Category: 2019

EAEU-China trade deal enters into force as sides adopt joint statement in Moscow

 18:00, 25 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. During today’s session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council in Moscow the heads of government of the EAEU member states adopted a joint statement with China relating to the entry into force of the trade-economic cooperation agreement.

The joint statement highlights the importance of the EAEU-China multisectoral partnership.

The statement was made on behalf of the Prime Ministers of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and China.

The agreement creates a legal base between the Eurasian Economic Union and China for economic cooperation. It is not in the format of a free trade agreement, doesn’t envisage decrease or elimination of custom duties. The agreement aims at raising the level of transparency of the regulation system, facilitating the trade procedures, as well as developing the commercial ties.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Austria to support Armenia in launch of visa liberalization dialogue with EU

 18:20, 25 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on October 24 met with Speaker of the National Council (lower house of parliament) of Austria Wolfgang Sobotka in Strasbourg, the Parliament told Armenpress.  

Speaker Mirzoyan congratulated on the first session of the new parliament of Austria and expressed hope that it will continue to strengthen and deepen the friendly ties with the Armenian Parliament. The meeting touched upon the necessity to boost the inter-parliamentary cooperation, including within the friendship groups.

Coming to the ratification of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, Ararat Mirzoyan expressed hope that the Austrian Parliament will ratify the CEPA as soon as possible, and in response Wolfgang Sobotka assured that there is no obstacle for ratifying the agreement.

The Armenian Speaker of Parliament expressed hope that Austria will provide its political support to the launch of visa liberalization dialogue with the EU.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia-EU formed agenda demands to start visa liberalization dialogue – deputy FM

 18:52, 25 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Avet Adonts says the agenda formed between Armenia and the European Union demands at least to start the visa liberalization dialogue.

“This is today’s demand because the formed agenda, its content and the implementation of its agenda require that”, the deputy FM said during an international conference titled “Effective promotion of visa liberalization in Georgia, Moldova and Armenia through exchange of experience” in Yerevan.

The deputy FM said the talks on visa liberalization will start when there is a consensus between all member states over the launch of the dialogue. The deputy minister said there is no consensus yet, despite the fact that the EU’s institutions have positive moods and repeatedly announced that.

“The inter-agency group formed in Armenia, which involves representatives of the Police, the Foreign Ministry and the Migration Service, already visited more than 10 EU member states, and currently technical issues are being discussed. But now I can state that this issue has started to bear a political character”, he said, adding that the visits and the working consultations continue.

The deputy FM expressed hope that the visa liberalization dialogue will launch by the end of the year.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia’s economic activity index grows by 7.1% in 9 months

 18:58, 25 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s economic activity index in January-September increased by 7.1% compared to the same period of 2018, according to the data released by the National Statistical Committee.

In particular, the industrial production volume grew by 9.7%, and the volume of gross agricultural output decreased by 4.8%. Construction volume increased by 4.4% in January-September. The growth of the trade turnover comprised 8.8%, the services volume increased by 15.5%.

In January-September 2019 the consumer price index grew by 1.6%, and the industrial production price index by 0.5%.

Electricity production volume decreased by 2.2% in these 9 months.

The average nominal monthly salary in Armenia increased by 5.9%, comprising 178.633 AMD.

External trade turnover recorded 5.8% growth. Moreover, the export grew by 7.9% and the import by 4.7%.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Eurasian Economic Commission carried out huge works in last 4 years, says Armenia’s PM

 19:38, 25 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered remarks at the extended format session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council in Moscow, stating that the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has carried out huge works during the 4 years of its activity.

Pashinyan said tangible results have been recorded in terms of the creation and strengthening of the EAEU institutions.

“I think that almost 4 years of its activity the EEC has really carried out major works in practical implementation of principles of freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and labor force. Tangible results have been registered in terms of the creation and strengthening of the EAEU institutions. It can be proudly stated that our organization has made a great step in establishing its place and role in the international economic system with a diverse package of cooperation”, the Armenian PM said.

He praised the results achieved and highlighted the necessity to further improve the normative legal base, eliminate shortcomings and restrictions, coordinate the policy in main branches of economy and cut the bureaucratic burden on the business.

