Month: May 2008

WATER RESERVOIRS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM ROOFS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS

KarabakhOpen
16-05-2008 11:38:44

The attics and basements of apartment buildings are modified so that
the apartment building stops complying with seismic regulations,
said the deputy director of the Eastern Service of Seismic Protection
Arkady Grigoryan in the meeting of parliament. The official reported on
the performance of the government program of reduction of seismic risk.

The representative of the seismic protection service also said that
the water reservoirs which are spotted on the roofs of apartment
buildings are seismic danger. He singled out an apartment building
on Hekimyan Street on the roof of which there are 18 reservoirs with
a volume of 1 to 3 tons each.

It is not the only apartment building in Stepanakert. People continue
to spot new reservoirs on roofs, "privatizing" area that does not
belong to them. It is a breach of seismic regulations, besides the
inhabitants of top floors complain.

The board of public utilities says there is a decision on removing
the reservoirs from the roofs but the residents do not obey because
they get water once in two days.

UNESCO CANNOT MAKE EFFORTS FOR PRESERVATION OF MONUMENTS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

KarabakhOpen
16-05-2008 11:39:08

Since no results have been achieved on the way to the settlement of the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, UNESCO cannot make any efforts for the
preservation of historical monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to
the APA news agency, the director general of UNESCO Koishiro Matsuura
stated this in Baku, Regnum reports.

He underlined that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is a political issue,
and UNESCO is not a political organization, therefore they cannot deal
with those issues in the current stage, but UNESCO as an international
organization carefully follows the process. Matsuura informed that
UNESCO is planning to send a special mission to the region of the
conflict but the exact date of the visit is not known. "It is going
to be difficult to carry out this mission," said the director general
of UNESCO, Regnum reports.

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES’ MEETING TO TAKE PLACE

KarabakhOpen
16-05-2008 11:51:33

Yerevan, May 16, 2008 – We are pleased to announce that the Hayastan
All Armenian Fund Board of Trustees’ 17th Meeting is scheduled to take
place on May 27 at the Government House of Receptions in Yerevan. The
meeting will be opened and chaired by the newly elected President
of the Republic of Armenia Serge Sargsyan. The President of Nagorno
Karabakh Bako Sahakyan, Prime Ministers of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
Tigran Sargsyan and Araik Harutyunyan, Ministers Eduard Nalbandyan,
Tigran Davtyan, appointed to their posts following the Fund’s board
of trustees meeting in June 2007 will attend the Fund’s annual meeting
as ex officio members of the board of trustees.

The Fund’s Executive Director Vahe Aghabegians will brief the trustees
and the affiliate representatives on the Fund’s projects in Armenia
and Karabakh, including those carried out within the rural development
progarm.

The trustees will discuss and finalize the long-term objectives,
short-term plans and immediate actions of the Fund, as well as the
specifics of the Fund’s upcoming annual telethon, traditionally held
on the Thanksgiving Day in Los Angeles.

On the eve of the board of trustees’ meeting, May 26, the President
of the Republic Prize official ceremony will take place at the
Residence of the Armenian President. The list of the winners in 13
nominations will be announced and the prizes will be awarded to them
by the President of Armenia. The President of the Republic Prize – a
significant input of the Boghossian Foundation in Armenia’s cultural
life since 2001 – has been an important part of the Hayastan All
Armenians Fund’s activities.

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund

GOVERNMENT APPROVES NEW STATUS OF MATENADARAN

ARMENPRESS
May 15, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS: The government has approved today the new
statute of Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Old Manuscripts. Under the new
statute this research institution is a state non-profit organization.

The government invalidated also its old statute adopted in 2002.

According to Education and Science Minister Levon Mkrtchian, under
the new statute Matenadaran, which is also the biggest depository of
old Armenian manuscripts, will have the status of a research center
in addition to its status of museum.

Its scientific board will have the authorities to train related
specialists. The minister said also the new statute gives special heed
to expansion and strengthening of contacts with foreign institutions
and researchers.

The statute allows Matenadaran to turn into a self-financing
entity. The minister said the statue had been discussed with all
interested agencies receiving no objections.

MUSEUM NIGHT SCHEDULED FOR MAY 17

ARMENPRESS
May 16, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian museums participating in the
‘Museum Night 2008′ program that will be launched on May 17 will be
open for all visitors from sunset until 1 am next morning.

The press division of the Armenian Culture Ministry told Armenpress
that the National Picture Gallery will present "Gallery + Theater"
program, which is an array of permanent expositions.

Armenian History Museum will present a display of Chinese Bronze
Artifacts. The Yeghishe Charents museum will offer an event dedicated
to great Armenian opera singer Gohar Gasparian.

The Folk Art Museum will have on display artifacts by well-known
Armenian masters. Yeghishe Charents museum will also host an evening
of poetry.

Various events will be held also by Yervand Kochar Museum, Hovhannes
Tumanian Museum. The latter will display documents about the First
Armenian Republic and intellectuals of that time and a performance
of Tumanian’s fairy tales.

Alexander Spendiarian Museum will present "One Photograph History"
exhibition and a musical performance.

Martiros Saryan Museum will host music lovers for a chamber music
concert and a lecture about famous painter’s visit to Venice in
1924. Museums outside Yerevan are also involved in Museum night event.

The Erebuni Museum will present an exposition called from "Velikun to
Urartu,’ and a one-day exhibition dedicated to European Heritage Day.

The first Museum Night event was held in 2005 by about 1,200 European
museums, which wanted the new young generation to discover the richness
of their collections and multi-layer cultural heritage. Armenia joined
it that same year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARRESTED LEADER OF ‘NEW TIMES’ OPPOSITIONAL PARTY TRANSFERRED FROM PRE-TRIAL DETENTION CENTER TO HOSPITAL

Arminfo
2008-05-16 09:11:00

ArmInfo. By order of RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan, arrested
leader of the "New Times" oppositional party Aram Karapetyan has
been transferred to "Erebuni" Medical Center from the "Center"
criminal-executive establishment yesterday night, for examination and
clarification of his health state, A. Karapetyan’s advocate Harutyun
Baghdasaryan told ArmInfo.

To recall, on May 15, cardiologist, docent of "Erebuni" Medical Center
Armen Gasparyan said that Aram Karapetyan should be immediately placed
in a specialized clinic, as his state is health condition is grave –
Karapetyan may have heart attack or blood-stroke. The same day, "New
Times" member Hrachya Sarkisyan started a termless hunger-strike at
the building of RA Prosecutor General’s Office demanding to immediately
place A. Karapetyan in a specialized cardiological medical institution
and discharge him from custody after examination.

To also recall, Aram Karapetyan was arrested on February 24 by
employees of the National Security Service of Armenia. He is accused
of false denouncement (Art.333 of RA CC) on ex- President of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan and incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: ARMENIA SHOULD BECOME THE MOST ATTRACTIVE COUNTRY FOR BUSINESS IN THE REGION

Arminfo
2008-05-16 09:31:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian government should create favorable conditions
for Armenia to become the most attractive country for business in the
region, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the session
of the council for the support of entrepreneurship under the RA
government, Thursday.

"Armenia has competitive restrictions in the region. A lot of
businesses are more expensive in Armenia than in the neighboring
countries. In this connection, we should create favorable conditions
for business in order to make entrepreneurship in Armenia more
profitable than in the neighboring countries. We intend to form
a business-climate which will not only be acknowledged the best
one in the region, but will compete in the international arena",
Sargsyan said.

As the governmental press-release says, it is for authoritative
international structures to assess the reforms. On the basis of
their assessments, the government will reveal the comparative
advantages and disadvantages. "I assure you that this is one of
the government’s priority tasks", Sargsyan said. He noted that the
government is going to submit a conception of tax administration
development for consideration of business circles. A monitoring
group will be set up under the prime minister, which will control the
tax and customs administration in the country. In addition, a direct
hotline will be created for complaints and proposals. Sargsyan promised
drastic reforms in this sphere. However, no reforms will be possible
without the support of the business and the public. The taxation and
customs authorities must learn to work and think in a new way and
stop collating with businessmen to the detriment of the state. The
government is going to substantially toughen fines for violations
but on the other hand to significantly increase the wages. "We have
a strong instrument in our hands – publicity. We hope that it will
help us to enlist public support for our reforms," Sargsyan said.

