Month: October 2008

ARMENIAN ARDSHININVESTBANK OPENS RENOVATED BRANCH IN GORIS, SYUNIK REGION

ARKA
Oct 10, 2008

YEREVAN, October 10. /ARKA/. Armenian Ardshininvestbank opened its
renovated Goris branch in the region of Syunik today. The bank’s
press-service told ARKA News Agency, the new building is equipped with
up-to-date technologies and the bank is ready to serve the customers
in more convenient conditions.

According to Aram Andreasyan, the Chairman of Ardshininvestbank’s
Management Board, the bank continues its policy of improving the
conditions to offer qualitative banking services to all sections of
the state’s population.

It is the second renovated branch in Syunik region in a month. The
bank has five branches in Syunik region.

The Centralb Bank of Armenia (CBA) licensed (N 83) Ardshininvestbank
CJSC for banking activites on February 27, 2003. The bank’s main
shareholders include the Region Investing Financial Corporation
(86.82%) and the International Financial Corporation (10%). The later
became a shareholder late last year.

By September 30, the bank capital reached 22.7bln AMD, assets 119.2bln
AMD, liabilities 94.5bln AMD, credit assets 79.8bln AMD, surplus
earnings 4.1bln AMD. Ardshininvestbank has 55 branches, including
six in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The bank has a representation
in Paris as well.

IMF FORECASTS 9.4% INFLATION IN ARMENIA IN 2008

ARKA
Oct 10, 2008

YEREVAN, October 10. /ARKA/. The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
forecasts 9.4% inflation in Armenia this year. Inflation is expected to
go down to 5% by next year, the IMF World Economic Outlook presenting
the IMF staff’s analysis of global economic developments.

IMF expects higher inflation rates in the CIS (15.6% in 2008 and 12.6%
in 2009). Kazakhstan is expected to post 17.6% inflation this year and
9.8% in 2009. The fund expects Russia’s inflation to be 14% and 12%
in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Belarus is expected to record 15.3%
(2008) and 9.6% (2009) inflation. IMF forecasts 13% (2008) and 12%
(2009) inflation in Turkmenistan.

Ukraine is likely to face a harsh economic situation with 25.3%
(2008) and 18.8% (2009) inflation.

IMF has made gloomy forecasts for Azerbaijan with 22.4% (2008)
and 20% (2009) inflation. Kyrgyzstan is expected to post 24.5%
(2008) and 12.2% (2009) inflation. Georgia is likely to record 10%
(2008) and 7.6% (2009) inflation. IMF forecasts 13.7% and 9.7%
inflation in Moldova. Tajikistan is expected to record 21.6% and 15.5%
inflation. The fund forecasts 11.1% and 10.6% inflation in Uzbekistan.

To curb inflation pressure, the CIS members should change taxes and
import prices of first-priority goods, reduce domestic taxes and
offer government subsidies for foodstuffs and fuel, as well as set
benchmarks for exports and quotas, IM F says in the report.

As a result of the four-year hike in prices for foodstuffs and fuel
and the forced cut in output, global market saw record-high inflation,
according to IMF.

The developing economies suffered most as a result of price hikes.

The mains reasons for record-high inflation are the lion’s share
of food supply in the consumer’s basket, still high economic growth
rates and ineffective inflation expectations.

IMF experts say the countries that adhere to the inflation targeting
policy (Armenia was the first country in the CIS to adopt inflation
targeting policy in January 2006 – ARKA) recorded lower inflation. The
increase in unused capacities and stabilization of stock markets will
help curb inflation.

IMF expects 2% reduction of inflation in developed countries next
year. As a result of the latest global financial turmoil, inflation
rate is expected to gradually go down in developing economies.

At the same time, IMF specialist say global growth could come in
below their forecasts.

Armenia is expected to record 4% (±1.5%) inflation this year. The
country posted 3.7% inflation between August and September. Prices
went down 0.7% between July and August.

–Boundary_(ID_OUV36GyW5NZYius8oi4m2g)–

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA PARTICIPATED IN THE SITTING OF THE COUNCIL OF CIS HEADS OF STATE

armradio.am
10.10.2008 18:02

Today in Bishkek President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan took part in
the sittings of the Council of Heads of State of CIS member countries
and the Interstate Council of the European Economic Community.

The sitting of the Council of CIS Heads of State opened with the
meeting of Presidents, which was followed by a meeting in an enlarged
format. The participants of the sitting adopted the strategy of CIS
development by 2020, which comprises the perspectives and opportunities
of socio-economic development under the conditions of deepening of
economic relations between the CIS member states.

The implementation of the strategy will allow to ensure the development
of integration processes in the economic sphere, fully utilize the
economic potential of every CIS member state, expand their mutually
beneficial cooperation, raise the competitiveness of every country,
create conditions for accessing the world economy, improve the living
standards of the citizens of CIS member states.

The Heads of State discussed the directions of cooperation between
member states in the transport sphere by 2020. They adopted a document
on declaring the energy field as a primary sphere of cooperation
between the CIS countries in 2009.

The CIS Presidents adopted the documents on declaring 2009 the year
of youth and 2010 the year of science and innovation, the plan of
arrangements dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the victory in the
Great Patriotic War.

In the capital of Kyrgyzstan the President of Armenia participated
in the sitting of the Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic
Community.

Armenia has a status of ovserver in this organization.

UNACCEPTABLE APPROACH FOR US
LILIT POGHOSYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
10 Oct 2008
Armenia

In response to the questions of the correspondent of "Hayots Ashkharh"
daily head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NKR National
Assembly Vahram Atanesyan continues to comment on the accentuations
of "Karabakh" in Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview
given to "Rosiyskaya Gazeta".

"What do you think the alarming accentuations of RF Foreign Minister
are conditioned by?"

"The only thing I can do in this regard is to make theoretical
assumptions. The West and Russia seem to have exhausted their limits
of mutual concessions. If the western alliance -NATO’s European member
countries and the USA unilaterally recognized Kosovo’s independence,
in response to this Russia recognized the independence of South Osatia
and Abkhazia. On this plane the "resource of mutual concession"
is exhausted and at present they are trying to find common edges,
to show that it is possible to build relations not only on the field
of confrontation but agreement. And there is an impression that they
want to build these relations around Karabakh conflict.

On the one hand it is desirable for the mediators – the United States,
Russia and France that, in essence, represents European Union in
the negotiation process, that is to say the wo rld power centers,
to reach a "consensus" on the settlement of Karabakh conflict. But,
I must repeat, that consensus must derive from the agreement between
NKR and Azerbaijan, which must be based on mutual concession, the
perception of mutual interests and mutual trust.

If Azerbaijan perceives NKR’s independence, the start of bilateral
relations, and issues linked with the elaboration of economic and
communicational programs, then Karabakh will discuss all the issues
of concern for Azerbaijan. Karabakh will never agree to unilateral
concessions."

"Can we conclude from Lavrov’s announcements that the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan must decide Karabakh’s fate, in the framework
of bilateral agreement."

"Unfortunately in the interview of the RF Foreign Minister Karabakh’s
role is not stressed, which is not natural, because Karabakh is
the first subject of the conflict, it was NKR people that raised
the issue of their independence, it was Karabakh that separated from
Azerbaijan by means of a pan-national referendum. On the contrary, it
was stressed that the negotiation is between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
which means any agreement reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan can
be imposed upon the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

These statements simply contradict the approaches voiced by Russia,
substantiating the imperative of the recognition of South Osatia’s
and Abkhazia9s independence. It is a vivid example of a double
standard policy.

NKR is not a conflicting object it is a competent subject and the
agreement must firstly derive from the interests of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh.

This is what Mr. Lavrov’s interview lacks. I don’t think the issue will
find swift solution with similar approaches. Moreover this road gives
rise to new questions, which are beyond the interests of the regional
countries and are on the plane of the geo-political developments.

Is it desirable for South Caucasus to over again appear in the focus of
the crash of geopolitical interests? Each solution must give answers
to the existing questions instead of giving rise to new questions. In
this regard it is simply surprising when one of the Co-Chairmen
countries, in the person of the RF Foreign Minister announces that
one of the conflicting parties doesn’t have any alternative and the
only opportunity is to reopen its border with Turkey, at the expense
of being more "constructive", more "tolerant" and more "flexible"
in the issue of the regulation of Karabakh conflict.

For us it is an unacceptable approach. If this were the starting
point, Armenia could have manifested this flexibility in 1989, when
Moscow proposed to make 400 million ruble’s investment in Karabakh,
or we wouldn’t have held the referendum of independence in 1991,
or in 1 997 when Armenia and Azerbaijan had, in fact reached an
agreement regarding the phazal settlement of the conflict, which
presumed autonomy inside Azerbaijan.

These accentuations that include elements of threat, trying to create
a public opinion that the alternative of "flexibility" is complete
isolation for Armenia, which can be followed by social concussions
don’t match with diplomatic ethics, or inter-state relations, or the
practice of the settlement of conflicts."

HOW TO ACHIEVE A "HEATED AUTUMN"?
Kima Yeghiazaryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
10 Oct 2008
Armenia

As they say, the futile attempts of setting the old and new Republicans
against each other come "from the dawn of times".

When, at the successive critical stage, the media supporting the
Armenian Pan-National Movement, takes an active initiative of delving
into the activities of the Republicans and, looking through the
keyhole for several days and weeks, assures us that there is some
"growing scandal" or at least "discontent" inside party, you just
cannot help watching the amusing soap opera.

As we already mentioned, the advocates of the Armenian Pan-National
Movement have started performing this kind of strictly important task
"since time immemorial".

Following the 1998 "palace coup", they started targeting the
Republicans periodically, in an attempt to push their way through
some space "between the ring and the finger" and reveal some "sharp
controversies" that have allegedly arisen inside the party.

Hardly a month after Vazgen Sargsyan’s being elected as the Head of the
Republican Party, these people got anxious and started disseminating
statements that the new leader allegedly oppressed and ignored the
old Republicans and left them in the shadow. After Mr. Sargsyan’s
becoming a Prime Minister, they continued20the same practice, saying
that he didn’t appreciate the potential of the "old residents", and
none of the old members of the party was represented in the Government.

After the "October 27" tragedy, V. Sargsyan already became an "old"
Republican, so the activists started accusing the "new members" of not
showing any interest in the disclosure of the case. In this period,
it was particularly ridiculous to hear them announcing that the old
Republicans, together with the "Yerkrapah" members, were about to
make a joint demand for impeaching the President. And that happened
during the first year of the trial.

And the information was quite reliable since it had been "reported"
to the correspondents of the Armenian Pan-National Movement by some
of the "old" RPA members who didn’t want to disclose their names. At
the same time, they had announced that they were not going to tolerate
the existing situation inside the party and would do their utmost for
returning the RPA to its origins, since the it had deviated from the
ideas preached by Ashot Navasardyan.

Let’s note that a "new" Republican in that period was Andranik
Margaryan who, in his turn, ruthlessly ignored even the opinion of
the dissidents of the 1960’s, i.e. the former activists of the United
National Party.

And thus, the developments around20the conflict between the old and new
members continued till the moment when the "oldest members" who didn’t
want to disclose their names "stopped" making the alleged complaints to
the correspondents. And it doesn’t even make sense to say that all this
story was nothing more than the product of the fantasy of the latter.

Anyway, this fantasy was fading away for the successive time in
view of the great disappointment of those correspondents who were
eventually making sure that the prospect of splitting the Republican
Party of Armenia and exacerbating the internal political situation
in the aftermath was not realistic. Alas! The "sharp debates" they
had invented were "dying out" even in such situations when, having
thoroughly studied the pre-election list of the Republican Party of
Armenia, they announced that none of the old members was to be found
in the top ten horizons. And becoming offended, they would state that
the names of the old members had appeared on such horizons that were
unlikely to secure for them seats in the Parliament.

And finding ourselves in a state of terror, we would wait for some
fight between those who had won seats in the Parliament and those
who hadn’t, and thought we would no longer be able to prevent the
dangerous developments. Because the correspondents who had received
information from their own sources of the Republican P arty of Armenia
were persisting in their statements that the old members whose names
had appeared in the final horizons of the pre-election list had
threatened to quit the party. The extremely tense atmosphere observed
during the sessions of the RPA Council and the nervous strides in the
corridors promised a vigorous confrontation. And that, in its turn,
would automatically lead to an internal political crisis.

And we have followed quite a lot of similar virtual developments
that were assiduously invented by the selfless correspondents just
in front of our eyes.

And the recent attempt of stirring up the "ambitions" of the old
and new members and making every possible effort to split them fall
flat again.

We believe you still remember what "compassion" they displayed
for Tigran Torosyan when the latter submitted his two resignation
letters. They announced that following Tigran Torosyan’s example,
the ideological old members would very soon quit the Republican Party
and join the ex-Speaker.

And even if there is no new "splitting", the old members will go on
walking in low spirits. Besides, there are hopes that Tigran Torosyan
who displayed an unprecedentedly "bold posture" will appear in the
Northern Avenue.

However, the recent attempt of the activists appeared to be the most
"amusing". And maybe these people will not get a wink of sleep till
Octo ber 20 when the name of the new RPA leader is announced during
the NA four-day session which is going start on that day. And before
that, they still have 10 days to continue the practice of sowing
dissention between the old and new members. Circulating the names
of the two candidates, they now say that the passions inside the
Republican Party are running high since the old members are against
Edward Sharmazanov’s candidacy and the new members are against Galoust
Sahakyan’s candidacy and they "predict" terrible developments in case
of the election of the former.

And there’s no one telling them, "You know that’s none of your
business. Does it matter to you who will become the leader of the RPA
faction, the largest political group in the parliament?" It isn’t
as though the LTP and the activists of his new movement demanded
extraordinary parliamentary elections.

There’s no one saying, "If your demand still remains in force, why
are you making such a fuss and suffering so much if the new leaders,
no matter who he is, will not manage to enjoy his new status as the
revolutionaries are going to hold their exclusive rally on October 17,
till the start of the NA four-day session?" And then, God knows what
will happen.

So, do away with your sufferings. You will still have a lot of
occasions for inciting new clashes between the old and20new Republicans
after the extraordinary session.

So, this is a subject of "endless discussions" that cannot be exhausted
in any way.

DIPLOMATS REACH AN AGREEMENT

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
10 Oct 2008
Armenia

American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza has agreed
with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement saying
that very few unsettled issues are left in the Karabakh peace process.

"I agree with that. There are only a few issues we are required to
settle. They are complex issues which, as usual, are discussed at
the end of the negotiations. However, it will be possible to solve
them only in case both parties demonstrate a good will," M. Bryza
said. He didn’t express desire to introduce the details, arguing that
"the two countries’ presidents should be given free space to be able
to negotiate."

OPPOSITION INSPIRES NO CONFIDENCE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
10 Oct 2008
Armenia

Neither with its figures, nor with its steps and statements

ALBERT BAZEYAN sees no essential ideological difference between the
authorities and the opposition.

"Neither have I seen any differences between the methods of work
of the former pro-opposition parties which are today in the ruling
government on the one hand and the present-day opposition on the
other. Some people are now represented in the active pro-opposition
camp, some of them are under arrest and are struggling for freedom and
justice; but when they held offices, they never remembered about that
freedom, justice, equal rights and fair elections. In that regard, the
present-day active opposition, with its figures, steps and statements,
does not inspire any confidence in us," he announced yesterday.

FALSE ALARM

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
10 Oct 2008
Armenia

No Bomb Found In The Plane

The press service of "Kurumoch" airport in Samara reports, on Wednesday
they received an anonymous message on tableau "02" that there is an
explosive on A-320 plane belonging to "Armavia", arriving from Yerevan.

At around 10.00 p.m. the plane landed and after the check-up conducted
by the security service of the airport no bomb has been found. There
were 156 passengers and 8 staff members in the plane.

Yesterday the plane returned to Yerevan.

NO NEED TO LOOK FOR SPLITS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
10 Oct 2008
Armenia

According to RPA Vice-Chairman Galust Sahakyan the press over again
wants to create sensations from nothing.

"The press makes efforts to create an impression that there is a
race around the elections of the head of the parliamentary faction of
the Republican Party. Whereas we don’t face any tough issue. During
the session of RPA executive body, we will gather and will come to
a decision.

After which we will introduce our decision to the public.

The country’s President is also the Chairman of the Republican Party.

The most decisive accent is vested in him, but he never dictates
anything.

All the other hullabaloo is artificial. Any MP belonging to the
Republican Party can become the head of the faction. The personality
is of course important, in terms of a political factor, but there
is no internal political tension or race. The issue will be solved
before the coming NA four-day session and everyone will understand
that there is no need to look for splits in the Republican Party.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR NA SPEAKER
Norayr Hovsepyan

Azat Artsakh Daily
10 Oct 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

The other day the NKR delegation under the leadership of the Speaker
of National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan returned from Abkhazia.The
press-conference on October 7th of NA Speaker was devoted to the
details and results of the visit. This was, essentially, after the
recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia,
the first official visit from NKR to Abkhazia. But the relations of
Karabakh and Abkhazia have more ancient history, but for important
celebrations and two countries reciprocal visitings have already
become a kind tradition, assured Ashot Ghoulyan. This time it was not
an exception: as NA Speaker explained, NKR delegation had left for on
the invitation of Abkhazia’s legislative body -People’s Assembly for
participating in solemn arrangements devoted to the 15th anniversary
of this state’s independence. The range of arrangements devoted to
the 15th anniversary of Abkhazia’s independence Ashot Ghoulyan defined
in such way. On September 29 a solemn meeting took place, where the
guests from different countries participated , and On September 30
from the arrangements taken place after puting traditional garlands,
the head of the NKR delegation distinguished the military parade and
solemn reception, during which our delegation represented the NK R
President’s congratulating message directed to the Abkhazian President
in connection with that day. So, after progrommatic meetings,
the head of the NKR delegation touched upon some other meetings
taken place by the delegation’s initiative. From those A.Ghoulyan
distinguished the meetings taken place with the head of People’s
Assembly of Abkhazian Republic and minister of Foreign Affairs,
as well as systematizing council of Armenian community of Abkhazia.
"In the Republic of Abkhazia the most important question is already
considered solved – providing of the country’s safety. And what about
other spheres, main tasks are before still" ,- NA Speaker shared his
impressions with the journalists. And such visits and joint work will
take a continuous turn, he is sure: anyway, there are all bases for
it. The head of the NKR delegation attached importance to the meeting
with the minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia.

As common questions touching upon territorial developments, so
perspective chances of future development of future relations beween
the two states were discussed with the minister of Foreign Affairs of
Abkhazia. Then Ghoulyan answered the journalists questions about the
visit. "The visit to Abkhazia strengthened our preliminary approach,
according to which recognition should be bilateral deed",- stated
A.Ghoulyan. According to him, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh attached
importance20to that process and are supporters, that practical steps
are taken in that direction. And before that, it is not only excluded,
but it’s desired the strengthening of bilateral relations in different
spheres.Some questions refering to particularly foreign policy were
discussed during the meeting with the minister of Foreign Affairs of
Abkhazia.And the works will take a continuous turn in that direction.