Category: 2023

 13:22, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. 66% of Armenia’s settlements have broadband internet, and 96% of the country’s population have internet access, Deputy Minister of High Tech Industry Avet Poghosyan has said.

“The government is focused on the program of ensuring broadband internet access in settlements, and the 2021-2026 government program has a goal to ensure broadband internet access in 80% of the settlements by 2026. The goal of this event is to bring together expects and find solutions,” the deputy minister said at the 2023 European Connectivity Summit – Connecting the Unconnected: Europe & Beyond in Yerevan.

“At this moment, broadband internet connection is ensured in 66% of settlements, at the same time I want to mention that 96% of the population has the opportunity to use broadband internet. We are also talking about the remote, small settlements with small populations where investments aren’t expedient economically. In this case I see the solution through incentivizing operators to provide internet access there or through subsidy. We have a toolkit now, the government is ready to subsidize the communities which will make such a bid. As of this moment none of the communities have done so, which means that the internet availability is in a rather good condition,” Poghosyan said.

Armenia has a leading position globally in terms of internet access, he added. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hakob Arshakyan shared this opinion.

Arshakyan highlighted the role of internet in education, transport and logistic systems.

He said that Armenia attaches great importance to ensuring internet access in communities.

 13:32, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. The asphalting of the Tatev-Ltsen road in Syunik is completed and the road will allow cargo trucks to bypass the Tatev switchbacks, Governor of Syunik Robert Ghukasyan told reporters.

“Tatev-Ltsen is completed, the opening of the Ltsen-Noravan section will take place soon. This road will completely solve our problem,” the governor said.

Speaking about the results of the opening of the Iranian consulate general in Kapan, Ghukasyan said that he and mayors of his province’s cities are having many meetings with Iranian colleagues to discuss economic and social programs. “We are discussing various programs related to investments, social and cultural programs. The programs haven’t yet started in this phase, but we have numerous programs that will start soon,” the governor said.

He added that Iran has always had very warm relations with Syunik, but technical problems related to connectivity were occurring. “Now these problems are eliminated because we have a consul general, with whom we discuss various issues,” Ghukasyan said.

 15:13, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. On June 6, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with Alexander Schallenberg, the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria.

“The interlocutors touched upon the agenda of bilateral cooperation as well as issues of mutually beneficial collaboration in multilateral platforms,” the Armenian foreign ministry said in a readout.

Views were also exchanged on the Armenia-EU partnership, it added.

Issues on regional stability and security were also discussed.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia briefed his Austrian counterpart on the latest developments in the normalization process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the position of the Armenian side on the resolution of key issues in the negotiation process, in particular, the border delimitation on the basis of a clearly expressed commitment to mutual recognition of territorial integrity as well as addressing of issues of rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. The need to solve the existing problems, including humanitarian issues, the blockade of the Lachin corridor as well as finding a comprehensive settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue was stressed.

 14:58, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. Water levels in Armenia’s reservoirs, especially large ones, are low and the authorities could authorize additional drainage from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes, a senior government official said Tuesday.

Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Vache Terteryan told lawmakers at a joint committee hearing on the 2022 budget report that in 2022 the government authorized the drainage of 170 million cubic meters of water from Lake Sevan, but only 165,1 was used.

“This year we have rather little water accumulated in especially large reservoirs, especially in Akhuryan, Azat and Aparan. And it’s going to be a difficult year. We must do everything to mitigate the [consequences] of low water levels, but at a given time, together with the parliament we will be forced to discuss draining additional volume of water from Sevan,” Terteryan said.

Terteryan said authorities will do everything to try to avoid additional drainage, but a realistic assessment of the situation shows that it will be necessary.

For comparison, Terteryan noted that in 2021 the water level in reservoirs was 20-30% more than this year.

 15:16, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan has met with  EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar in Yerevan.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin also attended the meeting.

“The interlocutors discussed regional developments, including prospects of restoring and organizing the Yeraskh-Julfa-Meghri-Horadiz railway connection, and issues related to the future works of the commission on delimitation and border security,” Grigoryan’s office said in a readout.

 16:27, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar.

Pashinyan and Klaar discussed “the course of implementation of the agreements reached during the trilateral and five-sided meetings in Brussels and Chisinau,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The Armenian Prime Minister attached importance to the consistent implementation of these agreements.

PM Pashinyan and the EU envoy also discussed the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and issues pertaining to addressing the rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh under an internationally guaranteed dialogue mechanism. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented Armenia’s approaches around the resolution of the key existing issues.

 16:58, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. The number of confirmed cases of measles in Armenia since the outbreak began on 3 March has reached 209, the ministry of healthcare said in a statement on Tuesday.

8 of the 209 patients are Armenian nationals who’ve returned from abroad.

The ministry warned that the measles epidemiological situation could get worse given the active tourism season.

The healthcare ministry advises travelers to get vaccinated at least 10 days before departure to their destination.

The epidemiological situation concerning measles is tense throughout the world. Data shows measles cases to have increased 80% in 2022 compared to 2021.

 17:05, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan has met with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar.

Mirzoyan and Klaar discussed issues concerning regional security and stability, the foreign ministry said in a readout.  In this context, the sides discussed the latest discussions around the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The continuity of the process in an atmosphere void of belligerent rhetoric and threat of force was highlighted.

Reiterating Armenia’s commitment on establishing comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, FM Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of maintaining mutual commitment to address key existing issues for comprehensive resolution and the continual efforts by international partners in this direction.

 17:02, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, 6 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 6 June, USD exchange rate down by 0.24 drams to 387.04 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 414.13 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 4.77 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.83 drams to 480.55 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 59.94 drams to 24385.15 drams. Silver price down by 5.29 drams to 292.11 drams.

 17:12, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. AxelMondrian & Partners, a certified consulting firm and a member of the European network, is delighted to announce the commencement of its operations in Armenia. With the opening of the Yerevan office, AxelMondrian & Partners ushers in a distinguished blend of classic methodology and institutional expertise in communication and reputation management to the region. Through its experienced and highly qualified professionals, the company aims to collaborate with both private and public entities, aiding them in carving their own unique brand and reputation amidst a challenging and dynamic media landscape.

AxelMondrian & Partners offers an array of specialized services, including corporate strategy development, executive reputation management, corporate growth, and merger and acquisition communications. Among the key directions of the firm’s operations are launching brand and marketing campaigns, film production, and publication of corporate reports. Furthermore, AxelMondrian & Partners boasts an extensive track record in corporate social responsibility programs, execution of commercial and political campaigns, and provision of robust crisis communication strategies.

Shushan Harutyunyan, who has 17 years of experience in the management and execution of communication projects, has been appointed as the Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of the Yerevan office. Ms. Harutyunyan, an alumnus of Central European University and Oxford University Saïd Business School, has effectively led and managed project teams ranging from 10 to 600 professionals across various cities such as Yerevan, Brussels, London, and Warsaw.

AxelMondrian & Partners hosts a diverse team of specialists from Europe and the CIS. The firm is actively open to collaborations and commits to implementing one pro-bono project each year, chosen for its significant social or cultural impact on the local community.

AxelMondrian & Partners CJSC was registered in Armenia in November 2022. Its founding members include Shushan Harutyunyan (Managing Partner), Dr. Michael Kambeck (former executive of Ogilvy, and Burson Cohn & Wolfe), Gurgen Khachatryan (Co-founder of Galaxy Group of Companies and Chairman of Ucom's Board of Directors), and Hovhannes Grigoryan (Founder and Director of Breavis Company). AxelMondrian & Partners maintains a strict adherence to the European standards of professional conduct, promoting transparency and ethical practices throughout their operations.