“We face many issues directed for deepening the cooperation between our countries in different areas. One of those issues is the creation of a legal field for the operation of a single market of alcoholic drinks”, he said adding that the signing of a respective international agreement will enable to form mutually beneficial commercial mechanisms aimed at creating competitive advantages of member states. Pashinyan said the agreement will allow to eliminate the existing restriction linked with the absence of mutual recognition of stamps.

“As February 2020 approaches, the issues of forming the new staff of the EEC Board become more relevant. We think that the selection of a rotation mechanism can put a base for the fair distribution of function based on the principles of equality of interests of each other and mutual respect. As I stated for many times, one of Armenia’s 2019 chairmanship priorities in the EAEU is the diversification of foreign economic relations and the geographical expansion of free trade agreements”, the PM noted.

He congratulated all on the successful agreement on a free trade and stated that today it will be signed with Serbia.

“Armenia is going to completely use all the mechanisms this agreement gives us. In the context of the implementation of the goals and issues of the Union’s international activity, another important event is that the agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU, its member states and China has entered into force. Despite that the agreement doesn’t envisage elimination of customs duties or automatic decline of non-tariff barriers, it will improve the access of goods to the Chinese market from the EAEU countries”, he said.

Summing up his remarks, the Armenian PM said today’s session is the last session of the Inter-governmental Council which he attends as the head of a chairing country.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian, Russian PMs meet in Moscow

 20:56, 25 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Ministers of Armenia and Russia Nikol Pashinyan and Dmitry Medvedev met today in Moscow on the sidelines of the session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council.

Welcoming the Armenian PM, Dmitry Medvedev thanked Armenia for the chairmanship at the Council.

“Assuming that chairmanship is a unique art itself because there can be certain situations. You worthily continued the process after others. This is a good occasion to discuss also the commercial relations, investments and relationships between our countries. In general, everything is developing successfully between our countries, but it doesn’t mean that there is nothing to improve. There are some issues which should be discussed, and I will do that with pleasure”, the Russian PM said.

In his turn the Armenian PM thanked for the warm welcome and stated that Armenia completes its chairmanship at the Council.

“I would like to state that it was productive because this year the EAEU-Iran agreement entered into force, we also signed an agreement with Singapore, today signed a free trade agreement with Serbia. I think the talks with some of our partners are going on at a good pace. I am convinced that the geography of countries that have agreements with the EAEU will expand. This is a good occasion also to discuss the bilateral relations of our countries”, Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Agreement with Serbia another step to expand EAEU partnership – Armenian PM

 21:00, 25 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Tigran Sargsyan held a joint press conference in Moscow following the session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council, summing up the results of talks.

Pashinyan said this time as well the discussion was held in a constructive manner.

“We agreed upon almost all issues of the session agenda. We discussed the information about the results of the activity of the Eurasian Economic Commission, our main achievements in building an integration space, the causes of the problems, as well as the fulfillment process of the EAEU acts”, Pashinyan said.

He informed that during the session the preparation of a draft for regulating the market of alcoholic drinks within the Union was also discussed.

“Next, I want to highlight the agreement on features of deals being done with the precious metals and precious stones which lifts the current restrictions in the Union’s domestic market of jewelry goods”, he said.

He praised the fact that during today’s session Serbia signed a free trade zone agreement with the EAEU, which became another important step in the context of events aimed at expanding the geography of the cooperation.

“Today’s session was also marked with another event: the agreement on trade and economic cooperation with China entered into force. The signing of the agreement with Serbia and the agreement’s entry into force with China prove the increase of international significance and attraction of our integration union”, Nikol Pashinyan said.

EEC Board Chair Tigran Sargsyan also attached importance to the agreement with China. “We are creating more effective regime for the Eurasian business and it provides new opportunities for the trade-economic cooperation with China”, he said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Working group to be formed to deal with works on cancellation of roaming at EAEU space

 21:47, 25 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. After the session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council in Moscow Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Tigran Sargsyan told reporters that there is a task to deal with the works to cancel roaming at the entire space of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

“A concrete instruction has been given to form a working group which will develop the approaches and will submit the proposals”, he said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan