which imposed them” he added.

 19:45,

YEREVAN, 11 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani side continues to violate the ceasefire in the direction of Khramort, Parukh and Khnapat villages of Askeran region, using mortars and large-caliber firearms, ARMENPRESS reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Artsakh informed.

"It is obvious that the regular attempts of targetting the civilian population and shelling the villages with mortars are aimed primarily at causing panic in the society.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Artsakh is following the developments and will regularly provide information on the situation," the statement said.

At the same time, the Artsakh Ministry of Internal Affairs urges all media outlets to follow only official information.

Statement by Prime Minister Pashinyan on International Women’s Day

 09:46, 8 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 8, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a statement on International Women’s Day.

“Dear women,

I warmly congratulate all of you on the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8. Especially on this day we are full of warmth towards the women around us, we are more attentive and caring.

Thanks to your care, wisdom and patience, you have ensured the strength of our families for centuries, raising patriotic children first of all. Your devotion to the family and homeland contributes to the preservation and strengthening of national traditions.

At the same time, on this day, particular importance is attached to the symbolism of the March 8 – the Protection of Women's Rights.

I would like to emphasize that ensuring equal rights between women and men and ensuring full participation in all spheres of public life is one of the priorities of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

We work continuously to increase the role of women in public life, to protect labor rights, protect victims of violence, to ensure the involvement of women in public administration, local self-government bodies, political processes. It is not by accident that many women are successfully working in the upper echelons of the public administration system, as well as in the power structures, in the sphere of protection of public life, I hope their number will increase more and more.

Dear women,

Our Government will pursue the solution of the issues you raise and will consistently contribute to the full realization of your potential.

I once again congratulate all of you on this beautiful holiday, wishing family warmth, prosperity, happiness, optimism, professional success and new initiatives,” the Prime Minister said in the statement published by his office.