Category: 2018

PM, president and other officials visit Yerablur military cemetery to honor the fallen

11:24,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by President Armen Sarkissian, outgoing Speaker of Parliament Ara Babloyan, Catholicos Garegin II and other top officials visited today the Yerablur Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of the fallen who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence, the government’s press service said.

Pashinyan laid flowers at the graves of Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan, Andranik Ozanyan, Arayik Khandoyan, and a wreath at the memorial in honor of fallen paramilitary.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines to halt Astana-Yerevan round-trip flights for 4 months

11:41,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Kazakh SCAT Airlines will temporarily suspend its Astana-Yerevan round trip flights from 2019 January 15 until May 15, the Armenian Embassy in Kazakhstan said.

SCAT Airlines is one of the largest air companies of Kazakhstan.

It began regular flights from Astana to Yerevan since May 31, 2017.

The reason of the suspension wasn’t immediately clear.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

President of Artsakh, Armenian PM hold meeting in Yerevan

12:04,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan had a meeting Friday evening with Armenia’s caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan, Armenia, Sahakyan’s office said.

According to the Sahakyan administration, the sides discussed a number of issues concerning partnership between Artsakh and Armenia in various sectors.

Pashinyan and Sahakyan recapped the 2018 results and specially addressed the implementation of joint strategic projects in the social-economic sector in 2019.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

‘Year of growing global reputation’, ‘difficulties’: lawmakers recap 2018 in Armenia

13:12,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Some Members of Parliament find 2018 to be a year of growth for Armenia’s reputation, while others say it was a tense year of difficulties. However, all of them vow to realize their promises of the past year in the coming year.

“In 2018, Armenia made history in global political science as a country where a bloodless revolution took place. 2018 was Armenia’s year, it was the year of bloodless change of power in our country. And in this context I find this to be the biggest achievement. While the upcoming events of next year greatly depend on each of us. It will depend on the government and the work of each of us whether we will be able to transform the revolution that concluded with the December 9 early election of parliament into an economic revolution, in order for every citizen themselves to feel the positive results of this revolution also in the economy of the country,” Tsarukyan faction MP Naira Zohrabyan told ARMENPRESS.

In turn, Yelk faction MP Alen Simonyan also noted that this year the political life of Armenia was marked with the most honest, fairest elections that have ever taken place. “We still have to create so many precedents for it to become a usual thing. From now on, the foundation for new different political cultures was laid, and Armenia’s reputation grew in the global arena,” MP Simonyan said. He noted that now people have faith for their own strengths and the government. Simonyan added that they must try to exceed the achievements of this year.

Republican Party (HHK) MP Armen Ashotyan, however, says he finds 2018 to be a rather difficult and tense year for both the country and their party. “New challenges facing Armenia are not getting eliminated and solved simply by the fact that a change of power has taken place. That’s why in 2019 the main function of our party will be to be the most principled fundamental political power in the opposition political arena, by trying to raise through criticism and alarms the issues that we see concerning Armenia’s security, the future of Artsakh and strengthening of our positions in the region”, Ashotyan said.  The HHK failed to garner minimum required votes in the general election and will not be represented in the next parliament in 2019.

He noted that not being in parliament will deprive them from certain influence tools, namely from parliamentary supervision for the government. “However in today’s informational environment it isn’t a mandatory condition for being engaged in public politics. Our team consists of skilled people and we know how to supervise the government without being in parliament,” Ashotyan said.

Lusavor Hayastan (Luminous Armenia) Party President Edmon Marukyan says 2018 is a great achievement in terms of finally a change having happened in the country, opening new opportunities for truly capitalizing these changes and reaching serious results. “I believe this is a very important fact. New elections, new results and a new parliament happened due to this. For us, a big achievement is our new faction with the name of Lusavor Hayastan. A year full of new expectations awaits us,” Marukyan said.

He emphasized that they must justify their campaigning messages – be opposition, a counterbalance, a checks and balance.

ARF (Dashnaktsutyun) MP Ruzan Arakelyan said their party was able to accurately navigate at times when various situations were developing in 2018. “The steps that we took, I believe, were right for both the party and Armenia. We didn’t [get elected] to [next parliament], but the significant part of the people that voted for us has expectations from us. And that is why in the coming year we must be able to justify the expectations of our voters with right steps, by choosing the country’s security as a starting point,” she said.

The lawmakers also extended holiday greetings and congratulations on New Year and Christmas to everyone.

Interviews by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Romania’s flag carrier announces Bucharest-Yerevan direct flights

13:29,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Romania’s flag carrier, TAROM Airlines, has announced flights from Bucharest to Yerevan, Armenia, according to Financial News.

The airline said the direct flight service is expected to develop and expand trade and economic relations, including tourism, between the two countries.

TAROM is Romania's national airline, the largest and oldest airline in the country, based at Henri Coanda International Airport in Otopeni.

The Romanian government owns 95% of TAROM.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Azerbaijan breaches Artsakh ceasefire more than 150 times past week

13:46,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has made more than 150 individual ceasefire violations during the period from December 23 to December 29 in the line of contact, Artsakh’s military said.

It said that Azerbaijani forces used various caliber small arms and fired nearly 1500 rounds at their positions.

The defense ministry of Artsakh said their troops continue maintaining complete control in the frontline.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Mayrapetyan requests authorities permission to travel abroad for “immediate medical treatment”

16:45,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Lawyers of businessman Samvel Mayrapetyan claim he needs immediate medical attention and have requested authorities to allow him travel abroad for the matter.

Mayrapetyan is charged with bribery-related accusations and was arrested pending trial but later released on a 30,000,000 dram bail. He was taken to a hospital following his release.

His lawyers released a statement today on his health condition. They said that surgeons have affirmed that the required medical equipment for treating Mayrapetyan’s condition is not available in Armenia, and that the businessman needs to be immediately taken to Germany.

Since Mayrapetyan’s passport is at the Special Investigative Service, his lawyers appealed to the agency.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan