Author: Toneyan Mark

 15:08, 3 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense has denied Azerbaijani reports on Armenian armed forces allegedly having opened fire at Azerbaijani positions, villages and farmers.

“Azerbaijani official information platforms are circulating the completely false and made up information of the border service regarding the border situation,” Armenia’s military spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said, adding that the Azerbaijani border service had released similar disinformation again on April 1 and now on April 3.

Stepanyan said Azerbaijan is trying to conceal its own actions aimed at destabilizing the border situation. A similar disinformation campaign was also carried out by Azerbaijan prior to its failed subversive incursion attempt on March 30.

“We reiterate that the situation at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border is calm. The Armenian Armed Forces will take only adequate steps,” she said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia economy ministry 'comprehensively' analyzing situation as ruble plummets in oil market chaos

 14:57, 9 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Economy of Armenia is carrying out a comprehensive research regarding the global oil price decrease-related depreciation of the Russian ruble in order to be able to relay accurate signals to Armenian manufactures and exporters, Ministry of Economy spokesperson Anna Ohanyan told ARMENPRESS when asked how the situation could impact the Armenian economy.

Ohanyan said since Russia is Armenia’s main trade partner and the market of a significant portion of Armenian products is the Eurasian Economic Union, namely Russia, therefore the changes taking place there can’t bypass the Armenian economy.

“The ruble’s depreciation in other equal conditions against other main currencies could impact Armenian producers’ competitiveness. Everything depends on to what extent these changes are short-term or long-term. Given the fact the changes were preceded with global oil price declines, we should wait for the ruble’s purchasing power to get restored together with the oil prices,” Ohanyan said.

She noted that short-term assessment can’t reflect all sides of the situation in such events. “Therefore we are comprehensively analyzing the situation in order to relay accurate signals to our producers and exporters,” Ohanyan said, adding that the economy ministry is closely following the developments and soon they will present their assessments in order for the expectations in the private sector to be objective and in line with the situation.

“It is obvious that the developments seen these days once again emphasize the importance of diversification of our products and export markets,” Ohanyan added.

Oil prices suffered an historic collapse overnight after Saudi Arabia shocked the market by launching a price war against onetime ally Russia.

The Russian ruble plummeted almost 10% overnight, falling to its lowest level in more than four years, as oil prices crashed following the breakdown of the Russia-Saudi Arabia pact to limit production.

The ruble was trading at a low of 74.9 to $1 on Monday morning.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:52, 12 March, 2020

YEREVAN, 12 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 12 March, USD exchange rate is up by 1.30 drams to 484.33 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 1.63 drams to 544.48 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.25 drams to 6.50 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 8.58 drams to 617.28 drams.

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

Gold price is up by 38.83 drams to 25751.48 drams. Silver price is down by 0.06 drams to 265.03 drams. Platinum price is up by 192.04 drams to 13687.41 drams.

Lucy Kocharyan becomes first ever Armenian recipient of International Women of Courage Award

 10:53, 4 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. For the first time since the inception of the US Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards, an Armenian recipient will be honored and recognized with the award.

12 women from around the world will be honored at the Annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards at the U.S. Department of State on March 4 in Washington D.C.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will host the awards, and First Lady Melania Trump will deliver remarks to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of the awardees.

For the first time since IWOC’s inception in 2007, the award will be bestowed to an Armenian recipient this year. Lucy Kocharyan, a journalist who is fighting against sexual and domestic violence, has been selected to be recognized for her activities.

“Using her platform as a journalist, Kocharyan has championed children with mental health issues and has emerged as a leading voice in the fight against psychological, physical, and domestic violence against women and children.  Through her dedication and resolve, Kocharyan became famous for launching “Voices of Violence” in August 2018.  She has become a spokesperson on gender-based violence in Armenia and has continued to speak out despite harsh criticism – from people on the street who yell “shame” as she passes by, to parliamentarians speaking out against her and threatening her with lawsuits.  She successfully started a conversation about domestic and sexual violence that is slowly leading to some action. Gender-based violence is a pervasive problem throughout Armenia, where traditional social norms regarding masculinity, femininity, gender equality, and the division of household tasks remain rigid, making her achievements and impact all the more impressive”, the State Department said in a media note announcing the recipients.

“Now in its 14th year, the Secretary of State’s IWOC Award recognizes women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice.  Since the inception of this award in March 2007, the Department of State has recognized 134 women from 73 countries. This year will bring the total to 146 awardees from 77 countries. U.S. diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries. The finalists are selected and approved by senior Department officials. Following the IWOC ceremony, the 12 awardees will participate in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) visiting various cities throughout the country, before reconvening in Los Angeles for the conclusion of their program on March 16”.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spouse Anna Hakobyan will also attend the awarding ceremony at the invitation of the State Department.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:18, 5 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has a high score of 90 points in the prevention of epidemics compared to other countries of the world.

Prevent Epidemics said Armenia has better prepared to find, stop and prevent epidemics.

“They have functioning systems to find, stop and prevent health threats, but they must work to maintain this level of protection for their people”, stated in the website of Prevent Epidemics.

Countries marked green on the map of the website are the ones with secure level of protection. The website says Armenia has achieved a ReadyScore of 80 or higher and is working to improve and sustain its preparedness.

According to Prevent Epidemics, preparedness areas that Armenia has established to find, stop and prevent health threats are IHR coordination, communication and advocacy, zoonotic disease and food safety. Among the gaps is the antimicrobial resistance.

Among Armenia’s neighbor countries Georgia has scored 57 points.

Countries having 90 or higher scores are Canada, Japan, Australia, the United Arab Emirates.

Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan commented on this report on Facebook, noting: “Armenia is ready to find, stop and prevent epidemics”.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:53, 6 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. The Cypriot-Australian community has joined with the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities in calling on the Australian Government to reject a proposed visit by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Armenian National Committee of Australia reported.

The President of the Federation of Cyprus Communities of Australia & New Zealand, Michael Christodoulou said that Erdogan had no place in Australia while denying genocides and practicing Turkey's expansionist policies in the region.

Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director, Haig Kayserian welcomed Cypriot-Australians joining the calls to reject Erdogan. "Cypriot-Australians, who are terribly concerned about the security of their compatriots back home, have every reason to be concerned about news that Australia is apparently considering hosting this despotic dictator," Kayserian said. “Australians remember that It was only last year, following the Christchurch terrorist attack, that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to return Australians and New Zealanders traveling to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day Commemorations ‘in their coffins like their grandfathers’”, Kayserian added.

Last week, the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek communities launched their Joint Justice Initiative with the goal of advocating "…against any attempt by the Turkish Government to use the sacred ANZAC graves in Gallipoli (and access by Australians to those graves and memorials) as ‘hostages’ or bargaining chips in coercing or persuading the Australian Government in being complicit in the Turkish State’s denial campaign with respect to the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides”.