Month: November 2006

GAS PRICE TO GO UP AGAIN
A1+
[06:13 pm] 31 October, 2006
But it will remain the same for the residents
Today Karen Karapetyan, executive director of “ArmRusGasArd,” repeated
his words that their company has little profit. It is the largest
tax-payer in the country, and they intend to get at least 40 million
USD annual profit.
For instance, the company will have only 3 million 750 thousand USD
profit by the end of the year but they have already made investments
of 83 million USD.
Mr. Karapetyan claims that the gas tariffs are comparatively low in
Armenia. “We might issue an application to the Committee Regulating
Public Services by the turn of the year to increase the tariffs,” said
Karen Karapetyan and then, trying to comfort the journalists, added,
“But it doesn’t refer to the subscribers, don’t worry on this score.”
This refers to the companies utilizing gas all over the country. The
state gave them subsidies to compensate part of the increased tariffs.
Mr. Karapetyan was also concerned about the wrong distribution of the
subsidies. “If the subsidies were distributed effectively, it would
give an excellent opportunity to the Armenian manufacturers to take
their products to the international market,” says the director of
“ArmRusGasArd.”
Karen Karapetyan announced that their company also intends entering
the international market in order to prove that besides cognac,
Armenia can have other brandy as well.

29% PEOPLE REMAIN HUNGRY
A1+
[05:44 pm] 31 October, 2006
Armenia is included in the list of CIS countries where there are a
lot of people feeding abnormally.
According to the report of the FAO (Food and Agricultural
Organization), 29percent of the Armenian population don’t eat well
and sufficiently.
Alongside with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Armenia appeared in the
last place in the CIS countries’ list with its index.
In this respect, Belorussia, Ukraine and Russia are in better state.
As for Armenia’s neighbors, Georgia and Azerbaijan have serious
progress in this sphere among the former Soviet countries according
to the UNO.
The report says that the total number of the people who were on the
verge of hunger reached 2.5 million in Georgia and Azerbaijan in 1993 –
1995 whereas this number was curtailed to 700 thousand in 2001 – 2003.
The FAO sees progress in Armenia as well. If 52 percent of the
population didn’t feed properly in 90s, today, their number reduced to
29 percent though the FAO specialists claim that the above-mentioned
index is again high and troublesome.
According to the UNO specialists, the insufficient nourishment is
determined by wars, natural disasters and the extreme poverty caused
by these factors.
From: Baghdasarian

LET RUSSIA CALM DOWN
A1+
[06:30 pm] 31 October, 2006
“Russia is Armenia’s main partner,” claimed Karen Chshmarityan,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development, while commenting on the
RF president’s announcement.
Vladimir Putin was concerned that Russia is in the third place due
to its investments in Armenia, its military partner.
The minister says that Russia was in the first place in 1991 – 2005
by the index of its total investments.
Russia invested 67.5 million USD in Armenia in 2005.
By the way, 42.6 percent of the gross foreign investments and 49.9
percent of the direct investments in 2001 – 2005 were made by the EU
member countries.
An abrupt increase has been perceived since 2003.
Last year the total foreign investments in Armenia outnumbered 400
million USD; 215 million of which was made by the EU countries.
Germany, Greece and France are leaders of investment initiatives
in Armenia.

IN PROTECTION OF ARMAN BABAJANYAN
A1+
[07:50 pm] 31 October, 2006
Today a group of journalists and NGOs issued an announcement in
protection of Arman Babajanyan, editor-in-chief of “Yerevan Time”
newspaper.
“The violations against the media representatives on the eve of the
elections give ground for serious concerns.
We view the verdict brought in connection with Arman Babajanyan’s
case within the framework of these violations and encroachments.
The verdict was unprecedented due to its seriousness and is
rather harsh; it doesn’t go in line with the committed crime and
its consequences. The verdict could have been milder taking into
consideration the existing facts.
Besides, there was certain discrimination against the editor of
“Yerevan Time” and the law on “citizens escaping from compulsory
military service via and breeching the fixed order” was ignored. Under
the above-mentioned law, any 27-year-old citizen escaping from
compulsory military service can get identification card in case he
pays the required money and avoid punishment.
Taking into account all the above-mentioned points, we can assume
that Arman Babajanyan’s arrest was more connected with his work and
political orientation.
Arman Babajanyan has appealed to the corresponding body dealing with
the issues of 27-year-old citizens who escaped from military service
from 1992-2005 with the request to apply the law in his case.
We join the announcement asking the Court of First Instance to
re-view the verdict and to apply the above-mentioned law in Arman
Babajanyan’s case.
Nikol Pashinyan, “Yerevan Time”
Gegham Nazaryan, “Hayk”
Shogher Matevosyan, “The Forth Power”
Vardan Haroutyunyan, advocate
Boris Navasardyan
Mesrop Haroutyunyan
Ashot Melikyan
Edik Baghdasaryan, “Investigative Journalists” NGO
Karen Hakobyan, “Hope” NGO
Seda Melikyan, “Spiritual Armenia” NGO
Lala Aslikyan, “Hope” NGO
Michael Danielyan, “Helsinki Assosiacion”
Zara Postanjyan, advocate
Ahot Atoyan, advocate

WAS “GASPROM” WRONG IN ITS CALCULATIONS?
A1+
[08:07 pm] 31 October, 2006
According to the Russian company “Gasprom,” they already possess more
shares in ArmRusGasArd.
Let us remind you that the founders of the Armenian “ArmRusGasArd”
company, the RA Government and “Gasprom,” have 45 percent shares and
the Company “Itera” has 10 percent shares.
The representatives of “Gasprom” have lately announced that they
already possess 58 percent of the total shares.
Karen Karapetyan, executive director of “ArmRusGasArd” said his
opinion on this score.
Mr. Karapetyan finds the concern why 70-80 percent of the Armenian
energy sphere should go to one country illogical. This namely refers
to the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline which will be given to “Gasprom”
and after possessing the packet of shares Russia can close the gas
tubes entering to Armenia any time. “It doesn’t matter who the owner
is and what nationality he belongs to. If the country wants efficient
administration, it must alienate certain objects,” announced Karen
Karapetyan.
There was an attempt to remind him that “Gasprom” was not estranged
it is still a state institution. But Mr. Karapetyan answered, “Who
says that the energy bloc is liberal in Russia. I think it is more
liberal in Armenia than in any other CIS country.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WIFE OF FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER VOICES HER SUGGESTIONS
Panorama.am
12:25 31/10/06
“A monument should be raised to the memory of political prisoners who
did not have graves,” Hasmik Navasardyan, wife of Ashot Navasardyan,
who was sentenced to jail in the Soviet era for his strive for
independence, said. Hasmik Navasardyan has a number of other
suggestions aimed to raise the concerns of political prisoners in
front of the state. She thinks the government ought to declare one
day as a day of political prisoners in a year. She also suggests
writing a book about.

KOCHARYAN MEETS WITH FRADKOV
A1+
[07:10 pm] 31 October, 2006
Today, RA President Robert Kocharyan met with Russian Prime Minister
Michael Fradkov.
“We see great progress in the Russian-Armenian collaboration, but a
number of issues in the transportation-communication sphere hinder this
fruitful co-operation,” said President Kocharyan during the meeting.
At the same time he added that the issues connected with transportation
are compensated by investment projects, namely in the construction
and energy fields.
In Michael Fradkov’s words, he will meet with his Armenian counterpart
in Moscow on December 1 to discuss the issues of the two countries’
cooperation.
Igor Levitin, Minister of the RF Transportation and co-president of
the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental committee, was also present
during the meeting of Robert Kocharyan and Michael Fradkov.

MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMY: EU BIGGEST INVESTOR IN ARMENIA
Panorama.am
14:43 31/10/06
European Union countries – Germany, Greece, France, are the biggest
investors in Armenia, Karen Tchshmarityan, minister of finance and
economy, said speaking about the regular 7th meeting of the Committee
on Cooperation between Armenia and European Union.
In his words, EU countries account for 36.9% of trade turnover of our
countries. The average indicator of the trade turnover from the total
turnover made up 37.3% in export, 32.3% – in import in 2001-2005. As
of January-August, 2006 50.8% of the Armenian export and 30.6% of
import accounts on EU countries, the minister said.

TRANSPORT ISSUES STYMIE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
01/11/2006
“Economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia is developing but
this process is being stymied because of the issues in the sphere of
transportation,” Armenian president stated during the meeting with
Russian prime minister. Yet, investment projects in the spheres
of raw materials processing, construction and electricity offset
transport issues.
Prime minister Fradkov said that he will discuss cooperation issues
between the two states with his Armenian counterpart in Moscow on
December 1. The next day first deputy prime minister of Russia Dmitri
Medvedev will take part in the closing ceremony of Armenia’s Year in
Russia in St. Petersburg.
Igor Levitin, co-chair of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental
commission and transport minister of Russia, also took part in the
get-together of the Armenian president and Russian PM.
President Kocharian, Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov and Russia’s first
lady Lyudmila Putina took part in the unveiling ceremony of the bronze
statue of world-famous composer Aram Khachaturian yesterday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO INFORMATION ON DONOR-COUNTRIES FOR CLOSURE OF ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Panorama.am
14:45 31/10/06
There is no information on the donor-countries who will provide
financial support for taking up safety measures at the nuclear power
plant of Armenia and its closure, Karen Tchshmarityan, minister of
finance and economy, told a press conference today.
In his words, EU aims to hold a conference of donor-countries to
realize these goals. Tchshmarityan said the ministry is watchful to
the developments and soon information will be released.
Reminder: Armenian nuclear power plant, made of two power units with
the capacity of 815Mvatt, was closed in 1988. The second power unit
resumed in 1995. EU strongly suggests closing the Armenian nuclear
power plant whereas the Armenian government says it can do so only
after alternative energy sources are found.
Armenia estimated the full closure of the power plant in the amount
of $1 billion whereas the European countries are only ready to pay
100 million euro.
Armenia intends to spend $20 million from the total cost and expects
the remaining part to be paid by donor-countries.