Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 23.08.2019:
· Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Jermuk to meet with the residents as they want to present to him their arguments as to why the Amulsar gold mine should not be operated.
According to Pashinyan, they had ordered an expertise study from the Advanced Resources Development (ELARD) Lebanese consultancy firm, and the latter concluded that the operation of this mine poses no threat to the waters of Lake Sevan, and it poses no threat whatsoever to the mineral waters of Jermuk because these waters are at a higher elevation than the mine, whereas “water does not go backwards.”
He also noted that the Armenian government will contact Elard experts via Skype on Saturday to receive answers to all their questions, while the entire process of communication will be recorded and made public.
· Armenia has a high level of confidence in the banking sector, the executive director of the Union of Banks of Armenia Seyran Sargsyan told reporters on Friday.
According to him, this can be seen in the stable growth of deposits of individuals, as well as in the absence of a sharp outflow of capital.
“The growth of trust will continue, especially with the introduction of a cashless services system,” he said.
According to the chair of the Union of Banks of Armenia (UBA) Artak Anesyan, an unprecedented activity was recorded in the banking sector in August.
According to him, activity in August, which is considered a passive period in the banking sector, is higher than in December last year, although the end of the year is considered the most active.
Artak Anesyan added that the growth rate of deposits in the second quarter, compared to last year over the same period, amounted to 18%.
· The National Crisis Management Center of Armenia on Thursday received 99 reports of fire at various grassy areas of the country.
These fires had covered an area of 200 square meters and more.
The firefighters, however, have put out these fires.
· Police detained eight persons following the clashes that occurred Thursday evening between fans, and after the Ararat-Armenia vs. Dudelange football match, Armenia police reported.
These persons were detained on suspicion of hooliganism.
After Ararat-Armenia’s 2-1 win—Thursday evening—over Dudelange (Luxembourg) in their first leg of the final round in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, a clash occurred between the Armenian fans leaving the Yerevan stadium—and outside the fence.
They beat each other, tore one another’s shirts, and cursed at each other.
Speaking to NEWS. am Sport, the Red Eagles Fan Club members of Armenia, however, denied their involvement in the incident, and said nothing had happened.
· Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has repealed the decree depriving Vagharshak Harutyunyan of his military rank, Armenian President’s press service reported.
Armenia's ex-defense Minister, Vagharshak Harutyunyan was deprived of the military rank of lieutenant general on July 22, 2008, by decree of the Armenian second President Robert Kocharyan.
· Eleven people were taken to hospital after a military truck had an accident on Friday, in Tavush Province of Armenia.
A military truck carrying soldiers overturned, for yet unknown reasons, nearby the military unit close to Baghanis village.
All the injured are contract servicemen, and their injuries are not life-threatening.
· Armenian parliament's ex-MP, owner of SAS Group Artak Sargsyan was recently interviewed within the framework of the criminal case instituted in relation to the hooligan act that was committed to the premises of Terrazza Restaurant in Yerevan on June 5.
Head of the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Naira Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that Sargsyan had been interviewed as a witness on August 15.
Sargsyan had been summoned to the Investigative Committee twice in the past but hadn’t shown up, saying he was out of the country.
Artak Sargsyan refuted his participation in the incident.