Representatives of the Taxation Service and the Customs Committee,
AEPLAC, EBRD and other organizations took part in the meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESENTATION OF NEW MICROSOFT SOFTWARE PRODUCTS HELD IN YEREVAN

ARKA
May 16, 2008

YEREVAN, May 15. /ARKA/. Presentation of new Microsoft software
products – Windows Server-2008, Visual Studio-2008, SQL Server-2008 –
was held in Yerevan today.

These products will help companies turn from basic software to more
dynamically developing programs, said representative of Microsoft
headoffice Rein Johnson.

The new programs are safer, more manageable and provide wider
opportunities and require minimum efforts, she said.

According to her, the new software packages will help companies
offer the next generation of Internet applications and databases. She
stressed that these programs have been created for rapidly developing
regions like Armenia in particular. Over 100 companies have already
applied the programs, she added.

In his turn, the Director of Microsoft office in Armenia Grigor
Barseghian said that Armenian prices for the software will not differ
from the world prices and from the prices for the previous versions
of the products. In particular, Windows Server-2008 costs from $400
to $700 and more.

Beginner and home user versions cost $50 or 15,000 drams
only. Discounts are made for educational institutions, humanitarian
and charity organizations, libraries and hospitals.

He stressed the importance of public awareness campaign to inform
people and the target group – small and medium businessmen in
particular – about the highest cost recovery rate of investments in
software as compared with other sectors.

Another advantage of the new software products is that the 2008
licensed versions provide a downgrade opportunity and buyers of
the 2008 licensed package can use also the previous year versions,
Barseghian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WORKING GROUP OF ARMENIA’S STATE CUSTOMS COMMITTEE TO VISIT MOSCOW ON MAY 19-21

ARKA
May 15, 2008

YEREVAN, May 15. /ARKA/. A working group of the RA State Customs
Committee is to visit Moscow on May 19-21.

The Press Secretary of the Committee Nelly Manucharian reports that
the group is to discuss simplified procedure for transportation of
goods liable of excise tax with their colleagues from the Federal
Customs Service of Russia. The sides will also discuss efficiency
of customs control in transportation of the goods through customs
check-points of Armenia and Russia, as well as issues on customs
warehouses and laboratories, she reported.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Union of Employers (Manufacturers and
Businessmen) of Armenia Arsen Ghazarian said that the customs bodies of
Armenia and Russia are negotiating over additional duty-free export of
goods liable to excise tax from Armenia. According to him, an agreement
is to be signed by the parties saying that no transit inspections
should be made and additional dues paid for the goods. Russia has
such agreements with Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Russian mass media outlets report that an extended meeting is to be
held in port Caucasus on May 16 with participation of the Russian
Federal Customs Service, Russian Ministry of Transport, RosMorPort and
involved local services. The participants are to discuss admittance of
alcoholic products from Armenia and measures to be taken for crossing
the border in port Caucasus.

The current infrastructure in Caucasus port does not provide
proper receipt of goods in Caucasus port. Meantime, Black Sea Ferry
Investments LLC sea operator suggests arranging procedural matters
on receipt of alcoholic products at Temriuk point of port Caucasus,
which will not require additional means and construction.-0–
From: Baghdasarian

HSBC BANK ARMENIA CALLED 2008’S BEST ASIAN BANK IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

ARKA
May 15, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 15. /ARKA/. Global Finance Magazine has named HSBC Bank
Armenia as "2008’s Best Asian Bank in Developing Economies". The
Public Relations Department of the bank’s Armenian branch said the
winner in the nomination was selected according to such criteria,
as services provided to clients, competitive rates, introduction of
new services, etc.

The selection was based on the opinion of the magazines’ editor,
leading banking analysts, as well as corporate directors and banking
consultants.

The survey results will be officially publicized in the magazine’s
May issue.

HSBC Bank Armenia, the daughter bank of HSBC Bank plc, was registered
on September 25, 1995. HSBC Bank plc owns 70% shares of HSBC Bank
Armenia with the other 30% possessed by foreign Armenian investors. The
bank has 10 branches in Yerevan.

According to the March 31 data, the bank’s assets totalled 101.1bln
drams with the capital totalling 12.6bln AMD. The profit of the bank

in the 1st quarter of 2008 totalled 841.3mln drams, the balance profit
totalling 9.6bln drams. ($1- 307. 50 drams).