Author: Suren Karakhanian

 18:24, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the delegation led by the General Director of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe (CoE) Christos Giakoumopoulos on March 3.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia, welcoming the guests Ararat Mirzoyan noted that following their previous meeting Armenia has implemented serious reforms in a number of directions: that process goes on, particularly today the National Assembly has been discussing a huge package of judiciary reforms, and these reforms will again become essential steps for the corruption prevention and recuperation and independence of the judicial system.

Christos Giakoumopoulos asked for details about the ongoing processes over the Constitutional Court and the expected referendum in the near future, noting that in the Council of Europe they understand that this is very important for the people of Armenia, and they will be glad to provide assistance.

Ararat Mirzoyan explained in detail the situation and stressed that to his deep conviction, this referendum and, in general, the solution of this issue will be a very serious step on the way to the further democratization of Armenia. The President of the National Assembly of Armenia underlined that there cannot be full democracy if the branches of power don’t restrain each other, as well as the judicial power cannot be part of democratic system and restrain the other branches, unless it is independent, unbiased, objective and professional, however, there is no such Constitutional Court in Armenia, and the referendum is the best way for making those changes.

 16:44, 1 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS. In an apparent effort to dismiss the unsubstantiated panic and purported hotel booking cancellations in the town of Tsakhakdzor, the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that he and his family are heading to the resort town to spend the night there at a local hotel.

Earlier today, 31 direct contacts of the first novel coronavirus case in Armenia were quarantined at a defunct hotel in Tsakhkadzor.

Shortly after the news, PM Pashinyan said he receives information that some visitors and tourists to the town are cancelling their hotel bookings. He dismissed the concerns and said that the quarantine doesn’t anyhow affect the town’s life. He called on the general public to refrain from panicking or spreading disinformation.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:19,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. 83 suspected cases of the novel coronavirus have all tested negative in Armenia since January 24, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Artavazd Vanyan told a news conference.

“Since January 24 we monitored more than 2000 people and we had 83 hospitalizations. That is, people who arrived from China and had even the slightest symptoms, for example 37 degree fever, they were immediately hospitalized and examined, and everyone was tested. All tests came back negative,” Vanyan said.

Vanyan said there are people under monitoring now. He did not elaborate.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:36, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenian minister of economy Tigran Khachatryan received member of the World Bank Group’s Doing Business reform team Alejandro Espinosa-Wang to discuss the methodological issues of the report, as well as the Bank’s support to Armenia’s future business climate reforms, the ministry told Armenpress.

The minister thanked for the consulting report that is a useful guideline to address the existing resources to solve the current issues, as well as to organize future works.

The minister said the Bank’s annual assessment is important not only in terms of making comparisons with other countries, but also from environment perspective to get a right and real picture on the existing problems, taking into account the respective regulations accepted in the world.

Alejandro Espinosa-Wang thanked the minister for the meeting and productive discussions, and outlined the issues that are on the agenda of this stage.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 21:22, 29 January, 2020

YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Avet Adonts held a meeting on January 29 with Ambassador of China to Armenia Tian Erlong to discuss the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Ambassador Erlong underscored China’s readiness to continue closely cooperating with Armenia in the direction of solving the various problems associated with the coronavirus spread, the foreign ministry said.

During the meeting the sides comprehensively addressed the problems faced by Armenian citizens who are currently in China’s Hubei province – the epicenter of the outbreak – and the steps to address these problems.

Deputy FM Adonts said that the Armenian Embassy in China is in constant contact with the nearly 400 Armenian citizens who are currently living in different provinces in China and who are registered at the embassy, 7 of whom are currently in Hubei.

The Armenian Embassy is also taking all possible measures in the direction of responding to the Armenian nationals’ questions and problems.

Adonts added that the Armenian foreign ministry and the Armenian Embassy in China are maintaining continuous contact with the Chinese authorities and other partner countries and their embassies regarding the issue of evacuating the Armenian nationals.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Arpine Hovhanisyan denied inclusion to constitutional reforms commission due to 'political decision'

 14:43,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Arpine Hovhannisyan has been denied inclusion into the Specialized Commission for Constitutional Reforms due to a “political decision”, Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan told reporters.

“Lawyer-academicians and representatives of NGOs have been elected to the commission. We appreciate Arpine Hovhannisyan’s sincere motivations that she is ready to help. I am not questioning Arpine Hovhannisyan’s professional skills, but I have to note that the persons included in the commission do not have political affiliations,” Rustam Badasyan said.

Hovhannisyan served as Justice Minister from 2015 to 2017.

Badasyan said they didn’t whatsoever have any objective of selecting oppositionist or pro-governmental candidates to the commission.

“She was involved in the 2015 constitutional amendments works, and this was mentioned in her application, which in itself can’t deserve positive assessment. Having participated in those works in 2015 couldn’t have been considered a positive thing in the selection of this phase, but I have noted that Ms. Hovhannisyan is willing to help us with sincere motives, we will not refuse from that help,” Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan said.

On January 29, the Ministry of Justice released the results of the selection of members of the Specialized Commission of Constitutional Reforms. The Justice Ministry selected lawyer-academics Anahit Manasyan, Artur Ghambaryan, Armen Mazmanyan, Arsen Tavadyan, Levon Gevorgyan and Tigran Markosyan; NGO representatives Karen Zadoyan (Armenian Association of Lawyers) and Daniel Ioannisyan (Union of Informed Citizens).

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 11:25,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. FC Astana of Kazakhstan have signed midfielder Tigran Barseghyan of the Armenian National Football Team.

The Kazakh club said they signed a two-year contract with the Armenian footballer.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan