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ARMENIAN MEDIA MONITORING
No. 3 | 1-15 March 2016
As part of our research and analysis, the Regional Studies Center (RSC) has initiated a new
“Armenian Media Monitoring” effort, focusing on political and economic developments and based
on a daily survey of Armenian print and electronic media outlets. The RSC offers a summary
compilation of the most significant articles, translated into English and produced every two weeks.
POLITICS
NEW ENERGY MINISTER
1 March 2016
President Sargsyan appointed Levon Yolyan as the
new minister of Energy and Natural Resources,
replacing Yervand Zakharyan, who retired from
government service on 29 February. Yolyan is a nonpartisan politician, and served as the deputy chairman
of the Audit Chamber and Vice President of the
Armenian Chess Federation.
www.azatutyun.am/archive/news/20160229/2031/203
1.html?id=27581297
www.aravot.am/2016/02/29/662532/
EU’s MOGHERINI VISITS ARMENIA
1 March 2016
The High Representative of the European Union (EU)
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and VicePresident of the European Commission, Federica
Mogherini, visited Armenia and met separately with
President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian, MPs, and representatives of the
country’s political forces and civil society.
http://news.am/arm/news/314495.html
http://armenpress.am/arm/news/837947/em-nsatarum-e-eahk-minski-khmbin-federika-mogerininverahastatel.html
NEW ELECTORAL CODE OF ARMENIA
3 March 2016
The Armenian government approved the new draft of
the Electoral Code and noted the need to make
changes in series of laws and regulations. The Chief
of Staff of the Government Minister Davit
Harutyunyan stated that according to the new
constitution, the final approval of the Electoral Code
would be completed by June 1. Interestingly, the
Venice Commission published the full text of the
Electoral Code draft, in English, days before the
Armenian government released the official version.
www.tert.am/am/news/2016/03/03/gov/1951153
www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL
-REF(2016)018-e
NEW
HEAD
OF
STATE
REVENUE
COMMITTEE (SRC)
3 March 2016
President Sargsyan signed a decree to relieve
Havhannes Hovsepyan of his duties as Head of the
Presidential Oversight Service, Department of Public
Relations and Mass Media of the President’s Office
informs. By another decree of President Sargsyan,
Hovhannes Hovsepyan was appointed the Head of
State Revenue Committee of Armenia.
http://news.am/arm/news/314859.html
http://168.am/2016/03/03/604176.html
NEW DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NAMED
4 March 2016
President Sargsyan appointed Robert Harutyunyan as
a new deputy foreign Minister. He was a former
member of the Board of Eurasian Economic
Commission. The new Deputy FM is the son of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) faction
MP Khosrov Harutyunyan.
www.aravot.am/2016/03/04/664337/
RSC Armenian Media Monitoring No. 3 | 1-15 March 2016
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT VISITS RUSSIA
10 March 2016
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met in Moscow
with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed
cooperation between the two countries, including the
integration processes in the frameworks of the
Eurasian Economic Union, and “exchanged ideas on
regional conflicts and challenges.”
http://news.am/arm/news/316100.html
www.aravot.am/2016/03/10/665962/
EXPERIMENTAL CARGO CONTAINNERS
WILL BE SENT FROM IRAN TO EUROPE VIA
ARMENIA
12 March 2016
Armenian and Iranian freight forwarders will
experimentally send two cargo containers from Iran
to Europe in the near future. This trial delivery is
designed to test conditions for Iranian and Armenian
cargo shipments that can be transported from Iran to
Europe via Armenia in the fastest and most beneficial
way.
http://news.am/eng/news/316493.html
ECONOMICS
NEW BUDGET AIRLINE IN ARMENIA
3 March 2016
A new Armenian airline, “Armenia,” will conduct
regular flights to Europe, CIS countries and some
parts of Asia, at prices starting from $49. The
first flight will be carried out on a Boeing 737-700 in
mid-April. The 350-member airline staff is set to
include several employees of the Georgian air
company Airzena, while the remaining personnel will
be comprised of local experts. The newly created
company will use aircraft currently in service by the
Georgian carrier.
www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/207326/
WORLD BANK FORECASTS 2.5 % GDP
GROWTH FOR ARMENIA
7 March 2016
The World Bank released an updated forecast for
Armenia predicting 2.5 percent GDP growth for
2016. The slowdown in GDP growth was attributed
to Russia’s economic decline and deteriorating
external conditions, which were also responsible for
Armenia’s 3 percent growth last year. The World
Bank also noted that the budget deficit (4% of GDP)
is mainly covered through external debt. Earlier this
year, the Armenian Central Bank lowered the
refinancing rate to 10.25 percent.
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/838574/hamashkharh
ayin-bankn-ays-tari-hh-hna-i-25--atch-ekankhatesum.html
The Regional Studies Center (RSC) is
an independent think tank engaged in a
wide range of strategic analysis and
research, developing policy initiatives
aimed at bolstering political and economic
reform and conflict resolution in the
broader South Caucasus region.
As a leading think tank based in Armenia,
the RSC strives to elevate the level of
political discourse and deepen civic
activism while broadening engagement in
the public policy process. One of our core
longer-term goals is to serve as a catalyst
for reform and sustainable development
by contributing to the formulation of public
policy through innovative research and
objective analysis.
Regional Studies Center (RSC)
Yerevan, Armenia
www.regional-studies.org
NET INFLOWS OF ARMENIAN
REMITTANCES DOWN BY 23%
9 March 2016
According to the Armenian Central bank, net inflows
of foreign remittances by individuals and legal
entities and received by individuals via Armenian
commercial banks were down by 23 percent
compared to the same period last year. The figures
noted that remittances totaled only $165 million for
January-February 2016, compared to $159.7 million
for the same period in 2015.
http://armenpress.am/arm/news/838408/
Regional Studies Center (RSC)
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