Month: May 2008

ARMENTEL GETS NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL

ARKA
May 20, 2008

YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Neicho Velichkov has been appointed Director
General of the ArmenTel telecommunication company (Beeline brand). The
post has remained vacant since Oleg Bliznyuk resigned early in 2008.

"The ArmenTel Company is an important component of our business
and in many respects it determines the development strategy of
the VimpelCom Company in other countries," said Dmitry Pleskonos,
VimpelCom Executive Vice-President for Business Development in the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

He said that the company is licenses to provide all types of
communication services in Armenia and, in selecting a candidate for
the post of ArmenTel Director General, the company considered Neicho
Velichkov’s wide and successful management experience.

"I am sure that his knowledge will help the company effectively
accomplish the tasks of introducing advanced telecommunication
technologies and consolidate its leading positions in communication
services," Pleskonos said.

In his turn, Velichkov expressed his willingness to join the VimpelCom
team and head the ArmenTel Company, one of the largest companies
in Armenia.

Among the company’s main goals are a the development of the Beeline
brand in the country, launching of services using a network of the 3rd
generation, convergent services, as well as improvement of the quality
of services, he said. If the company succeeds, it will certainly enjoy
popularity as a leading service company in Armenia, Velichkov said.

Neicho Velichkov was born in Sophia, Bulgaria, on September
27, 1961. In 1990, he graduated from Moscow State Institute of
International Relations.

In 2001, he received a MBA degree at the University of Seattle,
USA. In 2007, he received a management and leadership certificate at
the Technological Institute of Massachusetts, USA.

Neicho Velichkov has been working in the telecommunication field
since 2001.

He worked as Corporate Sales Manager for the MobilTel Company,
Bulgaria.

Over the last three years Velichkov has been Sales and Business
Marketing Manager for Bulgarian Telecommunication Company.

Among Velichkov’s achievements is successful promotion of new
communication services, such as convergent services, GSM Gateway,
VoIP solutions, GSM POS terminal, mobile VPN.

ARMENIA ADDUCES ARGUMENTS FOR RUSSIAN GAS PRICE

ARKA
May 20, 2008

YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian and
Gazprom President Alexey Miller negotiated on the Russian gas price
in Armenia during the Monday meeting in Yerevan.

The Premier and Gazprom President were guided by the Russian gas
market liberalization projects for the upcoming three years on the
principles of European gas price policy.

During the meeting, Sargsian focused on the competitiveness of
Armenian economy, predictability of gas prices in the country, as
well as gradual price change.

The Prime Minister and Gazprom President stated that ccooperation
in gas sphere is developing very successfully and gas consumption in
Armenia increasing every year, the RA Government’s press service has
told ARKA.

They agreed that the sooner negotiations over the new gas price are
carried out in Armenia the better.

The participants to the meeting said ArmRosGazprom prepares for an
initial public offering (IPO) of its shares. Miller and Sargsian also
discussed regional cooperation issues.

Te Russian gas giant will bring the price for Armenia to the European
level by 2011. The transition will be smooth "given the high level
of strategic cooperation" between the two countries, Gazprom reports.

On March 31, 2006, The Armenian Government and Gazprom signed a 25-year
agreement on gas and energy cooperation. The Russian gas company sells
its gas to Armenia at $110 per 1,000 cubic metres (against former $56)
under the agreement valid until January 1, 2009.

Monopolist in Armenia’s gas supply market, the ArmRosgasprom CJSC
was established in 1997. The company’s capital amounts $580mln. Its
shareholders are the Gasprom OJCS (57.59% of shares), the RA Ministry
of Energy (34.7%) and the Itera Oil and Gas Company (7.71%). -0–

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT CAPABLE OF SOLVING SYSTEM PROBLEMS: CE

ARKA
May 20, 2008

YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Armenian government is ready to solve problems
in the country’s system and fill in the existing gaps, Deputy Secretary
General of the Council of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said during
her meeting with RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian.

The Deputy Secretary General also met high-ranking Armenian officials
on Monday in Yerevan to discuss the implementation of PACE Resolution
1609, as well as recommendations of the CE Commissioner of Human
Rights and Ago Group’s report on Armenia. She pointed out that the June
session of PACE is not far off. De Boer-Buquicchio called in Armenian
authorities to use effectively the short period before the session.

Adopted this April, PACE Resolution 1609 on democratic institutions
in Armenia urges the country’s authorities to strengthen democratic
institutes by the summer session of the RA Parliament. Otherwise,
Armenia will be deprived of its right to vote in the Assembly.

The authors of the resolution, John Prescott and Georges Colombier,
call on Armenia’s authorities to step up their efforts to implement
political reforms, taking the opposition’s opinion into account. They
also urge Armenia to reform the electoral system and ensure
independence of mass media, as well as to guarantee the freedom of
assembly both by law and in practice.

De Boer-Buquicchio said opposition should also be constructive without
making harsh demands.

According to her, the Council of Europe is ready to help Armenian
authorities to combat corruption, reforms the country’s legislation
and other fields to achieve good results by June.

In his turn, the Prime Minister assured the Deputy Secretary General
the Armenian Government is as good as its word. He said Armenia
intends to solve all the problems as soon as possible. However, the
Prime Minister was sceptical about significant changes in society
within a month.

He stressed the importance of building up public confidence in
democratic principles and norms.

He said the Armenian Government has the willpower to achieve all these
goals and intends to carry out reforms to develop cooperation between
the strong government and strong opposition, responsible media and
responsible government.

The country also plans to curb price rise, according to Sargsian.

He assured the European official that the RA Government’s Poverty
Reduction Strategy will become more effective if the country is able
to settle the existing social issues and reduce political tension. -0–

ARMENIAN CITIZEN SHOT DEAD IN CENTER OF MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.05.2008 12:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An Armenian citizen, 46, was shot dead in the center
of Moscow last night. The police said unknown fired a shot into his
head and escaped.

A criminal case was initiated.

Earlier that day, two unknown shot and then robbed a man near Neva
Cinema, Newsprom.ru reports.

RA PRESIDENT, GAZPROM CEO DISCUSS REFINERY CONSTRUCTION IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.05.2008 13:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan met Monday with
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, the RA leader’s press office reported.

Welcoming the guest, the President said that in the name of Gazprom,
Armenia has a reliable and promising partner. He voiced confidence that
the cooperation will develop successfully, acquiring new dimensions.

The parties mentioned with satisfaction that in recent years
ArmRusgazprom’s activities have been rather efficient, the figures
impressive and the very fact that the company has increased the volume
of gas consumption speaks not only about the company’s growth but also
proves the sustainable growth of the Armenian economy as a whole. Among
other achievements, the recent increase in gas consumption by the
population of Armenia was mentioned. According to the President, as
a result of a large-scale gasification of the country, today Armenia
is among the countries with the highest level of gas consumption.

Referring to the gas tariffs and price making, Mr Miller informed
that starting from 2011 Gazprom plans to introduce equal tariffs
for the internal consumption as well as for the exported gas. It was
agreed to change the prices gradually until 2011, taking into account
that Gazprom holds 72 per cent of the ArmRusgazprom as well as the
necessity to make the entire process predictable and affordable for
the Armenian consumers.

M Sargsyan and Mr Miller also negotiated construction of a refinery
and other investment programs implemented by Gazprom within the energy
system of Armenia.

RA PM TO ATTEND CIS HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING IN MINSK

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.05.2008 14:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan will depart
for Minsk to attend a meeting of the CIS heads of government. The
composition of the delegation will be known tomorrow, the RA
government’s press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The meeting is due in the Belarusian capital on May 23.

EP FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO DEBATE REPORT ON TURKEY’S 2007 PROGRESS MAY 21

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.05.2008 14:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee
will debate May 21 a report on Turkey’s 2007 progress. "Transform
priorities and time-lines into reform plans," the Foreign Affairs
Committee urged Turkey, in its latest progress report.

The committee welcomes several recent legislative activities of Turkey,
while insisting that the speed of reforms must pick up. The report
"welcomes the commitment of Prime Minister Erdogan that 2008 is
going to be the year of reforms" and "urges the Turkish government
to fulfill its promises" by implementing them.

The report has been amended considerably since it was put on the
agenda on April 21.

As the European Armenian Federation said earlier, the "new preparatory
document seems to be less brief than the former one which essentially
aimed at exhibiting a gesture of goodwill towards the new elected
Turkish government. Nevertheless, it remains well short of European
expectations by continuing in minimizing the serious breaches of
Turkey."

In the "external relations" chapter, the draft report "calls on
the Turkish government to end the economic blockade and re-open its
border with Armenia" but, in accordance with the rest of the document,
abstains from condemning Turkey. The Armenian Genocide issue is dodged
by a wording which "calls on the Turkish and Armenian governments to
start a process of reconciliation, in respect of the present and the
past, allowing for a frank and open discussion of past events".

"This wording is typically dictated by Ankara: by refusing to mention
the Genocide, it is denialist; by sending away Turkey and Armenia, the
genocide is rooted out from the political scene and from the context
of International Law in order to consider it as a tool of the only
conflict between a criminal state and its victims", commented Hilda
Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

ARMENIAN CHURCH PARTICIPATES IN WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES’ EUROPEAN ECUMENICAL ROUND TABLES MEETING

ARMENPRESS
May 19, 2008

ETCHMIADZIN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: On May 14-17 the city of Ohrid in
Macedonia hosted the World Council of Churches’ European Ecumenical
Round Tables’ meeting.

The information department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
told Armenpress that Karen Nazarian, the executive director of the
Armenian Round Table, was among 35 representatives of the meeting
delivering a report.

During the four-day meeting its participants discussed social,
diaconic and development projects implemented by the European Round
Table. The reports focused on what European churches have done in
fighting against HIV/AIDS, trafficking in human beings and peace and
reconciliation efforts.
From: Baghdasarian

TWO PEOPLE KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENTS IN ASHTARAK

ARMENPRESS
May 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: A woman was killed and two other people
were seriously injured in a May 18 road accident in the town of
Ashtarak in Aragatsotn province.

According to local rescue service of the Emergency Ministry, the
killed woman was identified as Marine Saponjian, 52. She was in the
Vaz Russia-made car when it collided with a BMW.

According to the rescue service, the identity of the BMW driver was
not clear yet.

The other two, identified as M. Saponjian (29) and L. Saponjian, were
taken to Ashtarak hospital. Doctors say their condition is stable. The
BMW driver went into hiding. The rescue service said the police are
hunting for him.

The rescue service reported also about another accident in Ashtarak
in the early hours of May 19. One man died and another got injuries
when the GAZ 24 car ran off the road and turned over.

ACCORDING TO INITIAL RESULTS TARON MARGARIAN ELECTED HEAD OF AVAN DISTRICT, ARTHUR GEVORGIAN OF DAVITASHEN, DAVID OHANIAN OF MALATIA-SEBASTIA AND VARAZDAT MKRTCHIAN OF NORK-MARASH

ARMENPRESS
May 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: Elections of heads of Yerevan’s Avan,
Davitashen, Malatia-Sebastia and Nork-Marash districts took place on
May 18.

Press secretary of the Armenian Central Electoral Commission Tatevik
Ohanian told Armenpress that in Avan district, according to the initial
results, the only candidate Taron Margarian, from the Republican Party,
got 18,578 voices. Around 105 people voted against the candidate and
174 voting papers were found invalid, inaccuracies were registered
in 6. Overall the total number of eligible voters in the district
was 18,857.

The number of eligible voters in the Davitashen district was 15,585
of which 15,366 voted for the only candidate Arthur Gevorgian. The
number of invalid voting papers is 92, inaccuracies were registered
in 16. About 123 people voted against the candidate.

David Ohanian, only candidate in Malatia-Sebastia district, received
29,914 votes. Around 471 voted against the candidate, 282 voting
papers were found invalid, inaccuracies were registered in 62. The
total number of eligible voters in the district was 30,673.

The registered one candidate is considered elected if he receives
more than half votes of the voters.

In Nork-Marash district three candidates fought for the position –
member of the Republican Party Varazdat Mkrtchian, non-parties Garnik
Martirosian and Ashot Margarian.

>From 3,393 eligible voters 3,072 voted for V.

Mkrtchian. G. Martirosian received 49 and A. Margarian 212 votes. Sixty
voting papers were recognized invalid, one inaccuracy has been
registered.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress