Category: 2017

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Tuesday


Armenian Ministry of Energy: 2/3 of lifetime extension works on
Armenian NPP 2nd unit are close to completion.

Yerevan May 30

Alexander Avanesov. As of today, from USD 205 mln, allocated by
Russian Federation for the implementation of Armenian NPP lifetime
extension project, USD 136 mln is already utilized. This was stated on
May 29 at the session on loans and grants management board conducted
by Minister of energy infrastructures and natural resources of RA
Ashot Manoukyan..

According to the statement of the Ministry press office, the results
of the works implemented at NPP in QI of 2017 were represented to
attendants of the session. The importance of the implementation of all
arrangements in the terms set and within high quality. Based on the
results of the session the Minister issue appropriate instructions.
The Press office of Armenian Ministry of Energy states that 2/3 of
lifetime extension works on Armenian NPP 2nd unit are close to
completion.

Earlier, during his interview with ArmInfo correspondent, AEP N2
energy bloc term prolongation works head said, that a considerable
amount of work will be carried out during the preventive maintenance.
The main focus will be put on the safety of the nuclear power plant:
works related to the repair of equipment will be performed, as well as
work on instrumental inspection of equipment. The repair of the
equipment will be assisted by employees of the Kolskaya and
Novovoronezh nuclear power plants - they are the ?twinning? stations
of the Armenian NPP, scientific management will be carried out by JSC
TsNIITMASH, an industrial enterprise of the Rosatom. As for the
instrumental survey, the main task of this exercise is to calculate
and confirm the residual life of the equipment using non-destructive
testing methods. In simple words, it is necessary to check the
possibility of further operation of NPP equipment. As you know, there
is a lot of equipment on the NPPA, so the instrumental survey is
distributed for several years, without compromising the safety and
operation of the NPPA. Last year, we started this process; this year
the volume of the surveyed equipment increased by 50% compared to last
year (150 types of equipment) at the request of the supervisory
authority. We hope to finish the instrumental survey process next year
and in 2019. Transfer calculations and conclusions to the supervisory
authority - the State Committee for Nuclear Safety Regulation. We hope
to finish on time, but everything will depend on the results of the
survey and the decision of the Gosatomnadzor. On 30 Sept 2015, Tashir
Group headed by Russian businessman of Armenian origin Samvel
Karapetyan and Inter RAO signed an agreement of purchase and sale of
electric power assets of the Russian energy holding in Armenia - ENA
CJSC and Hrazdan TPP. The reason of the sale was the public discontent
about the ungrounded growth in electricity prices by approximately
16.7% (6.93 AMD per 1 kWh). The Public Services Regulatory
Commission's (PSRC) decision to raise the tariff sparked protests and
the Armenian authorities agreed to audit both the expediency of PSRC's
decision to raise the tariff and the activities of the Electric
Networks. In addition, the authorities and Tashir Group took a
decision to subsidize on a parity basis the raised tariff for the
households and SMEs until the audit is completed. Since August 1,
2015, the daytime tariff for households (from 7 am till 11 pm) has
been 48.78 AMD per 1kWh, while the nighttime tariff has been 38.78 AMD
per 1 kWh.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Tuesday


Nalbandian: Azerbaijani efforts to close OSCE Yerevan office are aimed
against OSCE itself

Yerevan May 30

Mariana Mkrtchyan. Armenia's involvement in the activities of the OSCE
in all areas, the implementation of programs in the country with all
certainty can be considered exemplary. Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian expressed such a view at a joint press conference
with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier on May 30 in Yerevan.

"The visit of the General Secretary takes place in the period when the
Organization has to close its last office in the region as one of the
members of the structure, abusing its obligations put veto on OSCE
Yerevan Office's mandate prolonging. Baku tried to present it in the
light of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, however in reality it is
about Azerbaijani-OSCE relations. These actions are aimed against
OSCE. I consider that OSCE, Secretariat, and the member-states of
Organization made their conclusions on these destructive actions which
contradict the tasks and the vector of the Organization", Armenian
Foreign Minister said.

At the same time he noted that Armenia expects that many programs,
conducted by the OSCE Yerevan Office will continue the implementation
in other formats.

Nalbandian noted that he had discussed with Zannier a wide range of
issues including topical issues of OSCE agenda, cooperation in all
levels, Austrian chairmanship's priority defining, touched upon the
parliamentary elections held in Armenia. According to him, valuable is
assessment of the international structures saying that the elections
were organized well, human rights were protected and the results
showed the will of the Armenian nation.

I presented to Mr. Zannier the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chair countries aimed at advancing the peaceful settlement
process of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. We highlighted the importance
of implementation of the agreements reached during the last year's
summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg, the realization of which, as you
know, Azerbaijan continues to obstruct.

To note, OSCE Yerevan office will completely cancel its activities in
Yerevan on August 31st, 2017. That was the last fully active office of
the organization in the region.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Tuesday


Yerevan: To curb the destructive policy of Azerbaijan, the mediators
must move from statements to concrete actions

Yerevan May 30

Mariana Mkrtchyan. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group pointed out
for the first time that it was Azerbaijan that violated the ceasefire
agreement and opened fire. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
stated this at a joint press conference with the OSCE Secretary
General Lamberto Zannier on May 30 in Yerevan.

According to him, Azerbaijan opposed the implementation of the
mechanisms of trust, because it did not want to give the OSCE MG
co-chairs or relevant participants in these mechanisms, to indicate
who violates the ceasefire regime, who first opens fire. "However,
this is obvious without these mechanisms, as evidenced by the last
statement of the Minsk mediators. But this is not the first address
statement of the co- chairs. They repeatedly spoke with targeted
statements directed to Azerbaijan, that there is no need to aggravate
the situation in the region, it is necessary to reaffirm the
commitment to the peaceful settlement of the conflict, to respect the
mandate of the mediators, to refrain from attempts to transfer the
settlement process to other formats, and to introduce mechanisms for
investigating the incidents. This list can be continued. Even if there
are indirect statements, it immediately becomes clear to whom they are
addressed," said the diplomat.

He recalled, that Armenia and Artsakh were always for the
implementation of term less three parted agreement of 1994-95, unlike
Azerbaijan. According to him, mediators did not only make statements
but also sent official letters calling on to respect the agreements
reached. "

On May 18, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs issued a statement in
connection with the missile strike struck on May 15 by the Azerbaijani
Armed Forces on the military site of Nagorno- Karabakh: "According to
information collected from several reliable sources, on May 15 the
Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile strike on military equipment
on the opposite side of the contact line. From the evening of May 16
until May 17, the Armenian armed forces struck back with mortars of
various calibers. These actions by both sides are a serious violation
of the ceasefire and are of concern. There are conflicting reports
about the goals of these recent attacks, as well as on the victims and
the damage done. The co-chairs of the Minsk Group and the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office continue to collect
additional data and analytical materials in order to obtain more
complete and accurate information on the current situation. The OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs condemn these recent violations of the ceasefire
regime and urge the parties to take all necessary measures to prevent
further escalation of the conflict."

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Tuesday


Ambassador of Japan: Karabakh conflict is not a conflict of two

Yerevan May 30

Mariana Mkrtchyan. Japan supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group
co- chair countries in connection with the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and looks forward to a peaceful solution
based on the principles of international law. The Japanese Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Teruyuki Katori stated this.

"In my opinion, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not a conflict, in
which only two sides are involved. This issue should be more
approached from the context of regional issues and geopolitics. It is
very difficult to resolve this conflict between the two countries
alone. For its settlement, it is necessary to cooperate with countries
that have a relationship with it, neighboring countries and
international organizations," the ambassador said in an interview with
APA.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Tuesday


Armenia launches new program to provide better access to treatment of
mental disorders

Yerevan May 30

Ani Mshetsyan. The French Sanofi Group of Companies, the Ministry of
Health of Armenia and the World Association of Social Psychiatry have
united to provide the citizens of the country with better access to
the treatment of mental disorders. The program, with a duration of
three years, aims to provide medical care to people suffering from
schizophrenia and deep depression, is designed to significantly reduce
the level of these diseases. The program is based on the principles of
public-private partnership. According to Jean-Francois Charpentier,
the Ambassador of France to Armenia, who was present at the launch of
the program, noted that the Armenian-French partnership in the field
of healthcare is one of the priorities. He informed that this year,
with the assistance of Business France and the Ministry of Health of
Armenia, the days of France will be held in Armenia, where further
issues of cooperation in this sphere will be discussed and new
horizons for cooperation will open.

As the General Psychiatrist of Armenia Samvel Torosyan informed
previously, the new program is based on successful pilot project,
which is implemented during last 2 years in Yerevan. The basic program
is to be implemented in 6 regions of Armenia and is for treatment of
not only mental abnormalities. The program includes training of 600
specialists for first aid and 180 specialists on mental health.

