Month: September 2006

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR SECURES ECONOMIC GROWTH
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
27/09/2006

As of January-August 2006, a high pace of economic growth was secured
in Armenia. RA National Statistic Service informed about this. The
indicator of the economic growth made 11,3%. As compared to the first
six months, it has decreased and amounted to %16.

While the growth of the construction volume made 40,2% in the period
under review and the total area of dwelling houses made 28,7%.

The total volume of industrial production decreased by 0,9%, without
the volume of electricity, gas and water production, it made 0,7%
and without the volume of diamond production, it increased by 2,1%.

The foreign trade turnover increased by 11,5%. The export decreased
by 3,4% making $ 595 million, import increased by 20% and totaled to
$1,3 billion. Without the article of the diamond production, it grew
by 2,6%, while the import increased by 28,4%. The negative balance
of the foreign trade increased and surpassed $ 700 million.

As compared with the indicator of December, 2005, the consumers’
prices increased by 2,7 %. At the same time, the currency profits of
the population grew by 18,7%, while the expenses increased by 20,5%.

STRIKERS GATHERED OPPOSITE THE PARLIAMENT

A1+
[05:36 pm] 26 September, 2006

Today the residents of Northern and Main Avenues, Koghbatsi and
Firdusi Streets, Kozern district as well as gardeners of Dalma
and Nork organized a rally opposite the President’s residence and
National Assembly.

They tried to meet NA deputies, to talk to them and to share their
concerns with them. This time reason for their concern was the bill on
"Property alienation for state and public needs" which was endorsed
after the 1st hearing. The rally participants claim that before
the second hearing RA Justice Minister David Haroutyunyan made a new
amendment to it. As a result the law will have a reverse outcome. "This
is another breech of RA Constitution and Human Rights Convention.

It gives an opportunity to the high-rank officials to find ways to
hide the money they have taken from us illegally," maintains Vachagan
Hakobyan.

The strikers managed to talk to Alvard Petrosyan and Spartak Seiranyan,
deputies of Dashnaktsutyun party and the deputies promised to do
their best to turn down the bill. They also met NA deputies Viktor
Dallakyan, Vardan Lazarian and Razmik Martirosyan who also promised
to vote against the bill.

At present the rally participants are at the entrance of the National
Assembly where the bill is put to voting.

WHY SHOULD WE INITIATE CORRUPTION COMBAT?

A1+
[06:10 pm] 26 September, 2006

"When the economic growth is evident the national currency is
appreciated. The point is that there shouldn’t be any shakes so that
businessmen can direct their resources in the right direction," said
Vahram Nersisyants, the President’s councillor on the economic issues
during his meeting with journalists today.

Mr. Nersisyants has recently returned from Singapur, where he
participated in the annual summit of World Bank and International
Monetary Fund. The councillors of 192 presidents gathered in the
summit to discuss corruption, to reveal its essence, to find its
appropriate definition and ways of its combat. "During the debate
we faced a serious problem – which are the criteria of corruption as
corruption has different outcome in different countries. Our second
task referred to the methodology how to measure corruption.

Unless we find the solutions to these problems corruption combat
won’t have distinct bases, " says Vahram Nersisyants.

The Trustee’s Council was assigned to work out a model regulating
corruption combat in spring. A few bills were discussed during the
autumn meeting but the model was not finally affirmed.

Asked whether he approves of the Dashnaktsutyun’s suggestion to form
a corruption combating committee Mr. Nersisyants answered, "The point
is that any establishment combating against corruption may become a
hearth of corruption. I claim that the roots of corruption must be
eradicated at first," offered Vahram Nersisyants.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CAROLINE COX BRINGS BENEFACTORS TO KARABAKH

A1+
[06:39 pm] 26 September, 2006

On September 26, Nagorno Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Georgy
Petrossian received Vice-Speaker of the House of Lords of the
Great Britain’s Parliament, Chairman of Humanitarian Aid Relief
Trust Baroness Caroline Cox, who had arrived in Stepanakert with a
delegation of British and American philanthropists.

Opening the meeting NKR Foreign Minister expressed readiness in
rendering all possible support to the programs carried out by the
American and British philanthropists in Nagorno Karabakh.

At the guests’ request Georgy Petrossian dwelt on the current stage
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process. The Minister,
in particular, expressed his anxiety concerning Azerbaijan’s attempts
to transfer the resolution of the problem under the aegis of the OSCE
Minsk Group to the UN.

We seriously study the existing situation, draw conclusions to
undertake corresponding steps", – the NKR MFA noted.

Georgy Petrossian emphasized that it was impossible to solve the issue
concerning the fate of entire people without taking into account its
own opinion.

We have played our role in establishing armistice, but why today
we are deprived of our rights to strengthen the peace?" – the NKR
Foreign Minister said.

Answering the question on mutual relations with Armenia Georgy
Petrossian stressed: "The Republic of Armenia is a guarantor of the
NKR’s independence and security, as regards the plane of political
relations there is a principle of non-intervention between both
republics".

Speaking about the unceasing informational war the Minister dwelt on
the clamour made by Baku in connection with the fires on the areas
near the frontier.

We have addressed to the OSCE with a proposal to hold a monitoring
to get an unbiassed opinion on what was taking place. The republic’s
authorities are ready to receive the international experts and show
them everything they are interseted in", – the NKR Foreign Minister
noted.

Georgy Petrossian voiced hope that in the course of the visit the
delegation members would make an unbiassed notion on Nagorno Karabakh
and share the corresponding information in their environs.

PARTY "HZOR HAYRENIK" PREPARES FOR THE ELECTIONS

A1+
[07:04 pm] 26 September, 2006

After the 2007 elections the Party "Hzor Hairenik"(Powerful homeland)
will likely enter the National Assembly provided there is one
precondition.

Shirak Torosyan, chairman of "Javakhq" Union and deputy chairman of
"Hzor Hayrenik," claims that they will be elected to the National
Assembly with 100 percent provided the elections are just and fair
and comply with European standards.

"It was a sensation in 2003 when our party overcame the three-percent
threshold and gained 40 thousand votes without any election bribes. If
the same scenario repeats in 2007, I am more than convinced that we
shall overcome the threshold," maintains Shirak Torosyan and adds
that he never had an intention to appeal to the court taking into
account the experience and failure of other people.

Party "Hzor Hayrenik" has not decided yet which party to join. "At
present we coopearate with Ramkavars as we are alike in mode of our
actions, mainly in connection with the protection of Diaspora in the
CIS countries," says Shirak Torosyan.

Shirak Torosyan also noted that the Javakhq roads are being constructed
within the framework of the program "Millennium Challenges" though
many officials claim that road reconstruction is needless.

NIS INTERSTATE COMMITTEE HOLDS XX SESSION ON EMERGENCY

Panorama.am
13:13 26/09/06

XX session of the interstate committee of Newly Independent States
(NIS) on nature-caused or man-caused emergency situations kicked off
in Yerevan today.

Andranik Margaryan, Armenian prime minister, addressed the guests
saying the committee has successfully accomplished its tasks in
the field. "Different man-caused and nature-caused disasters cause
considerable harm, including among developed countries," he said.

Margaryan informed the guests that Armenian rescue services comprise
4000 employees against 700 ten years ago. He also mentioned that the
law on rescue service is adopted in Armenia and a State Academy for
Emergency Administration is established. The prime expressed belief
that the XX session will be another step forward to cooperation among
rescue services in NIS.

PRESIDENT ADVISER PRAISES CENTRAL BANK

Panorama.am
15:57 26/09/06

"Central Bank’s policy is 100% correct and corresponds to the
economic policy of our country," Vahram Nersisyants, chief adviser on
economy issues to the president, told reporters today. In his words,
consolidation of the local currency is quite natural.

"We should be happy that the national currency is strengthened but
the process should also be regulated so that sharp conditions will
not emerge for local producers and exporters," he said. Nersisyants
said the Central Bank and Ministry of Finance and Economy have set
to issue securities in the amount of $100 million.

Speaking about inflation and the rise in consumer prices, Nersisyants
said the government has forecast 3% of inflation in case of 7%
GDP growth. The adviser said some consumer products do not face
competition created monopolies for certain types of products.

"Under such conditions, it is not possible to regulate inflation,"
Nersisyants said.

ACBA BANK RENAMED TO ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOL BANK

Panorama.am
16:45 26/09/06

Tigran Sargsyan, chairman of Central Bank and Stepan Grishyan,
executive director for ACBA Bank, congratulated the public in a press
conference today saying Credit Agricole has bought 28% of ACBA Bank’s
shares becoming the leading shareholder in the bank.

ACBA Bank has changed its name to ACBA-Credit Agricol Bank.

"Today we have not one but two transnational corporations which is
important for the banking system of the republic," Sargsyan said saying
HSBC had a monopoly position until now causing troubles in the market.

After the first investment the own capital of the bank has made up
10 billion Armenian drams.

PEOPLE OF ART PRAISE SOVIET DAYS

Panorama.am
16:46 26/09/06

Translator Armen Hovhannnisyan praised the Soviet rule in a debate
today saying, "Everything was clean then unlike now when everybody is
going down to the level of consumer." Hovhannisyan believes that the
state must regulate culture. Ruben Hakhverdyan, a renowned Armenian
singer, also criticized the present day culture, particularly pointing
out to the songs of Grisha Aghakhanyan. He believes that everything
was organized during the Soviet era, though he also admits "some
censorship was used against his songs."
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
53-55 Pavstos Byuzand Street, 375010
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Children of Armenia Fund – New York Office
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2100,
New York, NY 10111, USA
Contact: Anna Sargsyan
Tel: 212 – 994 – 8201
Fax: 212 – 994 – 8299
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

UNICEF’s Armenia Office Representative Leads the Grand Opening of

COAF’s Psycho-Social Center

Dalarik, Republic of Armenia, September 26, 2006 ¾ Today, the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
jointly held the grand opening of the Dalarik Psycho-Social Center. The
Center was initiated in June 2006 through a co-sponsorship between COAF
and UNICEF-Armenia. By making psycho-social services available to the
six communities of COAF’s Model Cluster ¾ Argina, Dalarik, Karakert,
Lernagog, Myasnikyan, and Shenik ¾ the partners aim to secure the
integration of children with special needs and their families in the
larger society.

The event host, Dr. Naira Gharakhanyan, COAF Community Development
Program Manager, introduced the guests, including the mayors and deputy
mayors of COAF’s Model Cluster villages, the Psycho-Social Center staff,
and other key members of the community. Also present at the event were
the student-journalists of the newly established Cluster Press Club and
a dozen beneficiaries of the Psycho-Social Center.

Mr. Sheldon Yett, the Representative of UNICEF-Armenia, led the
ribbon-cutting ceremony. In his address, Mr. Yett articulated the
significance of the program for children with special needs and
acknowledged the exceptional cooperation demonstrated by the local
municipality in the creation of the Center. Mr. Yett congratulated the
project staff, stressing the importance of teamwork among teachers,
parents, doctors and the community for achieving the shared vision and
project goal.

In turn, Dr. Naira Avetisyan, UNICEF-Armenia Child Protection Officer,
emphasized the positive impact of multi-level cooperation on the success
and sustained functioning of the Center. As an integral part of
UNICEF’s larger program in this domain, she highlighted the principal
aim of the Center in defending the rights of children, to give them the
opportunity to live and grow in a safe and supportive environment. Most
importantly, "we must raise public awareness of child’s rights," by
training parents and educators on the rights of socially disadvantaged
or disabled children.

Dr. Arpie G. Balian, COAF’s Resident Country Director, spoke of the
importance of this partnership between COAF and UNICEF, "organizations
that have children at the center of every project they realize." She
emphasized the importance of this partnership as part of COAF’s
Integrated Rural Development program and hoped for continued
cooperation. Dr. Balian also provided an overview of the initial data
gathered in the initial period of four-months since implementation of
the project. "These initial numbers show that such endeavors are
critically important, not only in the capital, but also for rural
Armenia."

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