No Prepayment For Gas Meter Installation In Armenia May 1 To Aug 1

NO PREPAYMENT FOR GAS METER INSTALLATION IN ARMENIA MAY 1 TO AUG 1

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. The Armenian Russian Company "ArmRosgasprom"
has announced an action – installation of gas meters without a 40,000
AMD prepayment from May 1 to August 1, 2008.

The ArmRosgasprom press service reports that the reason for the action
is citizens’ numerous requests.

The company reports a 5.1% increase in the supply of natural gas to
Armenia in January-March 2008 as compared with the corresponding period
last year. A total of 704.3mln cubic meters out of the 785.5mln cubic
meters supplied to Armenia were sold – 10.l4% increase. Armenia’s
population consumed a total of 295.84mln cubic meters of gas –
a 25.4% increase.

The ArmRosgasprom Company holds a monopoly of the supply of Russian
gas to Armenia.

The company was founded in 1997. The stockholders of the company are
Gasprom (57.59%), RA Ministry of Energy (34.7%) and the ITERA oil
and gas company (7.71%).

Relations With Armenia Important For Iran

RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA IMPORTANT FOR IRAN

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Iran attaches high importance to further
development of its relations with Armenia, stated Iranian Ambassador
to Armenia Seyed Ali Saghaeyan.

The Iranian leadership attaches high importance to the development
of relations with Armenia, and the participation of President Mahmud
Ahmajinejad’s personal representative in the inauguration in Armenia’s
President is one more proof of the Iranian side’s good will, Ambassador
Saghaeyan stated at his meeting with RA President Serge Sargsyan.

At their meeting the sides stressed the strategic importance
of bilateral relations, expressing their satisfaction over the
development of bilateral relations due to the combined efforts,
reports the RA presidential press service.

President Serge Sargsyan described the Armenian-Iranian relations
as stable, stating Armenia’s willingness for expanding bilateral
cooperation. He emphasized the importance of effective implementation
of energy programs, giving priority to the increase in the trade
turnover and encouragement of cooperation between the two countries’
private sectors.

Armenian Defense Minister Comments On His Deputy’s Resignation

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER COMMENTS ON HIS DEPUTY’S RESIGNATION

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan
has commented on the resignation of the RA Deputy Defense Minister
Gurgen Melkonyan.

"The main reason for Melkonyan’s retirement was that he had held this
position for a long time," the Minister said.

Officials must no way hold the same posts for a long time, as this
can cause tenseness and relax vigilance, according to Ohanyan. -0–

Armenian-Chinese Business Forum To Be Held In Beijing In June 2008

ARMENIAN-CHINESE BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN BEIJING IN JUNE 2008

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. The first Armenian-Chinese business forum is
to be held in Beijing in June 2008, press office of Armenian Foreign
Ministry reports.

Vahagn Movsisyan Armenian ambassador to China, and Sui Tunkaya,
deputy chairman of Armenian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission,
have discussed the forum-related issues in Beijing.

The ambassador said that 20 Armenian companies have already expressed
their wish to take part in the event.

Movsisyan and Tunkaya pointed out the necessity for outlining areas
of mutual interest. They think this would spur trade between the
two countries.

They singled out construction, organic chemistry, heavy engineering
industry, stone working and processing of agricultural products as
favorable areas for developing cooperation between the countries.

Movsisyan stressed the importance of state support for importation
of Armenian goods in China.

Tunkaya said that Armenian-Chinese trade turnover has grown 15% over
the last year. He finds it necessary to develop indirect business
ties and thinks Trade Chamber of Armenia and Chinese Trade Ministry’s
bureau for promoting foreign trade relations can play a major role
in this matter.

Movsisyan and Tunkaya said that investment programs can be implemented
through Chinese EXIM bank.

Statistical reports say trade turnover between Armenia and China
reached $203 million by late 2007 after growing 82% over the year.

Armenia exported goods worth $7.9 million to China in 2007. This
amount 17 times exceeds that of the previous year.

Chinese goods brought to Armenia in 2007 totaled 195.1 million –
75.7% greater than in 2006.

Armenian Parliament Approves Government’s Program For 2008-2012

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAM FOR 2008-2012

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. With 88 to three, the RA Parliament approved
the Government’s program of action for 2008-2012.

The Government worked out the program in the context of the National
Security Strategy of Armenia, the Poverty Reduction Strategic Program
and the election programs of the President, the coalition-forming
parties (the Republican Party of Armenia, the Prospering Party of
Armenia, the Country of Law Party and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, ARF), as well as the principal provisions of the Agreement
on Political Coalition.

The concept of the government’s program is based on five pivots –
efficiency and security in the rapidly changing world, preservation
of spiritual and cultural values, and human freedoms.

In presenting the program, RA Premier Tigran Sargssyan presented
stressed that the Government will work to ensure high rates of
macroeconomic stability and economic growth.

"The Government’s role in economy will be essential, however,
restricted to creating a favourable environment for the private
sector," the Premier said.

The government says it will try to achieve an ambitious goal of making
Armenia a regional centre of business and investments.

The program largely focuses on poverty reduction issues as well.

"The shortest way to solve the problem of poverty is to make needy
citizens actively involved in the country’s economic and political
life," Sargssyan said.

Тhe Government will keep focus on the problem highlighted by the
former Government, namely, the gap between the average pensions
and average wages, which led to a tangible gap between the living
standards of employed citizens and pensioners.

The new Government will also focus on the development of a national
system of environmental protection, people’s access to cultural
resources and aviation modernization.

–Boundary_(ID_urmtyPRRsJsloBXzDot lDA)–

6.4% Unemployment In Armenia In Jan-Mar 2008

6.4% UNEMPLOYMENT IN ARMENIA IN JAN-MAR 2008

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. 6.4% unemployment was recorded in Armenia in
January-March 2008 – a 0.8% decrease as compared to the corresponding
period of last year.

The RA National Statistical Service reports that Armenia’s economically
active population was nearly 1,149,800 in the first quarter of 2008,
with 1,076,600 of them employed.

33.3% of the population – 29.5% men and 37.4% women – were employed
in the economic sector. 79.9% worked for the private sector, 19.7% for
the government sector, with only 0.4% involved in the public sector.

By the end of March, 2008, the RA State Employment Service had
officially registered 89,100 job-seekers, with 77,000 of them claiming
unemployed.

74,700 of the job-seekers were granted unemployment status. 47,000
of the job-seekers were employed, with 9,300 of them being first-time
job-seekers.

Women constituted 74.4% of all the officially registered unemployed
in Armenia – 55,600.

Only 16,100 unemployed were granted unemployment benefits against
11,400 last March. The average monthly benefit was 13,338 AMD against
last year’s 10,458 AMD.

868 vacancies were officially registered at the end of March 2008
(89 unemployed for one vacancy).

85 Enterprises With Foreign Capital Registered In Armenia In Jan-Mar

85 ENTERPRISES WITH FOREIGN CAPITAL REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN JAN-MAR 2008

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Eighty-five enterprises with foreign capital
were registered in Armenia in January-March 2008.

The RA Statistical Service reports that investments in the companies
totaled 6,906.93mln AMD, with 104.48mln AMD invested in 38 enterprises
co-founded by both local and foreign individuals and/or legal
entities. The rest 47 enterprises were registered with 100% foreign
capital, with a total of 6,802.45mln AMD invested in them.

In January-March 2008, 872 legal entities with investments totaling
7,814mln AMD were registered in Armenia.

0.6% Price Rise On Armenia’s Food Market In Apr 2008

0.6% PRICE RISE ON ARMENIA’S FOOD MARKET IN APR 2008

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. A 0.6% rise in foodstuff prices was recorded
in Armenia in April as compared with March. The RA Statistical Service
reports that 15.4% annual inflation (April 2008 against April 2007)
was recorded on the foodstuff market, with 7.8% inflation recorded
since the beginning of the year.

In April 0.2%-5.6% inflation was recorded in 6 out of 13 product
groups.

The highest, 6%, rise in the prices for bread, flour and vegetable
oil was recorded, with their impact on inflation being 0.8pct and
their share in the consumer basket 13.91%.

Bakery goods prices rose by 5.6% in April, with the annual rise being
41.3%, mainly due to a 5.9% rise in the price for first-grade flour
and a 9.2% rise in the price for extra quality flour. As a result,
a 5.6% rise in the price for first class bread and 7.3% rise in price
for pasta were recorded in April.

In all 11 cities under review prices for bakery goods rose by 3.6-7.9%
with maximum rise recorded in Talin. A 6.0% rise was recorded in
Yerevan this April.

A 38.5% annual rise in the prices for animal and vegetable fats was
recorded this April, with a 4.6% rise recorded in April as compared
with March 2008.

In April butter and vegetable oil prices rose by 6.3% and 5.7%
respectively.

A 0.8%-6.9% rise in the prices for animal and vegetable fats was
recorded in all the cities involved in the survey, with maximum rise
recorded in Artashat. A 5.3% rise was recorded in Yerevan.

The prices for coffee, tea and cacao showed a 4.6% rise, mainly due
to a rise in the price for black ground coffee. A 1.1-11% rise was
recorded in all the cities, with maximum rise recorded in Vagharshapat
and a 3.4% rise in Yerevan.

Meat products showed a 2% price rise in April as compared with March,
mainly due to a 9.1% rise in the price for pork and a 3.7% rise in
price for beef.

Prices for mutton fell by 4.2%.

This product group showed a 0.2-3.1% average price rise in eight
cities, with maximum price rise recorded in Armenia’s capital. A
1.1-0.1% rise in the prices for meat products was recorded in the
rest three cities.

A 1.3% rise in the average prices for eggs was recorded in April,
with a 1.9-5.3% rise recorded in Yerevan, Vanadzor and Artashat. An
8.3-0.3% rise in the prices for eggs was recorded in four cities,
with no price changes recorded in the other four cities as compared
to March.

A 0.1% and 0.2% rise in the price for alcoholic drinks, tobacco and
soft drinks was recorded in April as compared with March.

A 9.6% fall in the price for fish products was recorded in Armenia
this April as compared with February, mainly due to 14.9% and 10.3%
fall in the price for smoked and fresh whitefish respectively. Fish
prices fell by 17.4-1.8% in nine cities under review with maximum fall
recorded in Vanadzor. On the other hand, a 1.7% rise in the price for
fish products was recorded in Talin, with no price changes recorded
in Yeghegnadzor.

A 7.2% fall in the price for vegetables and potatoes was recorded
this April as compared with last April, with a 14% fall recorded as
compared with this March. The prices for the following products fell:
31% for greens, 28.9% for spring onions, 21.2% for cucumbers, 12.9%
for potatoes, 12.7% for cabbage, 11.7% for tomatoes, 9.4% for beet,
4.4% for carrots and 3.1% for garlic.

This group showed 21-2.9% fall in the price, with maximum fall recorded
in Artashat. Prices for vegetables and potatoes fell by 15% in Yerevan.

A 2.3% rise in the fruit prices was recorded in Armenia this April
as compared with last April.

Prices for apples, grapes and pears fell by 11.4-0.4%.

A 3.9-7.9% rise was recorded in prices for tangerine, lemons, bananas
and oranges.

Fruit prices fell by 5.6-1.1% in five cities of Armenia with maximum
fall recorded in Martuni. Fruit prices rose by 0.2-5.4% in the rest
five cities of the country; with no price changes in Vanadzor.

A 0.1% fall in the prices for sugar, diary products and confectionery
was recorded this April.

Armenia Welcomes Iran’s Balanced Policy To Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Pr

ARMENIA WELCOMES IRAN’S BALANCED POLICY TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Armenia welcomes Iran’s balanced policy to
the Karabakh issue, RA President Serge Sargsian said at his meeting
with Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Seyed Ali Saghaeyan.

Sargsian assured the Ambassador that Armenia is for A peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict in conformity with international
law and nations’ right to self-determination, the RA President’s
press service reports.

Ambassador Saghaeyan stressed that Iran appreciates Armenia’s
restrained response to Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements.

The sides shared the opinion that the countries should join their
efforts to achieve stability and secutiry in the unstable region.

In Opinion Of Naira Zohrabian, Levon Ter-Petrosian Again Put Forward

IN OPINION OF NAIRA ZOHRABIAN, LEVON TER-PETROSIAN AGAIN PUT FORWARD PRECONDITIONS FOR DIALOG

Noyan Tapan
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president’s proposal
on dialog with the opposition wihout any preconditions remains in
force, whereas at the 2nd congress of the National Movement the first
president Levon Ter-Petrosian again put forward preconditions, member
of the National Assembly Prosperous Armenia faction Naira Zohrabian
said at the May 4 briefing.

Speaking about the 2008-2012 government program, which was recently
approved by the National Assembly, she said that it retains the
"main economic block" of Rrosperous Armenia party’s program which was
included in the activity program of the previous government. According
to N. Zohrabian, the new program also contains her proposals concerning
mass media problems. She stated that draft legislative amendments
are now being developed with the aim of strengthening the freedom of
expression, while, on the other hand, also in order to increase the
responsibility of the mass media as a counterbalance.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress