09:58,
YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian national airline Fly Arna has announced the launch of Yerevan-Tehran flights starting July 11.
The flights between Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport and the Iranian capital’s Imam Khomeini International Airport will be conducted twice per week.
Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Tigran Avinyan has submitted an annual declaration of income and assets for 2022 to the Corruption Prevention Commission.
According to the document seen by Hayastan.News, Avinyan received a garage as a gift in 2014, in 2021 he purchased a 2014 Honda car, which he sold for $11,000 in the reporting year.
Avinyan owns a mansion in Yerevan’s Arabkir administrative district. In 2022 he was gifted a Volkswagen car worth 19,000,300 drams (approx. $50,000) by his father, Armen Avinyan.
According to Hayastan.News, Avinyan was gifted a white Volkswagen ID.4 SUV.
The deputy mayor declared 1,890,000 drams on bank accounts, as well as electronic accounts and cryptocurrencies.
He declared $3,000 dollars in cash. At the beginning of the year he had 26,300,000 drams, which reduced to 12,500,000 drams at the end of 2022.
His father also gifted Avinyan property worth 11,000,000 drams.
Tigran Avinyan has a loan of 13,000,000 drams from ARMBUSINESSBANK. He was paid a salary of 5,212,000 drams by the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) and 3,700,000 drams by the Yerevan Municipality for the period from 23 September 2022 until the end of the year.
Avinyan's spouse Mariam Pahlavuni owns a mansion and drives a 2017 Range Rover, which she bought in 2020. She has zero drams on her bank account and has declared 1,300,000 drams in cash.
18:14,
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. The state system of Artsakh has completely switched to eco-mode, ARMENPRESS reports, Artsakh’s Minister of State Gurgen Nersisyan announced during a live broadcast on his Facebook page, referring to the closure of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, as a result of which even the supply of essential food was stopped, as well as the process of transferring patients to Armenia by the ICRC for medical treatment.
"I ask the leadership of the state administration system to apply for fuel and other similar issues only in case of extreme necessity. Stop or minimize the use of service vehicles. Territorial administration and local self-government bodies will ensure the organization of the process of supplying the population with necessary accessories, food, and bread. We will provide the Ministry of Health with the conditions necessary to organize emergency medical care.
We will try to support the implementation of agricultural works as much as possible in order to maintain their continuity. That process will be carried out under the direct coordination and management of the Minister of Agriculture.
Public transport will continue to operate, we will organize inter-regional routes," Nersisyan said.
Artsakh State Minister called on citizens to use resources economically.
"At the moment, the process of providing fuel to individuals has been stopped," said Nersisyan.
The Minister of State of Artsakh urged the business entities to be responsible when selling the remaining goods in the stores, and to organize it based on the assessment of their opportunities and the principle of equal distribution.
"I am not presenting all this to panic, especially recently we have been consistently preparing for such situations, our farms are able to mitigate the created problems to a certain extent and ensure self-sufficiency at least a little, but in all cases we must be organized, balanced and vigilant", concluded the State Minister.
Azerbaijan has blocked Lachin Corridor even for humanitarian transportations
19:53,
YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. At 6:40 p.m. on June 13, the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire from different caliber firearms in the direction of the Armenian positions located in the Yeraskh sector.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from MoD Armenia, the Armenian side has suffered no casualties.
"The message of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that the units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of the Azerbaijani positions in the above-mentioned direction at 5:40 p.m. does not correspond to reality," the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia informs, adding that the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan with that message first created an information base, then opened fire in the direction of Armenian positions.
Senator Anthony Portantino chairs a special meeting of the Select Committee on Armenia and Artsakh on June 12
SACRAMENTO – The Select Senate Committee on California, Armenia and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art and Cultural Exchange chaired by Senator Anthony Portantino (D–Burbank) held an informational hearing on Monday titled California and Armenia: Trade, Technology and Travel Exchange. Topics of discussion included the need for direct flights and increased air cargo capacity between Los Angeles and Armenia, the California-Armenia Trade and Services Desk, and technology incubators in the City of Glendale.
“We had an important conversation on how to improve trade and technology exchanges between California and Armenia,” stated Senator Portantino. “We also discussed the need for establishing direct flights between Yerevan and Los Angeles due to the large and vibrant Armenian community in my district. I am thankful to all the participants who provided testimony and critical insight on how California can strengthen our economic relations with Armenia.”
The hearing began with an update on the California Trade and Services Desk in Armenia. In 2019, Governor Newsom and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Armenian Mission to the United Nations in New York City formally establishing the California Trade and Services Desk in Armenia. As the facilitator of the trade desk agreement, Senator Portantino was in New York for the historic event. In 2021, the Senator also represented California for the placement of the California State Seal at Impact Hub in Yerevan. The Select Committee’s hearing provided an opportunity for representatives from Impact Hub, the official host of the California Trade and Services Desk, to give the State Senate an update on the economic developments and opportunities that have been generated from the agreement.
Additionally, the hearing included a report from the City of Glendale on its efforts to create a tech hub in Southern California. Glendale was represented by Mayor Dan Brotman who detailed the local tech scene and Glendale’s Tech Week.
“I would like to thank Senator Portantino for holding an informational hearing on how we can deepen our economic ties with Armenia and Artsakh,” stated Glendale City Mayor Dan Brotman. “I would also like to thank him for entrusting Glendale with a $1,000,000 grant to launch two technology accelerators, including Hero House. By combining the great work of Hero House with our Tech Week, Tech on Tap and other programs to support and connect entrepreneurs from around the world, we hope to build a technology ecosystem in Glendale that will strengthen the entire economy of Los Angeles County and Southern California.”
The hearing provided the Select Committee with the opportunity to hear directly from Hero House, a tech incubator who was the recipient of a $500,000 state grant, about how it expended the state resources and the positive outcomes it generated. Armine Galstyan, Managing Director of Hero House, gave an impressive and detailed summary of the economic activity stimulated by the grant.
“In 2020, SmartGateVC received a $500K grant from the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development to establish a startup accelerator in Glendale, California. SmartGateVC is an early-stage AI fund focused on investing and launching promising companies in California. The accelerator program in Glendale supported 33 companies from 10 countries, serving as a launch pad for their entry into the US market. These companies have already raised over $6M in funding, enabling them to establish operations in Glendale and some even relocated their headquarters to Hero House Glendale. The program garnered recognition for Hero House and supported companies in prestigious publications such as Time Magazine, Forbes, and others. Through strategic partnerships with local universities, research labs, tech players, and corporate entities, SmartGateVC continues to foster a collaborative environment for exploring technology and innovation,” stated Armine Galstyan, Principal at SmartGateVC.
The final topic of discussion centered around the need for a direct flight from Los Angeles to Yerevan. The 25th State Senate District is home to the largest concentration of Armenian Americans in LA County, while California is home to the most Armenian Americans in the country. Armenia is popular destination for both travel and exchange of goods. Currently, a number of airlines offer flights from California to Armenia through transfers in other cities.
“Access to a global pool of amazing talent is key to the success of any tech hub like Los Angeles. That’s why connecting LA to Yerevan with a direct flight makes complete sense and is long overdue. Over the past year, dot818 has been working with major US airlines, legislators, as well as LA-based tech companies with offices in Armenia, such as Plat.AI, to make LAX-EVN a reality within the next two years,” stated David Tonoyan, CEO of Dot818, a technology-building company.
At the request of Senator Portantino, the California State Senate Rules Committee first established the historic Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia, and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange in 2017 to expand business opportunities through trade, economic development, cultural awareness, and education between California, Armenia, and Artsakh.
Members of the Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia, and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange include Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee), Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), Senator Henry I. Stern (D-Los Angeles), Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Senator Caroline Menjivar (D- San Fernando Valley), and Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita).
15:06,
YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. A serviceman died in Azerbaijan. ARMENPRESS reports, the Azerbaijani media are writing about the death of Rakhil Ahmedov, a soldier of the state border service.
According to the media, the military prosecutor's office of Azerbaijan confirmed the incident, stating that the cause was careless handling of weapons. However, information is circulating in the Telegram channels that the serviceman committed suicide.
13:43, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. United States Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien has visited the Syunik Province, the United States Embassy said on social media.
“During her visit to Syunik province, Ambassador Kvien met with local officials, civil society, and residents who shared their pervasive security concerns. The Ambassador also traveled to Tegh where she observed first-hand the tense situation at the border. Everyone deserves the safety and security a just and durable peace would bring,” the United States embassy said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Representatives from archrivals Armenia and Azerbaijan will come together again in Washington for another round of normalization talks this month, the U.S. Department of State announced Monday as tensions persist on their troubled border.
An exact date was not provided, but spokesperson Vedant Patel said the parties would use the talks to "continue to pursue a peaceful future for the South Caucasus region."
"Direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and reaching a durable and dignified peace," he said.
Peace talks have been ongoing in a number of different venues, including in Washington where negotiations were last held in early May. A follow-up round was held in Europe later last month that included a sit-down between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Patel said the Biden administration is "pleased that talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are proceeding in different venues."
Earlier Monday, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said a peace agreement with neighboring Armenia would be "inevitable" as the two sides continue work to end a decadeslong dispute.
The two ex-Soviet Union republics gained independence in 1991 when the USSR broke up and have gone to war twice over several disputed territories, mainly Karabakh, which was internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but occupied by Armenia for nearly three decades.
Tens of thousands of people were killed in the two wars over the region, one lasting six years and ending in 1994 and the second in 2020, which ended in a Russia-negotiated cease-fire deal that saw Moscow deploy a peacekeeping contingent along the Lachin corridor, the only road linking Armenia to the enclave.
However, a dispute over establishing a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor in April has refueled violent tension between the rival nations, which saw another half a dozen people killed from both sides since last December.
Baku said the border checkpoint was created in response to security threats from Armenia, citing the transfer of weapons and ammunition to the Karabakh region.
Yerevan denied the charges and claimed the move violated the cease-fire. Armenia, which relies on Russia as a security guarantor, is also frustrated over what it sees as the Kremlin’s failure to fulfill its peacekeeping role in the territory.
With major regional power Russia struggling to maintain its decisive influence due to the fallout from its war on Ukraine, the conflict has since drawn more Western mediation efforts.
In addition to meetings in Washington and Brussels, Aliyev and Pashinian met face to face again later in Moscow alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin to hammer out a peace agreement.
While talks didn’t yield such a deal, Pashinian reiterated his announcement that his country would recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan and would open all transport links.
Aliyev too has expressed there was a chance for normalization.
20:00,
YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Europe cannot rely on US support in security matters and must build its own military sovereignty, ARMENPRESS reports, citing "RIA Novosti", the French president said in his speech at the session of the Globsec security forum in Bratislava.
"Today we should be happy that the US administration supports us and has made as much effort (to support Ukraine) as the Europeans, which increases our overall reputation. But will this administration always be like that? We cannot say that, we cannot leave the issues of our collective security to the choice of American citizens in the coming years," Macron said.
He noted that it is not about replacing NATO with a "Franco-German condominium".