Month: May 2008

AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES FIRE AT DEFENSIVE BASES NEAR VILLAGE OF BAGANIS AND INJURE SHEPHERD

arminfo
2008-05-12 18:18:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired at defensive bases near of
Armed Forces of Armenia near the village of Baghanis, Tavush region,
Armenia approximately at 11:00am Monday.

Press Secretary of Armenian Defense Minister Colonel Seyran
Shakhsouvaryan told ArmInfo that a resident of the village of Baganis,
shepherd Lorik Avagyan (1957) was injured. It was possible to take
Avagyan out of the fire line only at about 12:40pm. L. Avagyan is
hospitalized. His health is in the state of moderate severity.

SPECIAL SERVICES OF ARMENIA PREVENT IMPORT OF DRUGS FROM IRAN

arminfo
2008-05-12 18:10:00

ArmInfo. National Security Service of Armenia press-center reports
that a lorry ‘KAMAZ’ was stopped on May 8 when entering Armenia from
Iran. The lorry belongs to Hovik Khalatyan, resident of Marneuli
region, Georgia (1962). The operatives exposed and confiscated 2 kg
and 330 g opium and 35 g hashish in the lorry. Hovik Khalatyan was
detained. Investigation is underway.

LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARIAN INTENDS TO PUT ILHAM ALIYEV ON TRIAL

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 9, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. According to political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazarian, the attempt upon his life made on April 22
in Ptghni "is the action of Azerbaijan’s special services." As the
political scientist said at the May 12 press conference, thanks to the
measures undertaken by law enforcement bodies one of the criminals was
arrested on May 8, and his version is confirmed by his testimony. "The
order comes from Azerbaijan.

Those ordering, committing, and assisting to the attempt upon my life
are not RA citizens," L. Melik-Shahnazarian said. As the investigation
of the case continues, he did not publicize any details, only said
that he speaks about a serious gang.

L. Melik-Shahnazarian accused Azeri President Ilham Aliyev of the
attempt upon his life, as, according to him, no special service of
any state will dare to do such an action in another state without the
order or consent of the first figure of the state. He declared that
after disclosing the case completely he is going to put I. Aliyev
on trial. According to the political scientist, the cause of the
attempt upon his life, in all probability, is his article published
in the Gharabaghski Express magazine lately, in which, in particular,
he presented some details of I. Aliyev’s becoming President in an
illegal way.

As L. Melik-Shahnazarian evaluated, the attempt upon his life is
evidence that Azerbaijan has announced a war not to Armenia, but
to Armenian political scientists, journalists. And, in his opinion,
he is not the only one, upon whose life they will make an attempt.

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ARMENIA AND LIECHTENSTEIN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

STRASBOURG, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian and Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein Rita Kieber-Beck
signed a Protocol on establishment of diplomatic relations between
the Republic of Armenia and Liechtenstein on May 7 in Strasbourg,
in the Palace of Europe. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the
Press and Information Department of the RA Foreign Ministry.

During the tete-a-tete conversation held after the ceremony, the
Ministers expressed readiness to develop interstate contacts and to
carry out cooperation at bilateral and international levels, in the
spheres of economy, culture, and science.

Liechtenstein is situated between Switzerland and Austria. Its
capital city is Vaduz, state language is German. The monarch is
Hans Adam II, Prime Minister Otmar Hasler. The main branches of
Liechtenstein’s economy are developed industry, in particular,
chemical, pharmaceutical, and information technologies, banking and
insurance spheres, tourism, and production of traditional agricultural
goods.

Edward Nalbandian met with Frans Timmermans, the Minister of the
Netherlands on European Issues, the same day in Strasbourg. Bilateral,
regional, and international issues of mutual interest were discussed
during the meeting.

The RA Foreign Minister presented the program priorities of the new
Armenian government to his Dutch colleague, among which deepening
of cooperation with European structures, as well as activization
of foreign economic contacts are considered as important. In this
respect the Ministers discussed issues connected with possibilities
of involvement of Dutch capital in a number of spheres of Armenia’s
economy, in particular, in the spheres of agriculture, communication,
and transport.

IN LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARIAN’S OPINION, NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED THROUGH ANOTHER WAR

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The Nagorno Karabakh problem
will be solved through another war. Political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazarian expressed such an opinion at the May 12 press
conference. According to him, that war will not happen soon, as the
supplies of oil and gas in the region are still interesting for the
world. "When these supplies finish or lose their economic significance,
then we will try to solve our problems with each other," the political
scientist said.

L. Melik-Shahnazarian also said that the negotiations of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement are doomed to failure, as Nagorno Karabakh does
not take part in them. "It is impossible to make a decision without
taking into account one of the conflict sides. Armenia has never been
a side of this conflict: it just helped, supported its compatriots,"
the political scientist said. He also reminded to journalists that
NKR representatives also signed the cease-fire Bishkek agreement
signed on May 12, 1994, being a direct side of the conflict.

ACCORDING TO CHAIRMAN OF CONTROL CHAMBER, DIFFERENCE REGISTERED IN PRICES OF STATE PROCUREMENT AGENCY AND ACTUAL MARKET PRICES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The shortcomings of the 2007 state
budget’s execution are mainly related to state procurement, the
chairman of the RA Control Chamber Ishkhan Zakarian said during
a talk with reporters on May 12. "We see a serious difference in
the prices given in the report of the State Procurement Agency and
actual market prices, which causes concern," he said. In his words,
no detailed report has been presented by the agency, to which about
193 billion drams was allocated by the 2007 budget. "We need new
definite state mechanisms in order to determine the difference in
the actual market prices and those declared," I. Zakarian underlined.

MONETARY BASE DECLINES BY 2.2%, BROAD MONEY GROWS BY 0.7% IN ARMENIA IN MARCH 2008

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. As of March 31, 2008, monetary base
made 380 bln 822 mln drams (about 1 bln 236.2 mln USD), declining by
8 bln 493 mln drams or 2.2% on the previous month.

According to preliminary data transferred by the Central Bank of
Armenia (CBA) to the RA National Statistical Service, as of March 31,
2008, broad money made 678 bln 658 mln drams, increasing by 4 bln
903 mln drams or 0.7% on the previous month.

The balance of the population’s deposits with banks amounted to
188 bln 632 mln drams as of March 31, 2008, growing by 16 bln 48 mln
drams or 9.3% on the previous month and by 56 bln 692 mln drams or 43%
as compared with the same day of last year.

TRADE GROWS BY 1.5%, SERVICES BY 10.2% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-MARCH 2008 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Trade amounted to 281 bln 942.9 mln drams
(about 915 mln 221 thousand USD) in current prices in January-March
2008, increasing by 1.5% in comparable prices on the same period of
last year.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, retail trade made
184 bln 341.6 mln drams in current prices in January-March 2008,
growing by 4.5% in comparable prices as compared with the index of
the same period of 2007.

Services made 122 bln 553.7 mln drams in current prices in
January-March 2008, growing by 10.2% in comparable prices as compared
with January-March 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NUMBER OF TOURISTS TO ARMENIA INCREASES BY 15.1%, THOSE FROM ARMENIA BY 16.5% IN JANUARY-MARCH 2008 AS COMPARED WITH SAME PERIOD OF 2007

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of tourists to Armenia made
84,234 in January-March 2008 – against 73,188 in the same period of
2007, with the growth making 15.1%.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, in the indicated
period 89,542 people lef Armenia to travel abroad. The growth made
16.5% as compared with January-March 2007.

ACCORDING TO PRIME MINISTER, IT IS ENVISAGED TO KEEP HIGH TAX COLLECTION RATES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Despite the fact that 2007 was a year
of parliamentary elections and preparation for the presidential
election, a 33% growth of budgetary revenues was registered, the RA
prime minister Tigran Sargsian stated at the May 12 joint sitting of
the RA National Assembly standing committees. In 2006, the growth of
revenues made 16%. The share of taxes in GDP grew by 1.6% – against
the programmed 0.4% growth. There were some structural changes in the
expenditures which grew by 32%: some additional funds were allocated
to the social sector, science, education and health care.

According to T. Sargsian, it is envisaged to keep high rates of tax
collection – about 0.5% a year, as well as to increase the share of
taxes in GDP and improve tax administration with the aim of reducing
shadow economy and ensuring a competitve field.