Author: Haygouhi Kaprielian

A Brussels official has praised Armenia’s progress in implementing reforms in key areas under its existing agreement with the European Union. In an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service published on Friday, Peter Stano, lead spokesperson for the European Union’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that the implementation of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement concluded between Armenia and the EU in 2017 was important not only in stimulating democratic and political reforms, but also “reforms that bring more economic growth, better jobs, more investments, increasing of the living standards.” “I can say that what we are seeing is that…

Europe’s new “Iron Lady”, Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, is one of the strongest voices for an uncompromising stand against belligerent Russia. Brussels (30 June – 28). Having grown up under the Soviet occupation of Estonia, Kaja Kallas was urging EU leaders to take the Russian threat seriously long before the invasion of Ukraine On Saturday, the Reform Party chose climate minister Kristen Michal to replace outgoing Kaja Kallas, who is the EU’s new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The unanimous decision to nominate Michal was made following a closed-door meeting by the party’s governing board only two days after…

Individual artists, ranging from musicians to graphic designers, from painters to fashion designers, and beyond, will boost their creative careers through the Artbox Entrepreneur program and receive up to a total grant of €60,000 to activate their entrepreneurial plans. Creative Armenia is excited to present the 24 individual artists who entered the Artbox Entrepreneur program and started their career acceleration journeys towards becoming creative entrepreneurs. Artbox Entrepreneur provides artists an unparalleled opportunity to jumpstart their creative careers, elevate their personal branding and maximize their revenue. From mid-January to the end of February 2024, these 24 artists will participate in a six-week program,…

On December 5, the “Clean Environment” campaign was held in Dushanbe, dedicated to World Soil Day, reports the press service of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan. The event was held at the initiative of the Aarhus Center of the Committee for Environmental Protection in conjunction with the Main Department of Environmental Protection in Dushanbe, the Sino district departmental administration, volunteers of the Youth and Sports Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, and “green” patrols of educational institution No. 25 in Dushanbe. The participants of the action cleared the area around school No.…

The preferential conditions set for the import and alienation of vehicles with an electric motor to Armenia will be extended for another year. Deputy Minister of Economy Narek Teryan announced this during the debates on the bill on introducing amendments in the Tax Code at Tuesday’s special session of the National Assembly of Armenia. In other words, these benefits will be extended until January 1, 2025. Electric vehicles in Armenia are currently exempt from value added tax (VAT) in the country until January 1, 2024. “As a result of exemption from VAT and customs duties, the amount of import of…

Climate activists likely to be concerned by another fossil fuel-reliant country taking over summit presidency Azerbaijan has been announced as the host of next year’s climate summit after fraught negotiations. Under UN rules it was eastern Europe’s turn to take over the rotating presidency but the groups need to unanimously decide on the host. Russia had blocked EU countries and Azerbaijan and Armenia were blocking each other’s bids. Onlookers were beginning to worry about whether a country could be agreed that would be able to stump up the money and facilities needed to host such a large conference. But Armenia…

Armenia has broken a major taboo by forging defense ties with France and the U.S. For most of its post-Soviet history, Armenia has essentially had one partner in the field of defense and security: Russia. But recent experiences have shown that Moscow cannot be relied on for help when the chips are down. So now, despite the country’s deep economic dependence on Russia, Armenia’s leaders are looking elsewhere for security cooperation and finding eager partners. France steps in to boost Armenia’s weak air defenses On October 23 Yerevan signed an agreement with Paris on the purchase of three GM 200 anti-aircraft radar systems and…

Ottawa’s new ambassador to Armenia warns punitive action could undermine peace talks Canada and its allies have discussed sanctioning Azerbaijan over its military incursion last month into the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh — which triggered a mass exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians into neighbouring Armenia — a senior diplomat told the Commons foreign affairs and international development committee Monday. “There absolutely have been discussions … continued debate about when it would be most appropriate to use that tool,” said Andrew Turner, Canada’s recently appointed ambassador to Armenia, in response to questions from NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson. Speaking by teleconference from Yerevan,…

The Council of Europe is preparing a comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia following a visit by the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees (SRSG) Leyla Kayacik from 11 to 13 October 2023. In a corresponding statement, it says that. “This package aims to provide support to Armenia in addressing the issues related to hosting over 100,000 Karabakh Armenians, including some 30,000 children, who were forced to flee in the country in recent weeks. During her visit, the SRSG engaged with relevant state authorities, international partners, and non-governmental organisations. She also visited two shelters in the Artashat Municipality. She identified specific areas…

‘President Erdogan has always advocated for religious freedoms for all our citizens regardless of their denomination,’ says Fahrettin Altun ISTANBUL Türkiye will always oppose any political attempt to create religious divisions, the country’s communications director said on Monday. “Today, the world needs tolerance and mutual understanding more than ever. Under the leadership of President Erdogan, Türkiye will always oppose any political effort to pit religions against one another,” Fahrettin Altun said on X. Reminding that the first-ever church built in Türkiye since the republic’s establishment in 1923 opened its doors to worshippers in Istanbul on Sunday, Altun said: “This event…