As Francois Bompart, vice president of access to medicines for Sanofi,
said, "Armenia has a very developed healthcare system, much more
developed than in many other countries with which we cooperate." In
the opinion of the president of the International Association of
Psychiatry, Professor Tom Craig, depression has become a very common
disease and it suffers from 10 to 15% of the population, but more than
80% of them are not considered sick. He noted that depression is not
just a bad mood, it is a problem that makes a person indifferent to
everything. It is most often observed in people suffering from such
diseases as oncology, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, as well as
among women in labor. Therefore, the implementation of the program in
Armenia will have an important social significance.

To note, Sanofi Group of Companies is one of the global leaders in
healthcare and develops, manufactures and markets various medications.
The company according to own estimates by the volume of sales of
medicines takes the 4th place in the world and the 2nd place in
Europe.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Tuesday


Armenian Defense Minister held meetings with Cypriot authorities

Yerevan May 30

Mariana Mkrthcyan. President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis during the
meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan expressed the
conviction that this visit will give a new impetus to the development
and deepening of the Armenian-Cypriot relations.

As the press service of the Armenian Defense Ministry told ArmInfo,
Sargsyan presented the details of the talks that took place within the
framework of the official visit to Cyprus, indicating the directions
in which cooperation between the defense departments of the two
countries can develop.

During the meeting, the parties touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the President of Cyprus for
constructive and consistent position on the Karabakh issue. The
interlocutors agreed that there is a serious potential for developing
cooperation between friendly countries, which need to be carried.

On the same day, Sargsyan met with the Speaker of the House of
Representatives Dimitris Silluris. The head of the defense department
reminded that Armenia is moving to a parliamentary form of government,
in connection with which, the role of the National Assembly is
seriously growing. In this context, Sargsyan expressed the conviction
that the cooperation of inter-parliamentary groups, as well as the
interaction of parliamentary delegations on international platforms,
becomes more important, which will allow to increase the effectiveness
of opposition to political challenges by joint efforts.

The head of the Armenian Defense Ministry also met with the Foreign
Minister of Cyprus Ioannis Kasulides, who, as an important
prerequisite for deepening bilateral relations, described the
centuries-old friendly relations that existed between the two peoples.
According to the Cypriot minister, Sargsyan's visit to Nicosia can
become an important impetus for deepening the Armenian-Cypriot
cooperation, in particular, in the field of defense.

In his turn, the Armenian Defense Minister said that modern challenges
oblige to unite efforts for effective confrontation. Sargsyan also
stressed the inadmissibility of forming new hotbeds of tension.

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Tuesday


Gulen indicted with Hrant Dink murder involvement, Istanbul Court
initiates proceedings



YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. An Istanbul Court has launched
proceedings on the new indictment on Hrant Dink’s murder case, Diken
reports.

Previously the court had sent back the indictment to the prosecutor
twice, based on irregularities.

50 people, including Fethullah Gülen and the former prosecutor Zakarya
Oz, are charged with being involved in the murder of the
Istanbul-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was shot dead outside the
Agos office in 2007.

After the failed military coup in Turkey, authorities are attempting
to accuse Fetullah Gulen and the Gulen movement in plotting Hrant
Dink’s murder.

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Tuesday


Cooperation between Armenia's Ministry and 'Arton Capital' company to
contribute to attracting foreign investments



YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Minister of Economic Development
and Investments Hovhannes Azizyan on May 29 held a meeting with
President of ‘Arton Capital’ company Armand Arton, Vice-President on
Business Development Emil Shahmooradian, as well as a number of
representatives of company’s expert group, the Ministry told
Armenpress.

They arrived in Armenia at the invitation of International Centre for
Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) which carries out ‘Support to
Migration and Border Management’ EU-funded project in Armenia.

Welcoming the guests, the Deputy Minister said Armenia’s government
attaches importance to improving the investment environment, the
legislative field, promoting investments, mainly, foreign direct
investments in the country’s economy, creation of new jobs,
strengthening the country’s competitive advantages and the steps
ensuring economic development based on this, adding that the
development of the abovementioned strategy can become an impetus for
attracting investments in Armenia.

Hovhannes Azizyan also attached importance to the role and experience
of ‘Arton Capital’ company on studying the international experience in
that field which can be very useful to develop more effective model
for Armenia.

At the meeting a number of issues relating to procedures on granting
citizenship, their deadlines, selection of more appropriate model for
Armenia were discussed.