Month: May 2008

PRESIDENT: ARMENIAN FINANCIAL SYSTEM ABLE TO TRANSFORM TO REGIONAL FINANCIAL CENTER

ARKA
May 26, 2008

YEREVAN, May 26. /ARKA/. Armenian financial system has real potential
for transforming to a regional financial center, said Armenian
President Serge Sargsian at the financial and banking conference held
in Armenian resort town of Dilijan.

The President expressed belief that this idea should guide the
government work in the next few years.

The authorities are well aware of the advantages on this way, but
they know also the problems and the obstacles, Sargsian said adding
that the government will aim at strengthening the advantages and
intensely attracting any world innovations to Armenia.

Sargsian pointed out the intention of the authorities to seek for
international contribution and establish stable trends on Armenia’s
financial markets and expressed his positive attitude toward OMX
Scandinavian exchange operator’s coming to Armenia. "We should continue
taking similar efficient steps in this direction," the President said.

The first financial and banking conference in Dilijan was organized by
the Union of Banks of Armenia and was attended by Armenian President
Serge Sargsian and the Premier Tigran Sargsian. The aim of the
conference was to ascertain main directions of further development in
Armenian financial and banking system and its role in the country’s
development.

FINANCIAL SYSTEM MUST STIMULATE EQUAL DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN REGIONS: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

ARKA
May 26, 2008

YEREVAN, May 26. /ARKA/. Armenian financial system should become
one of the key factors accounting for the fulfilment of a task which
Armenian government has placed among its priority goals – the equal
development of all the regions of the country.

Armenian President Serge Sargsyan made this statement speaking at
the first financial and banking conference in the resort town of
Dilijan, Armenia.

The country will never achieve serious results unless its economic
growth applies to each citizen, the president believes.

"We all love Yerevan, but Armenia is not Yerevan alone. Business
activity should go beyond the capital, otherwise, we will never
achieve our equal development goal," Sargsyan said.

The president, prime minister and Central Bank vice-chairman visited
the construction site of a new building to house the educational
centre of Armenian Stock Exchange and Central Bank.

The conference was organized by the Union of Armenian Banks. It
was also attended by the key players of the financial and banking
sectors. The objective of the conference was to specify the priority
steps aimed at the development of the banking and financial sectors,
and its role in the country’s general development programs.

ARMENIAN PREMIER APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ARMENIAN DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

ARKA
May 26, 2008

YEREVAN, May 26. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
appointed Robert Harutyunyan as director general of Armenian
Development Agency CJSC, governmental press office reports.

This post became vacant after appointment of Tigran Davtyan as
finance minister.

Armenian Development Agency was established in 1998 by the Government.

The activity of this agency is mainly focused on spurring direct
investments in Armenia and expanding exportation.-0—

SUKIAS AVETISIAN: IF THERE ARE PLACES WHERE OPPOSITION’S POWERS ARE LIMITED, LET THEM ASK US TO EXTEND THEM

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. "The dialogue has started just after the
presidential elections and if some person or political force does not
wish to take part in it, it does not mean that there is no dialogue in
the political sphere," Sukias Avetisian, a member of the RA National
Assembly RPA faction, stated at a press briefing held on Friday. "If
only one political force or personality is meant, we should not focus
our attention on that problem much. If that person does not accept
the elected President, it is no use starting a dialogue with him. And
we have started a dialogue with all other forces long ago," he stated.

In response to the question of whether dialogue only inside the
ruling coalition is sufficient, S. Avetisian said: "There was no
coalition during the February 19 elections, there were sides, which
started a dialogue afterwards, and a coalition was born as a result
of it." Besides, according to him, there is the Zharangutiun faction
in the National Assembly, with which the power wing is carrying out
a dialogue. "What powers doesn’t the opposition have? If there are
places where opposition’s powers are limited, let them ask us to
extend them," the RPA member stated.

As regards first President Levon Ter-Petrosian, as the deputy affirmed,
most of the voters voting for him not shared his political views, but
had problems with other power wings. The deputy is convinced that today
there is also a dialogue with the people, the evidence of which is
the bills adopted by the parliament during the last four-day session.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SLOVAKIA CAN BECOME SECOND COUNTRY IN EUROPEAN UNION, WHICH HAS DEFINED CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT FOR DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Stefan Harabin, the Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Justice of Slovakia, taking as basis the resolution
recognizing the Armenian Genocide adopted in 2004 in the National
Council of Slovakia has suggested a draft law, according to which
the denial of genocides is considered as ciminally punishable. He has
taken the idea of considering the denial of the Armenian Genocide as
punishable as a basis for the document.

This information was provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by Ashot
Grigorian, the Chairman of the Forum of the Armenian Unions of Europe
and the Head of the Armenian community of Slovakia.

Ashot Grigorian clarified that if there is no precedent of the denial
of the Holocaust, there are precedents of the denial of the Armenian
Genocide and the whole Europe should lead a serious struggle against
its repetition.

According to him, in this respect Slovakia will serve another example
after France after the adoption of the law envisaging up to five years
of imprisonment for denying the Armenian Genocide. He expressed hope
that the adoption of the law will not take much time.

In the words of the Chairman of the Forum of the Armenian Unions of
Europe, if they take into consideration the fact that the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Turkey does everything for the organization of the
dismantling of the munument-khachkar placed in Bratislava in memory of
the victims of the Armenian Genocide, it will become clear what a blaw
the adoption of the given law will become for Turkey. Besides, Ashot
Grigorian is taking lobbyist steps so as the government of Slovakia
is not against the adoption of that law as the circumstance of the
development of the given draft law by the Minister of Justice does not
mean at all that the Ministers representing other parties making part
of the government will defend the idea on the adoption of the law. Even
the Christian-Democratic Movement party, the representatives of which
were the initiators of the adoption of the law on the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in the parliament of Slovakia in 2004, can be
against the adoption of the law considering the denial of the Armenian
Genocide as criminally punishable because of being opposition.

According to Ashot Grigorian, Stefan Harabin is in Armenia on May
26-28 at the invitation of Gevorg Danielian, the RA Minister of
Justice. The Head of the Armenian community of Slovakia reminded
that he organized the visit of Yan Charnogurski, a founder of the
Christian Democtratic Movement party and the Minister of Justice of
those times of that country, to Armenia, then the visit of RA former
Minister of Justice David Haroutiunian to Bratislava. S.

Harabin will be in Yerevan for the purpose of providing the
productiveness of the action of the provisions stipulated by the
contracts concluded during those visits. "In addition to this, the
visit of S. Harabin is a serious political act as any similar visit
is an active incentive for the provision of the settlement of the
Armenian issues in Europe," the Chairman of the Forum of the Armenian
Unions of Europe stressed.

He added that the Minister of Justice of Slovakia will take part in
the conference of the Forum of the Armenian Unions of Europe to be
held in Bratislava on May 29-30 and the ceremony of laying wreaths on
the monument khachkar (crosstone) placed in Bratislava in the memory
of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. It is expected that at the
invitation of S. Harabin, Slovakian current world-famous hockey player
Zigmund Palfin, who is in the Hockey National League, will take part
in the ceremony. Within the frameworks of the Conference dedicated to
the 90th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia and the 10th
anniversary of the Forum of the Armenian Unions of Europe besides
S. Harabin, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Culture of Slovakia,
the leaders of the parliament and other officials have affirmed their
participation. According to Ashot Grigorian, famous violonist Sergey
Khachatrian and the Eurasia band with Vladimir Khachatrian at the
head will perform during that solemn event.

RA NA SPECIAL SITTING CONVENED ON DEPUTIES’ INITIATIVE OPENS

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly, at the special
sitting convened on May 26 on deputies initiative adopted the 13
bills and legislative packages discussed on May 22, the last day of
the regular four-day session. Packages of bills On Fighting Money
Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, On Asset Securitization and
on Securities Provided with Assets and the bill On National Debt were
adopted in the third reading and completely. The latter, in particular,
stipulated that as of December 31 of the given year the national debt
should not exceed 60% of GDP of the previous year in RA.

The package of bills On Peculiarities of Administrative Examination
On Cases of Violations of Traffic Rules Revealed with Videoing or
Photographing Devices was adopted in the second reading, as well
as amendments and addenda were made to a number of valid laws and
codes in the first and second readings. In particular, according to
the amendments made to the valid law On Approving Annual and Complex
Programs of Restoration, Preservation, Reproduction, and Use of Lake
Sevan’s Ecosystem, the maximum annual amount of water outlet from Lake
Sevan for the purpose of irrigation is set 285 million sq.m. instead
of the current 170 million sq.m.

