ARMENIAN NEWS: BREAKING NEWS 3.09.2018

KARABAKH SOLDIER DIES

A serviceman of the Artsakh Defense Army has died Sunday at around 9pm.

Vanik Gevorgyan died in a military unit, and under still completely undetermined circumstances—but according to preliminary theory, he committed suicide.

An investigation is underway to find out the details of this incident.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will soon head to Moscow and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pashinyan said this during a Facebook livestream on Sunday evening.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that during the meeting “it will be important for us to hear how the new Armenian leader himself assesses the prospects for the development of the situation in his country.

“Of course, we cannot be completely indifferent to how Armenia's obligations to the Collective Security Treaty Organization look like in this situation,” he said.

Lavrov said Moscow is concerned that the situation in Armenia is still boiling but added that it is the country’s domestic affair. He added that the events that took place ten years ago are being investigated and arrests are taking place “We believe that it is Armenia’s domestic affair and would like these domestic affairs to remain based on the country’s laws and constitution so that they can be resolved as soon as possible and Armenia can focus on creative tasks.”

Snap parliamentary elections should be held in Armenia either in May or within the first ten days of June of next year, at the latest, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during on Sunday.

Pashinyan recalled that the current constitution specifies that in order to hold a snap parliamentary election in Armenia, the Prime Minister must resign, whereupon the National Assembly should not elect a new PM twice within two weeks, and then the parliament shall be dissolved by law.

“Now we are working on the constitutional amendments. The package will be ready soon, and we will send it to the parliament. In this context, we will have political discussions as well as come to common decisions, as a result of discussions with the people.”

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who has arrived in Armenia on an official visit, on Monday paid a visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial in capital city Yerevan. He was accompanied by Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Papikyan, and Japanese Ambassador Jun Yamada.

Speaking during a joint briefing with Armenian FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Kono said Japan has always underscored the importance of having friendly relations with Armenia. He added that Japan decided to lift visa requirements for the citizens of Armenia.

In line with the first six months of 2018, the biggest economic growth has been recorded in Armenia, over the past eight years; it totals 8.3 percent, Economy Minister Artsvik Minasyan said.

In his words, trade and services are the largest contributors to this economic growth in the country.

Minasyan added that the economic activity index of Armenia was 9.3 percent, in the first half of the current year.

Former Armenian deputy defense minister, chair of Martik foundation Arthur Aghabekyan has been charged with embezzlement.

According to investigators, part of the funds raised by the organization was misused. Preliminary reports suggest that over 54 million drams (over $111 thousand) was spent on restaurants, hotels and gifts. Arthur Aghabekyan, who was chairman of the board of trustees in the mentioned period, was in fact the sole manager of the funds. Aghabekyan rejected accusations saying he is ready to work with investigators.

William Saroyan house-museum has opened in the city of Fresno, in commemoration of playwright’s 110th birthday on August 31.

It may look like an ordinary house in the district but Saroyan’s house is now completely renovated to contain a big digital archive of his photos and works.

The museum features Saroyan’s hologram with a setup of his desk and part of the house in its original way as Saroyan lived there.