Month: October 2006

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 27 2006

VTB NOT INTERESTED IN BUYING ARMENIAN ENTERPRISE "PROMETEY-KHIMPROM"

YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. Vneshtorgbank (VTB) is not interested in
buying the Armenian enterprise "Prometey-Khimprom", Senior
Vice-President and member of the VTB administrative board Vasily
Titov reportee at the press conference Friday. At the same time, he
reported the daughter structure of the VTB – VTB Capital- considered
the issue on buying and launching the Vanadzor chemical factory.
Titov said that the factory did not operate at that time and after
its state was examined by several Russian audit companies, a decision
was made not to buy it.
The Vanadzor "Prometey-Khimprom" Company was put into operation in
2005 after the long standstill. After the failure attempt to transfer
the enterprise to the Slovakian company Dividend Group for
management, "Prometey-Khimprom was put into operation by his current
owner – the Russian "Zakneftegasstroy – Prometey" Company. It bought
100% shares of the enterprise for $1.5mln. R.O. –0-

The under 19 year national football team of Armenia to play with Azerbaijan

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 11:00

The under 19 year national football team of Armenia headed by coach
Armen Gyulbudaghian, is in Cyprus to participate in the qualifications
of the under 19 European Championships scheduled to take place place
from October 27 to November 2.

The national team of Armenia playing in the seventh Group will be up
against Hungary, Cyprus and political archrival Azerbaijan. The
Armenia vs. Azerbaijan match is scheduled to take place on Friday
October 27, at Antonis Papadopoulos stadium in Larnaca.

Ian Porterfield, the coach of the national team of Armenia, and Samvel
Petrosian, the coach of the under 21 national team are also
accompanying the young squad.

Armenian representative in the Cyprus Parliament Vartkes Mahdessian `
has been assisting the representatives of the national team, so that
their stay in Cyprus is problem-free. MP Mahdessian called upon the
Armenian community of Cyprus to support the Armenian team by showing
up to the fixtures in big numbers.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 27 2006

RUSSIAN VTB MAY PURCHASE 30% OF VTB BANK (ARMENIA)

YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. The Russian Vneshtorgbank does not rule
out the possibility of purchasing 30% of shares of the Bank VTB
Armenia, VTB Senior Vice-President Vasily Titov told reporters. "We
are considering the proposal of the owner of the 30% of the VTB
(Armenia) shares for the sale of his shares to us," he said.
According to Titov, the evaluation process is under way. "I am sure
that we will reach an agreement on the term and prices," he said.
As a result, the VTB will be the holder of 100% of shares of the VTB
Bank Armenia.
On September 8, 2001, the RA Government made a decision on the
privatization of the Armsavingsbank by means of a direct sale to the
ARCH Limited consortium (Bahamas) and ÌIKA Armenia Trading.
Early in 2003, the stock was transferred to the ÌIKA Armenia Trading,
and in March 2004, in Yerevan, a contract was signed for the purchase
of 70% of the "Armsavingsbank" shares by the Russian VTB.
The authorized capital of the "VTB Bank Armenia" CJSC is currently
7,526.2mln, assets AMD 14.7bln or $109.4mln (on September 30, 2006),
total capital AMD 9.1bln ($23.9mln). In January-September 2006, the
bank’s profit amounted to AMD 493.4mln ($1.3mln), and the balance
profit AMD 1.2bln ($3.1mln).
The VTB Bank Armenia is among the leaders as to the main indicators.
Specifically, it has the 4th largest assets, 5th largest volume of
individual crediting, 2nd largest volume of crediting legal entities,
3rd largest volume of funds attracted from clients and the amount of
individual fixed deposits, 2nd largest amount of individual call
deposits. As regards the total capital, the bank has the 4th largest
capital, and the 2nd largest authorized capital.($1 – AMD 379.84).
P.T. –0–

French Ambassador to Armenia confidant the Armenian-Turkish border will be
opened

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 13:12

October 27 Secretary of the Presidential Council on National Security,
RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan received the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Henry Cuny, on
the occasion of completion of the latter’s mission in our country.

Speaking about the gradually deepening Armenian-French relations, the
Minister said that French President Jacques Chirac’s visit was a
bright evidence of it, and it was a great even in the life of the
country.

In his turn, Henry Cuny informed that he highly assesses the warm
attitude of Armenia toward his country and added: `I have special
attitude toward the Armenian nation and its culture. I’m leaving,
taking a rich library about Armenia. I’m sure that during my next
visit peace will be established and the borders will be open. Closed
border is an anachronism, an improper step by a country applying for
EU membership.’

Thanking for the productive activity during the Ambassador’s tenure in
office, particularly for the cooperation in the military sphere, Serge
Sargsyan wished success to Henry Cuny in his further activity.

RA Defense Minister met with members of NATO Advisory Group

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 11:44

October 26 President of the interagency commission coordinating the
elaboration of RA draft National Security Strategy, Secretary of the
Presidential Council on National Security, RA Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan met with members of the NATO International Advisory
Group. The Group comprised Minister Plenipotentiary of the MFA of
Slovenia Damyan Bergant, Adviser to the National Defense Minister of
Lithuania James Gribovski, German Adviser to RA Government on Security
Issues, Mayor General Holger Zamet, Representative of the UK Defense
Ministry, Mayor General John Drevienkevich, Director of the
International Relations Institute of Latvia, Dr. Atis Leints,
representative of the Klement Ohridski University of Sofia, Professor
Todor Tanev.

`Armenpress’ was told at the Press Service of RA Defense Ministry, at
the start of the meeting the representative of Great Britain noted
that the Advisory Group welcomes all the provisions of RA National
Security Strategy on the development of state and civil society.
Turning to security issues, members of the Group spoke about the
complex geopolitical and strategic situation of Armenia, stating that
two of the bordering countries ` Azerbaijan and Turkey ` have
blockaded their common border with Armenia, and the vital route
linking our country to the rest of the world passes through Georgia
and Iran, which have found themselves in a complex geopolitical
situation.

Turning to Armenia’s foreign policy, members of the Group noted that
it is primarily connected with the existence of two dearest questions
for every Armenian ` Nagorno Karabakh and Genocide.

At the end of the meeting the guests declared that in such situation
Armenia has taken the decision to lead a balanced policy both from
strategic or global and military or regional perspectives.

Sweden interested in expanding relations with Armenia

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 14:05

The newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden Hans Gunnar
Adén (seat in Stockholm) handed his credentials to RA President
Robert Kocharyan.

Congratulating the Ambassador on appointment, the President highly
assessed the current level of the Armenian-Swedish political dialogue.

Ambassador Adén noted that henceforth his country will provide
greater time and attention to its relations with the countries of the
South Caucasus, including Armenia.

As an impulse for further development of bilateral cooperation the
parties mentioned RA president Robert Kocharyan’s official visit to
Sweden.

The interlocutors stressed that cooperation under the European New
Neighbors Policy provides new opportunities for expansion of
cooperation.

Attaching importance to the economic component of Armenian-Swedish
relations, Robert Kocharyan considered it necessary to form a legal
contractual field and organization of business forums.

During the meeting reference was made also to Armenian-Turkish
relations and regional questions.

Armenian Culture Week to be held in Krasnodar University

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 14:37

October 30 ` November 3 Armenian culture week will be held in
Krasnodar University of the Russian Ministry of Interior
Affairs. `Yerkramas’ newspaper of Russian Armenians informs that the
week is organized in the framework of the Year of the Republic of
Armenia in the Russian Federation. Different events will be held in
the University in the framework of the Armenian Culture Week, which
will be concluded with a concert on November 3.

Andranik Margaryan received the French Ambassador

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 15:08

October 27 RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received the French
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Henry Cuny, who is
completing his diplomatic mission in our country.

The Prime Minister highly assessed the Ambassador’s cooperation with
RA Government and noted that during Mr. Cuny’s tenure in office
Armenian-French relations acquired a new quality, mutual visits on the
high level, as well as conduct of diverse events on the state level
greatly promoted the reinforcement and deepening of the friendship
between the two countries.

The Ambassador thanked for warm words and kind wishes and expressed
the hope that during his further visits he will see Armenia in a
better condition, in peace and stability, from which all the countries
of the region will benefit. He underlined, however, that it does not
depend on Armenia only and welcomed Armenia’s efforts to launch
dialogue with neighbors and stressed the importance of improvement of
relations with Turkey and opening of the borders.

Henry Cuny attached importance to the negotiation process on the
settlement of the Karabakh issue in the framework of the OSCE Minsk
Group and keeping the attention of the international community focused
on the question, which will become a certain guarantee of peace,
since, according to him, the international community will not tolerate
the resolution of the conflict in a military way.

ANCA: Richard Hoagland’s candidacy not acceptable for Armenia

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 15:42

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) continues voicing
its concern about Richard Hoagland’s appointment as new Ambassador to
Armenia. `We continue insisting on our position: it is certain that
Hoagland is not a proper candidate for Armenia, particularly for
denying the Armenian Genocide,’ ANCA Press Secretary Elizabeth
Chuljyan told `Armenpress.’ She added that they are waiting for the
next step after Senator Menendez’s block on Hoagland’s nomination.

`Certainly, the Department of State should decide what it should do
for the resolution of the question: to uphold the status quo, to
bypass the Senate and appoint Richard Hoagland, or what is more
acceptable, suggest a new candidacy,’ Elizabeth Chuljyan noted

Let us remind that September 12 US Senator, Democrat Bob Menendez
blocked Richard Hoagland’s confirmation as new Ambassador to Armenia.

RA Ambassador to Norway handed his credentials to King Herald 5th

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 17:17

October 26 RA Ambassador to Norway Ara Ayvazian handed his credentials
to Herald 5th King of Norway.

During the meeting the parties expressed appreciation for trends and
prospects of development of bilateral relations. Special reference was
made to numerous expressions of friendly relations between Armenia and
Norway.

At the request of the King of Norway, Ambassador Ara Ayvazian
presented the political and economic situation in Armenia and the
relations with neighboring countries.

The parties underlined the importance of development of the dialogue
of civilizations as an important means for reinforcement of
international stability and security.