PACE rapporteur Aleksander Pociej presented the report on observation of the early parliamentary elections in Armenia during the first day of PACE winter session in Strasbourg.

The rapporteur congratulated Armenia on the elections, but said that is not enough to organize one democratic elections, and  it is up to Armenia’s elected representatives to launch legal reforms to consolidate the democratic process in the country.

 “70 percent of votes for one party is big trust, and responsibility,” the rapporteur emphasized when speaking about the victory of “My Step” alliance.

The new Armenian delegation to PACE has left for Strasbourg in its full composition.

President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian signed decrees to appoint ministers in the new Cabinet based on the proposal of PM Nikol Pashinyan.

All ministers, except for Labor and Social Affairs Minister Zaruhi Batoyan, were serving in the Cabinet prior to the early parliamentary election.

President of the United States, Donald Trump, has sent a congratulatory message to Nikol Pashinyan on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Armenia.

“The United States supports a prosperous, democratic Armenia at peace with its neighbors. Together, we can make progress on deepening trade between our countries, strengthening global security, and combating corruption. A peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will help these efforts,” Trump said.

UN Secretary General António Guterres also congratulated Pashinyan. He expressed a conviction that under Pashinyan’s leadership, Armenia will continue supporting the UN precepts and objectives.

Three persons have died and another is injured after a road accident Sunday in Artsakh.

A jeep went off road and rolled into the river running through the valley in the area.

The driver and two fellow villager passengers had died on the spot, while another passenger had suffered injuries and was taken to the Shahumyan regional medical facility.

The talks with Gazprom over a new agreement on transit of Russian gas to Armenia will be over in the coming two weeks, Georgian minister of economy and sustainable development Georgiy Kobuliya said on Saturday.

Before the talks are over, the terms of the previous contract that expired on December 31, 2018 are in effect.

Georgian PM Mamuka Bakhtadze said they have no intention to abandon the role of a transit for Russian gas to Armenia.