14:23, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. 2023, the Ministry of Economy reported.
The ministry said the figure is the best indicator compared to the numbers of the same month of previous years (146,000 in 2019, 116,000 in 2022).
Inbound tourism in January-May 2023 mostly grew from Russia (52%), Georgia (12%) and Iran (6%).
14:41, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Two Ukrainian-Armenians from Kherson are among those affected as a result of the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam, Ukrainian-Armenian political analyst Marat Hakobyan told ARMENPRESS.
Hakobyan earlier told AnalitikaUA that the Union of Armenians of Ukraine is actively involved in providing aid to those affected in Kherson.
“Naturally we help not only Armenians, but everyone in Kherson who needs help,” Hakobyan said.
Union of Armenians of Ukraine Kherson regional director Tigran Mkrtchyan told AnalitikaUA that the community is actively cooperating with the military-civil administrations of Kherson in evacuating and accommodating the victims of the floods. Several Armenian communities have already offered to accommodate those affected.
14:48, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Russia is ready to discuss the financial issues and parameters of building nuclear power plants in the territories of Eurasian Economic Union members, including Armenia, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at the Eurasia Is My Home exhibition which was attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The heads of government were briefed on Rosatom’s most effective plant, a joint Russian-Belarusian project. This nuclear power plant has two reactors with 1200 megawatt capacity. The first unit is already operational while the second is undergoing tests. Mishustin told Pashinyan at the expo that Belarusian companies financed a bit over 40% of the costs.
Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said that they are responsible for adhering to the strictest norms of Russia and the IAEA - quality, efficiency and safety.
PM Pashinyan said that he was briefed that Rosatom isn’t offering reactors with capacity lower than 1200MW.
Likhachev told Pashinyan that Rosatom can build reactors with capacities of 1000, 600 or 400 MW, but it would be more expensive.
14:51, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have visited the two Armenian servicemen who were kidnapped by the Azerbaijani military and jailed.
“Yesterday representatives of the ICRC visited the two Armenian servicemen in Azerbaijan. Private conversations took place, and they also helped them to make contact with their families, letters were exchanged at the mediation of the Red Cross,” International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Armenia communications manager Zara Amatuni told ARMENPRESS.
15:44, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the regular session of the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS in Sochi.
Prime Minister Pashinyan made a speech in the narrow-format session.
Below is the transcript of the Armenian PM's speech.
"Dear heads of delegations,
Dear Sergey Nikolayevich,
I am glad to welcome my colleagues at the session of the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS. First of all, I would like to thank our Russian friends and Mikhail Vladimirovich personally for the traditionally warm welcome and for organizing today's meeting at a high level.
Our meeting today is taking place in the year of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States and in this context, I want to emphasize that the Republic of Armenia, since the establishment of the CIS, has consistently advocated the systematic development of mutually beneficial and equal cooperation within our organization in accordance with the goals and principles laid down in the Charter of the CIS, as well as for increasing the efficiency and practical impact of its functioning.
In general, I positively assess the work done within the framework of the Commonwealth this year from the point of view of consolidating efforts aimed at strengthening cooperation. I am also pleased to note that the list of documents included in the agenda of today's meeting covers a wide range of areas of life of our countries, the effective implementation of which is ultimately aimed at the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of the welfare and improvement of the quality of life of the citizens of the CIS member states.
The Republic of Armenia considers the Agreement "On Free Trade in Services, Establishment, Operation and Implementation of Investments" a great opportunity to give new momentum to the development of investment activities in the CIS member states and expresses its readiness for the practical application of the provisions of this Agreement.
One of the important issues facing us is the creation of favorable conditions for the activation of industrial cooperative ties and interaction between the economic entities of our countries, with the aim of forming innovative industrial clusters and scientific production zones.
The creation of new knowledge-intensive branches and the modernization of high-tech industrial potential is the main factor for achieving sustainable and innovative economic development, as well as a necessary condition for increasing the competitiveness of our economies. In this context, I would like to mention the importance of adopting the concept of development of industrial cooperation and the complex of measures.
The creation of new knowledge-intensive industries and the modernization of high-tech industrial potential is a key factor in achieving sustainable and innovative economic development, as well as a necessary condition for increasing the competitiveness of our economies. In this context, I would like to note the importance of adopting the Concept and the Set of Measures for the Development of Industrial Cooperation.
Against the background of rapid scientific and technological progress, environmental problems are gradually becoming more acute, and the demand for creating effective mechanisms to reduce risks to the environment is increasing. Therefore, the development of environmentally friendly nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is essential to ensure sustainable development and reduce the negative impact on the environment.
In this context, the Armenian side supports the signing of an agreement on cooperation in the field of data exchange for monitoring the radiation situation, aimed at developing optimal approaches to the mechanisms for using nuclear technologies for non-energy purposes, in particular in the fields of science, medicine and agriculture.
Dear colleagues,
In today's reality, the fight against fraud in telecommunications networks is also relevant, and we must take joint measures to protect the privacy and security of data, including the use of modern encryption methods, multi-factor authentication and monitoring systems to detect suspicious activity.
Countering fraud on telecommunication networks requires an integrated approach that brings together telecom operators, law enforcement agencies, the state and users. And the signing of the relevant memorandum will create conditions for the effective functioning and development of the market for international telecommunications services and the prevention of the spread of fraud on telecommunication networks.
Attaching importance to the humanitarian component of cooperation within the CIS, I would like to note that the Government of Armenia always supports projects integrating people with disabilities into various areas of social life, as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle among the younger generation and young people.
The Armenian side welcomes the implementation of the program of CIS Spartakiad among children with disabilities, the purpose of which is to involve them in an active lifestyle.
I will particularly mention the implementation of the interstate program "CIS Youth Capital" as an effective tool for the development of young people, supporting their creative potential and providing conditions for active participation in public life. Such initiatives contribute to the formation of a new generation of leaders who are able to face the challenges of our time and contribute to the development of our countries. From this point of view, I would like to confirm the readiness for the city of Kapan to receive this honorary status in 2026.
Summarizing, it is obvious that the opportunities of our Commonwealth as a multi-faceted platform for partnership have not yet been fully realized. I am sure that our joint constructive efforts should be aimed at achieving significant progress in tapping the full potential of cooperation.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to confirm the unchanging constructive attitude of the Armenian side to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of mutual interest in the framework of achieving the priorities of the Kyrgyz chairmanship in the Commonwealth this year.
Thanks for attention".
Prime Minister Pashinyan, together with CIS partners, also toured the exhibition entitled "Eurasia: Our home" and got acquainted with the production of companies of the CIS countries in various fields.
16:02, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. A delegation of the Border Guards of the National Security Service of Armenia is visiting Baku, Azerbaijan to participate in the 86th session of the Council of CIS Border Guard Chiefs, the NSS press service said.
16:03, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan delivered a speech on June 8 at the CSTO meeting of Security Council Secretaries.
Grigoryan spoke about the regional security challenges, emphasizing that Azerbaijan continues its policy of the use of force or threat of force and is attempting to derail the implementation of previously reached agreements. The Secretary of the Security Council said that Azerbaijan also continues to escalate the situation not only on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, but also in Nagorno Karabakh and Lachin Corridor.
Secretary Grigoryan said that the non-acknowledgment of the Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia’s sovereign territory and attempting to relate it with the non-implementation of the delimitation process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is ungrounded.
Armen Grigoryan called on his colleagues to give an unambiguous and targeted assessment to the current situation in Nagorno Karabakh and take effective measures in order for the 120,000 Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh not to be subjected to ethnic cleansings. He said that in this context creating an international mechanism ensuring the rights and security of the population in Nagorno Karabakh remains a priority for Armenia.
16:45, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. AFC Ajax wants to buy Armenian midfielder Eduard Spertsyan’s transfer, according to a report by Championat news portal.
Spertsyan is a midfielder at the Armenian national football team and also plays for Russia’s Krasnodar.
The Dutch football club reportedly plans to start negotiations with Krasnodar after the Russian Super Cup final.
Krasnodar is reportedly ready to make a deal for Spertsyan’s transfer for a bit over €10 million plus bonuses.
Spertsyan’s current contract with Krasnodar is signed until 2026. With 40 matches in this season, Spertsyan scored 14 goals and made 14 assists.
17:10, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received the delegation headed by Maren Jasper-Winter, member of the Executive Board of Friedrich Nauman Foundation for Freedom.
The meeting was attended by Martin Kothé, Regional Director for East and Southeast Europe, Katrin Bannach, Regional Director for South Caucasus, and Armen Grigoryan, Project Manager of the Armenian office of the Foundation.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the projects implemented by the Foundation in Armenia and the South Caucasus as well as the prospects of new projects, Khachaturyan's office said in a readout.
Addressing the durable activity of the Foundation, the President highlighted its role in spreading democracy and democratic values in Armenia and the South Caucasus, in general.
In the course of discussion, the sides touched upon general regional developments, interrelations between the security environment and democratic institutions as well their positive and negative implications.
President Vahagn Khachaturyan emphasized that, within his capacity, he readily supports the initiatives contributing to the establishment and development of democratic institutions in Armenia.
During the meeting, ideas were exchanged on the main vectors of reforms implemented and still underway in the field of democracy, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Armenia.
17:01, 8 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is waiting for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on its request regarding Azerbaijan’s checkpoint in Lachin Corridor, the Representative of Armenia for International Legal Affairs Yeghishe Kirakosyan told reporters on June 8.
“As of this moment, after our application we’ve received a response from the Azerbaijan side regarding our request, we have also submitted our response to that, we’ve also presented additional evidence, and at this moment we are waiting for the decision by the International Court of Justice, which will be presented soon,” Kirakosyan said after the inauguration of the International Courts and Arbitrage master’s educational program at the Yerevan State University.
The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.
Kirakosyan said that Azerbaijan not only ignores the February 22 ruling by the ICJ but is also further escalating the situation by installing a checkpoint in Lachin Corridor. “Since then we’ve regularly presented information to the court that Azerbaijan is not implementing the court’s decision. After the checkpoint was installed, there was a need to apply to the court with a new request, asking it to further specify the interim measures indicated on February 22, to clarify it further, given Azerbaijan’s unlawful conduct,” Kirakosyan said.