Month: July 2007

PACE PRESIDENT REGRETS THAT ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN MATCHES WERE CANCELLED

armradio.am
06.07.2007 15:56

"It’s a pity that Azerbaijan-Armenia matches were cancelled," said
the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Rene van der Linden, Day.az reports.

Rene van der Linden noted that the decision of the UEFA to refuse
from the matches between Armenia and Azerbaijan scheduled September
8 and 12 was unexpected. PACE President underlined that sport is an
important field for improvement of relations. "Sport is an extremely
interesting sphere. At the same time sport is able to create ground
for the improvement of relations between peoples."

THERE ARE SERIOUS POLITICAL FORCES IN ARMENIA WHICH IN CASE OF FAIR ELECTION HOLDING MAY GAIN A VICTORY OVER SERZH SARKISYAN AND ROBERT KOCHARYAN, REPRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIAN PAN-NATIONAL MOVEMENT THINKS

armradio.am
2007-07-06 13:23:00

There are serious political forces in Armenia which in case of fair
election holding may gain a victory over Serzh Sarkisyan and Robert
Kocharyan, member of the Armenian Pan-National Movement board Aram
Manukyan said at the press-conference, Friday.

He also added that a moment has come when several opposition forces
should consolidate and put forward a single-whole candidate. Manukyan
thinks that at present he sees no other experienced candidate to the
post of the president except Levon Ter-Petrosyan. , – he said. He
also said that if Ter-Petrosyan does not run for president, the
APNM will support another candidate, but at present they do not see
an alternative candidate. He thinks it is a positive fact that the
opposition lost at the parliamentary election, as it will promote its
more organized participating in the presidential election. He said
that the final results of the opposition forces talks on nomination
of a single-whole candidate will be clear in October.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRE-PLANNED DECISION MAKING IN THE ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AROUSES CONCERN, HERITAGE PARTY LEADER SAYS

armradio.am
2007-07-06 12:49:00

"We are concerned over the atmosphere of pre-planned decision making
in the Armenian National Assembly, where we work for the first time,"
Raffi Hovannisian, Heritage opposition party leader, said in an
interview with ArmInfo.

He pointed out that even if there is free competition of ideas and
alternatives, it is not reflected in law making. The authorities used
to say that the national-wide referendum for Constitutional Reform in
2005 would lead to democracy development as the new Basic Law meets
European standards.

However, it has become quite evident now that everything in the country
is left unchanged and there is neither distribution of power branches
nor mechanisms for their restriction, R. Hovannisian said.

He also added that given this week’s extraordinary session of the
parliament, one can arrive at a conclusion that the present staff
of the legislative body continues not so good traditions of their
predecessors. The work style is like that of the Soviet period. The
parliament is engaged just in approving the initiatives of the
government and the president. In Soviet times we at least knew that
there is a definite ideology and system values which the authorities
adhered to. Now, everything is done under the colour of democracy,
but less has been changed, Heritage leader said.

The first initiatives made by the government do not correspond to its
recently approved programme of activities. As soon as the programme
was approved, the government added bills restricting the freedom of
speech and the powers of the parliament when ratifying international
agreements. The powers of the parliament are evidently restricted
in favor of the government and the president. Raffi Hovannisian said
that Heritage intends to make preventive alarms of possible negative
consequences of any decision by the parliament. If the parliament of
new convocation continues its work style, it will lose its authority
and will not cope with its high role in country’s life, which is
stipulated by the Basic Law, R. Hovannisian said.

MUCH WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RESOLVE SO-CALLED FROZEN CONFLICTS: OSCE PA PRESIDENT

arminfo
2007-07-06 12:48:00

"In the young democracies of both Central Asia and the Caucasus, much
work still needs to be done." The President of OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly Goran Lennmaker particularly pointed to the unresolved,
so-called frozen conflicts, notably in Nagorno-Karabakh, but also in
Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. These all carry high human,
economic and political costs, Goran Lennmarker said in Vienna before
the 16th annual session of OSCE in Kiev.

OSCE headquarters told ArmInfo that Goran Lennmarker expanded on
his own active involvement in seeking a peaceful solution to the
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan about Nagorno-Karabakh –
first as the Special Representative on Nagorno- Karabakh of the
Parliamentary Assembly and now as its President.

"For some time now, I have talked about ‘a golden opportunity’ for
an agreement and now, after another visit to the Caucasus, I believe
more than ever in that opportunity," said the President.

A good framework agreement that addresses the main concerns of all
parties has been presented by the Minsk Group, co-chaired by France,
Russia and the United States, he said. It is ready to be signed by
the leaders of the two countries, if the political will is there.

"The alternative, a new war, is unthinkable." The advantages of
a peace accord for the two countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
are huge. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons
and refugees could return and re-start their lives. With a peace
agreement in Nagorno-Karabakh, he continued, the two countries and
Georgia could, in earnest, work to build a region characterized by
security, democracy and prosperity.

He said that as Western Europe reaches out eastward, it was
important to understand the difficulties in building new, independent
nations. That work will not be completed overnight. But engagement
must continue not just for the sake of these countries but for the
sake of all of Europe, Goran Lennmarker said.

NKR PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER STANDS UP FOR ACTIVATION OF FIGHTS AGAINST CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY

arminfo
2007-07-06 12:46:00

The election campaign of presidential contenders in Nagorno Karabakh
goes on.

As ArmInfo’s special correspondent in Stepanakert reports, the
presidential contender, professor of the Artsakh State University
Vanyan Avanesyan reminded the voters of the basic provisions of his
election programme. "Establishment of justice, fight against the
official abuse, corruption and bribery. The Law must work equally
for all.

The complaints and applications of citizens should be considered
quickly and responded. The guilty must be brought to trial", the
candidate said. He said that the minimum pension should be raised
from 10-15 thsd drams to 40-50 thsd drams, and the lowest salary –
from 20,000 drams to 50-60 thsd drams started January 1. In case V.

Avanesyan is elected the president, provision of the population with
housing will be in the center of his attention.

To recall, the stage of the election campaign of the presidential
contenders in NKR will last till July 17, the participants in which
are Vanya Avanesyan, Armen Abgaryan, Masis Mailyan, Hrant Melkumyan
and Baki Sahakyan. All the contenders, except the Karabakh communists’
leader, have been nominated on the basis of civil initiative.

FIRES BREAK OUT PERIODICALLY ON CONTACT LINE OF ARMED FORCES OF NKR AND AZERBAIJAN

arminfo
2007-07-06 12:46:00

Fires break out periodically on the contact line of armed forces of
NKR and Azerbaijan since the end of May, 2007. As ArmInfo’s special
correspondent in Stepanakert reports, the Rescue Service of NKR deals
with localization and extinguishing of fires.

The servicemen of the NKR Defense Army and the population assist them
if necessary. Head of the Hadrut Fire-Rescue Unit of the NKR Rescue
Service Roman Mailyan said that the fires happen more often in the
region of Goradiz station, among the posts of armed forces of NKR
and Azerbaijan. "We have no access there, therefore, we cannot say
of the reasons of inflammations.

Earlier, the NKR Foreign Ministry sent a note to the Office
of the Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office, in
which it expressed concern over the fires and asked to conduct
a crisis-monitoring of the boundary area as to assess the actual
situation in situ. NKR FM expressed hope that timely interference
of this Office will allow to avoid recurrence of the last-year
situation with fires, which was used by Azerbaijani authorities for
propagandistic purposes and has become one factor more to destabilize
the peaceful process.

ARMENIA-GEORGIA RELATIONS ARE NORMAL, EVEN GOOD, WHILE AZERBAIJAN-TURKEY RELATIONS DID NOT CHANGE: PACE PRESIDENT

arminfo
2007-07-04 21:51:00

"I see no progress in the relations of Armenia with the neighbouring
countries since the period of my visit to the South Caucasus
region two years ago", PACE President Rene van der Linden said at a
press-conference in Yerevan.

He also said that he assesses Armenia-Georgia relations as normal, even
good, while Azerbaijan- Turkey relations did not change. "Nevertheless,
I cannot say what are the present relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. It will be clear after my visit to Azerbaijan. However,
I am not full of optimism", PACE President said.

DIRECTOR GENERAL CHANGED AT YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY

arminfo
2007-07-06 12:42:00

The present Director General of the "Yerevan Brandy Company" Herve
Caroff leaves the enterprise.

As Director General, President of "Pernod Ricard" Eastern Europe
Frank Boivin said at a press- conference in Yerevan, Herve Caroff
returns to his first love and will take the post of the Director
on Development and Operations in "Pernod Ricard" Eastern Europe in
Moscow. This cluster includes Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Georgia and Armenia.

H. Caroff told ArmInfo that he has worked at YBC for 3,5 years. The
contracts, as a rule, are signed for 3-5 years.

Started July 1, 2007, Herve Caroff is replaced by new Director
General of YBC in the person of Cedric Retailleau. Since march, 2005,
he has been Director General of GWS in Georgia, belonging to "Pernod
Recard" group. In parallel with the post of YBC Director General, he
will continue to fulfill the duties of GWS Director General with the
residence in Yerevan. Cedric Retailleau is 29 years old. He graduated
from the Toulouse High School of Commerce.

YEREVAN BANDY COMPANY INTENDS TO MAINTAIN LEVEL OF GRAPES PROVISIONS OF 2006 AT 28,000 TONS IN 2007

arminfo
2007-07-06 12:41:00

The "Yerevan Brandy Company" intends to maintain the level of grapes
provisions of 2006 at 28,000 tons in 2007, Director General of YBC
Herve Caroff told ArmInfo.

He said that the final decision regarding the volume of grapes
provisions, 2007 and the price of purchases will be made in the
beginning of September after assessment of the harvest in July and
August. H. Caroff noted that the Company schedules no revolution in
the purchase price policy.

However, if there are some changes, they will be
insufficient. "Everything should be done for the farmers to be
profitable to grow the grapes in Armenia", H. Caroff said. He added
that the plan for the grapes purchase is developed 10-15 years in
advance, therefore, YBC is presently gathering information about its
traditional markets. Besides 28,000 tons of grapes in 2006, YBC also
purchased 2,2 thsd l of brandy alcohol from its partners in Armenia
and Karabakh, E. Caroff said. He added that the grapes provisions over
the last 3-4 years have grown twice and this tendency will continue. In
view of this, he added, the Company considers possibility of building
a workshop in YBC’s Tavush branch for production of brandy alcohol.

VOLUME OF SALES OF ‘YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY’ GREW BY 4%: RESULTS OF 2007 FINANCIAL YEAR

arminfo
2007-07-06 12:40:00

Upon results of 2007 financial year (July 1, 2006 – June 3, 2007),
the volume of sales of the "Yerevan Brandy Company" (YBC) grew by 4%
to 3,650 mln l of brandy, Director General of YBC Herve Caroff said
at a press-conference.

He said that the growth was provided mainly due to extension of such
important and traditional markets as in Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia and
Baltic states. The growth in Russia, to the share of which 70% of the
total volume of sales fall, was limited in view of introduction of new
excise stamps by Russian party. H. Caroff also said that the Company’s
management is satisfied with the fact that the volumes of sales of
brandy of the premium (by 8%) and super premium (14%) categories,
to the share of which 32% of total sales of "Ararat" falls, have
grown to the utmost in all the markets over the reporting period. The
"Ararat" brandy is successfully sold in Armenia. Upon the financial
year results, the volumes of sales in Armenia grew by 7% to 270,000
l. In addition, sales in the segments of premium and super-premium grew
by 15% and 14%, respectively. Noteworthy, the import of production of
the "Pernod Ricard" group to Armenia, the owner of YBC and the second,
by size, producer of wines and strong alcohol drinks in the world,
grew by 50% in 2006-2007. In particular, the growth was registered
by such key brands as Chivas Regal – by 70%, Beefeater – by 47%,
Jameson – by 120%, Havana Club – by 70% and Olmeca – by 100%.

H. Caroff added that the YBC has entered the American market for
the first time over the reporting period and sold 50,000 l of
brandy there. The sales in Poland, Bulgaria and Rumania, as well
as in the Asian markets, in Vietnam and Singapore, in particular,
were regulated. The sales in Germany have been consolidated. The
Company is getting ready to enter the French market in autumn,
2007, he said. Asked by journalists, at a press-conference, about
the difficulties and prospects of sales in Russia, Director General,
President of "Pernod Ricard" Eastern Europe Frank Boivin said that the
"Russian market is very complicated with its administrative problems.

However, the "Pernod Ricard" group considers Russia not as a problem
but a great opportunity. The Russian consumers are well-acquainted
with the "Ararat" brandy. He added that the Company schedules to
develop sales in the traditional markets, including Russia, as well
as enter new markets.

To note, the "Yerevan Brandy Company" was privatized in May, 1998 by
"Pernod Ricard" French group. Today, YBC produces 7 names of brandy
and sales them in 20 countries.