The parliament also ratified the agreement On Administrative Mutual
Assistance between the RA Government and Georgian Government signed
on October 15, 2007 in Yerevan.
From: Baghdasarian

ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF MAY 25 ELECTIONS OF MAYOR OF HRAZDAN REPUBLICAN, CURRENT MAYOR ARAM DANIELIAN RE-ELECETED

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the preliminary results
of the May 25 elections of the Mayor of Hrazdan Republican Aram
Danielian, the current Mayor, has been re-elected. 14 784 electors
have voted for him and 6 042 electors for non-party Mesrop Mesropian,
the Chief specialist of the Production-Technical Department of the
ArmRusGasProm CJSC (Hrazdan – 5).

This information was provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by Tatev
Ohanian, the Spokesperson of the Central Electoral Constituency.

21 467 or about 51 percent out of the 41 939 electors took part in
the election. 639 ballot-papers were found invalid. The number of
inaccuracies makes 38.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TAKES FOURTH PLACE IN EUROVISION – 2008

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Russia has been recognized winner in
the Eurovision – 2008 international song contest, which was held
in Belgrad on May 24. The song "Believe" of Dima Bilan, in general,
gathered 272 points.

And that means that the authoritative international contest will be
held in Moscow next year. The representative of Greece took second
and that of the Ukraine third place in the contest.

Armenia, which was taking part in the contest for the third time, took
fourth place as a result of the voting of 43 counties, irrespective
of the fact that it periodically appeared in the third place during
the voting.

Sirusho’s "Qele, Qele" song received the highest points: 12 points,
by Belgium, France, Poland, Czechia, Holland, Greece, Russia and
Georgia. Last year Armenia received 12 points only by Turkey and
Georgia. This year 10 points were given by Cyprus, Spain and Turkey,
8 points by Israel, Bulgaria and San Marino. 7 points were given to
Armenia by Belarus and the Ukraine, 6 points by Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Germany, 5 points by Serbia and Slovenia, 4 points by Romania, 2
points by Moldova, Albania and Sweden and 1 point by Macedonia and
Iceland. Most of the countries, who have voted for the "Qele, qele"
song, did not give any points to Armenia in the previous contests.

It should be mentioned that in 2006-2007 the representatives of
Armenia took 8th place.

ARAM KHACHATRIAN INTERNATIONAL CONTEST OF VIOLONISTS TO BE HELD FOR FIFTH TIME IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Aram Khachatrian international
contest of violonists will be held in Yerevan for the fifth time
between May 30 and June 6. Over twenty musicians aged 16-32 from
Armenia, Russia, Georgia, Japan, Poland, Corea, France, Italy, Spain,
Mexico, the United States of America and Turkey will take part in
this contest.

According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by Anna Ter-Hovakimian, the responsible secretary of the contest,
the contest will be held in three stages. 15 thousand U.S. dollars
is envisaged for the first place, 10 thousand dollar for the second
and 5 thousand dollars for the third place. There are also three
encouraging prizes set making 2000 dollars each.

The organizers of the contest are the RA Ministry of Culture and
Youth Affairs, the "Aram Khachatrian – contest" cultural fund and
the Komitas Conservatory of Yerevan.

Anna Ter-Hovakimian stated that the Aram Khachatrian international
contest of violoncellists will be organized in 2009.

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY YEREVAN INHABITANTS TO MAYOR’S OFFICE IN JANUARY-APRIL, 2008 EXCEEDS INDEX OF PREVIOUS YEARS THREE-FOLD

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The "one window" automated system
of acceptance and studying of citizens’ applications and the ELPAS
automated system of electronic document circulation work efficiently at
present. As Grigor Melkumian, the Head of Yerevan Mayor’s Office Staff,
said at the May 26 press conference, the introduction and efficient
operation of "one window" resulted in considerable activization
of document circulation, quality and efficiency of discussion of
citizens’ applications.

According to him, after systems’ introduction the number of
applications introduced by citizens to the Mayor’s Office in 2007
grew compared with the previous years and made 57.6 thousand. The
head of the staff said that nearly 57% applications regard problems
of communal sphere, 17% property, 14% urban development, 5% legal
problems. More than 80% answers to all applications, according to
G. Melkumian, is positive. It was also mentioned that the number
of application-complaints submitted for the second time reduced
three-fold.

G. Melkumian also said that the number of applications submitted in
January-April, 2008 made 28102, which exceeds the index of the same
period of the previous two years three-fold.