Deliveries of Armenian electricity to Georgia on the rise

April 18, 2017 By administrator

Export of Armenian electricity to Georgia was activated in the first quarter of 2017, with 75.8 million kWh of electricity shipped to the Georgian market in the reporting period.

An agreement signed between Energoimpex LLC and Global Energy International Ltd. on implementing energy swaps between Armenia and Georgia helped optimize energy production and consumption modes in Armenia, the ministry of energy infrastructure and natural resources said in a statement.

As a result, 25.4 million kWh of electricity was exported to Georgia in February, and 50.8 million kWh in March. 40 million kWh of energy is expected to be shipped from Armenia to the neighboring country in April.

No deliveries have been implemented in the same period last year.

Also, production of electricity increased by about 9.3% in Q3 of 2017, with 10% more electricity consumed in Armenia’s domestic market against the same period in 2016.

Georgia: Armenian youth takes to streets in Akhalkalaki in protest of shoe sale with Armenian crosses under them

March 1, 2017 By administrator

The photos are taken from Armen Avetisyan’s facebook page.

Today a group of active young protesters in Javakheti (Javakhk) organized a rally in the Liberty Square of Akhalkalaki, Georgia.

In a post on Facebook, Javakheti Armenian Armen Avetisyan noted that the protest was prompted by the shoes sold in the Akhalkalaki Town Fair several days ago. The shows had Armenian ornamental crossed depicted under them.

“The youth applied to the state authorities with the slogan “No Sacrilege” in Armenian, Georgian and Russian languages urging them to conduct an investigation and to reveal the country from which the shoes were imported in order to prevent the recurrence of such phenomena,” A. Avetisyan noted.

Armenian servicemen hold trainings in Georgia mountains

January 17, 2017 By administrator

Intermediate Mountain Training Winter Course has launched in Sachkhere Mountain Training School in Georgia, where along with the Georgian military servicemen of NATO member and partner countries – France, Lithuania and Armenia are taking part in it.

According to the report by Sputnik Georgia, participation of Armenian servicemen in the 25-day trainings had been previously agreed during the RA Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan’s December visit to Georgia.

Georgia’s Defense Ministry says in a released statement that the trainings are planned in two phases. At the first stage the military will improve the skills of shooting from service guns across the mountain terrain at Orfolo firing ground. During the second phase, they will leave for Gudauri where they have to move in snow with skis, to arrange snow shelters, to search and evacuate the people affected by avalanche.

Performance of the military servicemen will be evaluated by scores. After finishing the course, they will receive certificates and badges.

Azerbaijan “seized” Georgian territory to build defense facilities – study

January 11, 2017 By administrator

Azerbaijan has built defense facilities and strongholds which sink into the territory of Georgia, beginning from the crossroad of Armenia-Georgia-Azerbaijan border and stretching to the Red Bridge checkpoint. Some 6,5 km long, the area covers around 800-1000 hectares.

In a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net Armenian political scientist Samvel Meliksetyan unveiled the results of his own research.

According to Meliksetyan, Papakar peak, a key military point, is situated in the territory of Georgia, the Azerbaijan border lying south of the mountain. But the Azerbaijanis have gone some 400 meters deep in this area and established a system of strongholds that fully lie on the territory of Georgia.

“The section situated farther in the east was a subject of dispute in the Soviet times but a final demarcation was carried out in the early 1980s, as a result of which the border was established in favor of Georgia. The demarcation went on to become the state border and is clearly indicated on Google Maps and formal sources,” Meliksetyan said.

By the way, the same map also shows that the Armenian-Azerbaijani border underwent more serious modifications, especially near the village of Barekamavan, where a much larger area of land has become a part of the Azeri village of Kemerli.

Some changes have also occurred on the Armenian-Georgian border in favor of Georgia, but the amended borders were approved as the official ones and are reflected on Google Maps.

Armenia President and Georgian PM visit site of future Friendship Bridge

November 4, 2016 By administrator

friendship-bridge YEREVAN. – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili on Friday visited the site of the future Friendship Bridge which is to cross Debed river, Armenian News – NEWS.am correspondent reports.

The construction agreements are scheduled to be signed in the first quarter of 2017, while the bridge will be commissioned in summer or fall 2018.

In his speech, Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of Armenia, Vahan Martirosyan, underscored the importance of developing transportation links between Armenia, Georgia and Iran. The new bridge will replace the old one built back in the 1960s. It will have a capacity to bear the current cargo traffic and attract transit cargo. The financial sources of the project include the loan taken out by the Armenian Government, as well as the co-funding of the Armenian and Georgian governments.

For his part, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Genadi Arveladze, stated that the republic is ready to modernize its road network to provide a wide and convenient transportation corridor both from west to east, and from north to south.

The Minister and Deputy Minister also noted the significance of the project as a symbol of the long-lasting friendship of the two neighboring countries and peoples.

The agreement on the bridge construction, signed by the Armenian and Georgian governments, entered into force in June 2015. The bridge will be built by means of the 10.3 mln euro loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Tender for choosing a contractor and technical controller has already been announced. It is carried out through the efforts of the Armenian and Georgian governments in cooperation with EBRD.

Tbilisi: Three Armenians elected to Georgian parliament

October 10, 2016 By administrator

three-armenian-elected Three Armenians, Henzel Mkoyan, Samvel Manukyan and Ruslan Poghosyan were elected to the Georgian parliament, the website of the Armenian community in Georgia said.

All the three nominees represented the ruling Georgian Dream party, which decisively won parliamentary elections, firming its grip on power in the country, near-complete results showed on Sunday, October 9.

With 99.41 percent of the votes in, data from the Central Election Commission gave the Georgian Dream 48.61 percent of the vote and the opposition United National Movement (UNM) 27.04 percent, Reuters reports.

Georgia hopes to join the European Union and NATO one day even though that is something that Russia, its former colonial master, strongly opposes.

With political stability still fragile — the first peaceful transfer of power since the 1991 Soviet collapse only took place four years ago – the authorities were keen the election be widely seen as free and fair to avoid a return to the days when politicians tried to seize power by force.

Georgia is criss-crossed by strategically important oil and gas pipelines and a fifth of its territory remains under the control of pro-Russian separatists following a short war with Russia in 2008.

Georgian Dream, which is pro-Western but also favors closer ties with Russia, declared victory shortly after polls closed on Saturday.

“I congratulate you with a big victory Georgia!” Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili told jubilant supporters gathered outside the party’s headquarters in Tbilisi, the capital.

“According to all preliminary results, Georgian Dream is leading with a big advantage,” he said, as dozens of party members waved blue party flags and balloons.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said on Sunday the election had been competitive and that fundamental freedoms had been generally respected.

With some parties threatening to organize street protests if they do not get into parliament, the government is likely to use the OSCE’s assessment to bolster its assertion that the vote was largely fair despite some problems.

Reuters. Ruling party in Georgia decisively wins parliament vote

Pope Francis: May God bless Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

October 6, 2016 By administrator

pope-god-blass “May God bless Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, and guide his holy people in those countries.”

Pope Francis ended his general audience with the aforementioned words on Wednesday, telling in detail about his trip to Caucasus, Radio Vaticana reports.

The Pope described the visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan as complementary to his visit to Armenia and thus by visiting all three Caucasus countries, he was able “to confirm the Catholic communities there and encourage all people in their journey towards peace and fraternity.”

According to him, although both Georgia and Azerbaijan have ancient historical, cultural and religious roots, they have only just celebrated twenty-five years of independence after the continuous Soviet period. “The Catholic Church is called to be close to them, especially through works of charity and promoting the good of the human person, in communion with the other Churches and Christian communities, and in dialogue with other religious communities,” the Pope stressed.

Georgian premier starts visit to Armenia

September 5, 2016 By administrator

A delegation led by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili on Monday started an official visit to Armenia, reports the Government’s press service.
Arriving at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport, the Georgian official was greeted by his Armenian counterpart, Hovik Abrahamyan.
After the official greeting ceremony, the delegation headed to Yerevan’s Tsitsernakaberd Park to pay respect to the Armenian Genocide victims.

Nagorno-Karabakh independent state irrespective of being recognized by Georgia – MP

August 30, 2016 By administrator

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is of importance for Javakhk Armenians, Samvel Petrosyan, a Georgian MP of Armenian descent, told Tert.am as he spoke of parliamentary elections in Georgia scheduled for October 8.

“Armenians constitute 70% of the local population and have been living here since 1915. An MP who would be able to raise the issue at Georgia’s Parliament and have it definitively settled, will enjoy great popularity. Historical injustice must be remedied. By the way, almost all the Georgian MPs share my opinion and behind-the-scenes they say they are well aware of the fact of the Armenian Genocide. However, state interests keep Georgia, as a strategic partner of Azerbaijan and Turkey, from officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide,” Mr Petrosyan said.

A candidate of Armenian descent that will get into Parliament must defend Armenians’ rights and raise the issues arousing Armenians’ concern.

Javakhk Armenians are concerned over a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“Javakhk Armenians are for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Mr Petrosyan said.

As to whether Georgia will ever recognize Nagorno-Karabakh’s president, Mr Petrosyan said:

“I think Karabakh residents’ nature speaks for itself. It is an independent state and Georgia recognizing it does not matter.”

Georgia doesn’t rule out Saakashvili’s involvement in failed terrorist act

August 23, 2016 By administrator

Georgian Parliament vice-speaker Manana Kobakhidze expressed belief that the failed attack on a Russia-Armenia gas pipeline ahead of the scheduled October parliamentary elections in the Republic would be beneficial to the ex-President of Georgia, Governor of Odessa Oblast of Ukraine, Mikheil Saakashvili and his party – United National Movement.

“I guess Saakashvili and his party would benefit from the destabilization before the elections. I can’t directly accuse them of preparing a terrorist attack on a gas pipeline, but they might have come up with such an evil plan,” said Kobakhidze.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s former Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli said that attempts to connect the failed attack with Ukraine are inappropriate.

Georgia’s State Security Service said in a statement on Monday, August 22 that seven individuals had been detained two days earlier.

Five of the suspects, all of whom are Georgian citizens, are facing charges of illegal purchase and storage of firearms, ammunition, and explosives “with the goal of carrying out a terrorist attack,” the statement said.