Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 21.09.2020

 

https://news.am/eng/news/603166.html

On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of Armenia's independence, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday morning visited Yerablur Military Pantheon—in Yerevan—with several other senior officials.

 

https://news.am/eng/news/603237.html

In a speech devoted to the anniversary, Nikol Pashinyan announced Armenia's transformation strategy until 2050. The idea for the strategy is based on national values, national goals, and public demand. The Armenian PM presented the vision of the strategy. "Before 2050 to increase the RA population to at least 5 million, to create 1.5 million jobs, to overcome poverty through work, to increase the GDP of Armenia by 20, to increase the average salary by seven. Have the most combat-ready army in the world per capita, have one of the 10 most effective intelligence services in the world, have at least three Armenian universities in the top 200 of the international ranking of universities, make Armenia a country of high-tech industry, win 25 Olympic gold medals, make the [national] football team a world or European medalist, win the title of individual chess world champion, make the number of tourists visiting Armenia reach 15 million."

https://news.am/eng/news/603247.html

On the occasion of the 29th Independence Day anniversary of Armenia, several fighter aircrafts of the Air Force made a festive flight over the skies of Yerevan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan watched the flight from the hill of Victory Park. Also, the premier laid flowers on the tombstone of the unknown soldier.

 

DONALD TRUMP SENDS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE

 

https://news.am/eng/news/603216.html

US President Donald Trump has sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the 29th anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

 “The Armenian and American peoples boast strong and enduring ties, be it in the face of a new global pandemic or in the side-by-side international peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan or Kosovo. On this special day, we wish you all the best and look forward to strengthening our friendship over the coming year,” the US President said, in particular, in his congratulatory message.

 

MIKE POMPEO SENDS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE

https://news.am/eng/news/603258.html

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, too. “The United States welcomes Armenia’s continued commitment to strengthening the rule of law, establishing an independent judiciary, and increasing economic and investment opportunities. We commend Armenia’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption through transparency, due process, and increased accountability to citizens, and we will continue to support you in these efforts. We also remain committed to helping to find a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and urge the sides to resume substantive negotiations under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs as soon as possible. Although COVID-19 has brought the world unique challenges this year, we are proud that our close cooperation in combating the pandemic has further strengthened the partnership between our peoples,” the US Secretary of State said, in particular, in his congratulatory message.

 

ALIYEV: TALKS ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT ACTUALLY STOPPED

https://news.am/eng/news/603054.html

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev negatively assesses the current state of talks on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and believes that they have actually stopped. He believes that the Azerbaijani people completely agree with him. Aliyev told local channel that his country will not participate in consultations for the sake of imitation. This does not mean that we refuse to negotiate, he added. From his point of view, the Armenian leadership actually violated the negotiation process. Because their absurd statements, provocative steps make the talks meaningless, Aliyev added.

STATEMENT OF MFA ON ALIYEV’S STATEMENT

https://news.am/eng/news/603119.html

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has commented on Aliyev’s statement. “The statements made by the President of Azerbaijan are deeply disappointing. They demonstrate the inability of the leader of the neighboring country to perceive soberly and without painful emotions the existing reality and his own role in the creation of that reality. Such rhetoric, containing obviously groundless and even false allegations, does not dignify any head of state. We realize the damages inflicted by Azerbaijan on the peace process by the April 2016 aggression and the military escalation initiated in July 2020. In order to prevent these damages from becoming irreversible, the government of Azerbaijan should reconsider its policy of the use of force and threat of force, renounce its attempts to destabilize the regional peace and security by involving non-regional players, and prepare itself for a peaceful settlement. Armenia is confident in its capacities to protect the right of the people of Artsakh for self-determination and the right to live in their historical homeland, and we once again underline with full confidence that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the conflict,” the stetament reads.