Month: December 2008

WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD CHAMPION GABRIEL SARGSIAN RECOGNIZED ARMENIA’S SPORTSMAN N 1

Noyan Tapan

Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 16, the Armenian
Federation of Sports Journalists publicized the list of the best
10 sportsmen of Armenia in the 2008 competition season. 43 sports
journalists took part in the survey. They recognized champion of
World Chess Olympiad Gabriel Sargsian Armenia’s sportsman N 1.

The 10 sportsmen recognized the best are:

1. Gabriel Sargsian chess 313 points

2. Tigran V. Martirosian weightlifting 289

3. Tigran G. Martirosian weightlifting 276

4. Levon Aronian chess 245

5. Yuri Patrikiyev Greco-Roman wrestling 241

6. Vladimir Hakobian chess 208

7. Roman Amoyan Greco-Roman wrestling 195

8. Gevorg Davtian weightlifting 164

9. Hrachik Javakhian boxing 117

10. Tigran L. Petrosian chess 116

The men’s chess national team has been recognized Armenia’s best
team. All 43 journalists taking part in the survey mentioned the
olympic champion team’s name in the questionnaires.

Sports journalists in the questionnaires mentioned names of another
11 sportsmen: boxers Hovhannes Danielian, Edward Hambartsumian,
weightlifters Meline Daluzian, Nazik Avdalian, Hripsime Khurshudian,
taekwondoist Arman Yeremian, rifleman Norayr Bakhtamian, judoists
Armen Nazarian, Hovhannes Davtian, sambist Ashot Danielian, chess
player Lilit Mkrtchian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO EXPLAIN ANTI-CRISIS STRATEGY

ARKA
Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Government and mass media are
planning to launch a joint PR Campaign to explain the state anti-crisis
strategy, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan reported the Golos Armenii
(Voice of Armenia).

"I have already stated that collective consultations will be an
important part of our anti-crisis program," the premier said, adding
the government would permanently consult with international financial
organizations and business circles about the possible way out of the
difficult economic situation.

The premier stressed the importance of unbiased and transparent media
coverage of the global economic recession.

INTEREST RATES MAY BE REDUCED IN ARMENIA SOON, PREMIER STATES

ARKA
Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. The interest rates may show a downward
trend in Armenia soon, RA Premier Tigran Sargsyan said during a
hot-line arranged by the Golos Armenii (Voice of Armenia) newspaper.

Since the inflation risks have been reduced over the last month,
Armenia has increased its imports of goods and services.

"The lower prices allow the Central Bank of Armenia to revert to the
interest rate policy. Since we registered lower rates of GNP growth
last month, the interest rates may soon be reduced. However, it must
be a prudent, not a stereotypic, step," T. Sargsyan said.

He pointed out the different macroeconomic situations in different
countries.

"We mainly focus on large developed countries, which have been deeply
affected by the crisis.

The globalized world, which promptly responds to the changes in the
developed countries, creates serious problems for all the states. But
some states have not yet been seriously affected by the world economic
crisis, and Armenia is among them," the RA Premier said.

T. Sargsyan said that Armenia has to maintain its macroeconomic
stability, and all the macroeconomic indicators must be strictly
controlled by the Government.

"This will ensure stability for investors. At the same time, we have to
maintain financial stability and use all the means possible to promote
the development of national economy and export," T. Sargsyan said.

He stressed the necessity for a most prudent policy, including the
interest rate policy.

"On the one hand the Government has to control the balance of payment,
on the other hand it must control the potential gross national product
and other macroeconomic indicators," the RA Premier said.

AMERIABANK (ARMENIA) TO INSURE DEPOSITS AT ROSGOSSTRAKH-ARMENIA

ARKA
Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Ameriabank (Armenia) will insure all
the deposits of its clients at the Rosgosstrakh-Armenia insurance
company under a contract signed with the company.

At his press conference at the Novosti international press center,
Artak Anesyan, CEO, Ameriabank reported that, under the law, the
Deposit Insurance Fund provides guarantees for deposits within 2mln
AMD, and all the deposits at Ameriabank exceeding this amount will
be insured by the Rosgosstrakh-Armenia company.

"We afford ampler opportunities to our clients – from now on, any
individual deposit in terms of any currency will be fully insured,"
Anesyan said.

He pointed out that the total amount of individual deposits exceeding
2mln AMD to be insured at Rosgosstrakh-Armenia exceeds $8mln. Anesyan
said that not only new, but all the deposits at the bank are liable
to insurance.

"Our clients can arrive at the bank to get their insurance policies,"
he said.

According to him, this is one more opportunity for clients to keep
their money at one bank with guarantees of return.

Anesyan pointed out that the bank provides guarantees for all the
deposits due to its financial leverage.

The Armenian banks’ average financial leverage index is 4, that of
Ameriabank being 1.05.

As regards the insurer, Anesyan said that not all Armenian insurance
c ompanies have necessary licenses.

"Moreover, Rosgosstrakh-Armenia is a most reliable strategic partner
of Ameriabank so the first step has been made jointly with them. The
company’s authorized capital allows the deal to be effected, and what
is more all the risks will be reinsured abroad," Anesyan said.

He added that the bank is ready to consider similar proposals of
other insurance companies. He pointed out that the Rosgosstrakh
group of companies, one of the largest insurers in the Commonwealth
of Independent States, will act as re-insurer of risks.

"We decided to insure individual deposits because they are most
vulnerable. At the same time, it will enable us to increase the total
amount of fixed deposits, bolster clients’ confidence and improve
their reliability," Anesyan said.

The Central Bank of Armenia (CBQ) registered the Rosgosstrakh-Armenia
CJSC on May 28, 2008, with an authorized capital of 500mln AMD
(about $1.6mln).

The company was founded by the Rosgosstrakh insurance group.

The Ameriabank CJSC (former Armimpexbank) was founded in July 1992
using the facilities of the Armenian branch of the USSR Vnesheconombank
(Foreign Economy Bank). On September 8, 1992, the bank received a
banking license from the CBA.

Last August, TDA Holdings limited, affiliated with Troika Dialogue,
Russia’s leading investment company, purchased the bank’s shares.

This May the bank was renamed=2 0Ameriabank.

As of September 30, 2008, the bank’s authorized capital totaled 17bln
AMD, assets 41.8bln AMD, total capital 18.8bln AMD, credit investments
23.4bln AMD. January through September, the bank’s profits reached
429.4mln AMD.

SOCIAL SECTOR TO REMAIN UNAFFECTED BY POSSIBLE BUDGET ADJUSTEMENTS

ARKA
Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Possible adjustments of Armenia’s 2009
state budget will not influence the social sector, RA Premier Tigran
Sargsyan said during a hot-line arranged by the Golos Armenii (Voice
of Armenia) newspaper.

"The Government is working at the possible scenarios of the 2009
budget execution. The budget we submitted to Parliament for approval
is rather flexible and allows of maneuvering. In case of need serious
adjustments are possible, which will not affect the social sector.

Everything will be done publicly – the public must know about and
supervise the government expenditures," the RA Premier said.

On November 27, the RA Parliament approved Armenia’s 2009 state budget.

The budgeted revenues are 905.4bln AMD, expenditures 945.4bln AMD,
deficit 40bln AMD. The budgeted revenues from taxes and state dues
are 727.5bln AMD.

The budgeted GDP is 4,169bln AMD, real GDP growth 9.2%, deflator 4%
and inflation rate 4±1.5%. The budgeted exchange rate is 303.69
AMD/$1.

–Boundary_(ID_7TmFTxOdVyouE4MTt4h z7A)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S BANKING SYSTEM SHIELDS COUNTRY AS CRISIS BITES, PREMIER SAYS

ARKA
Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Armenia’s stability during the global
financial crisis is thanks to the robust banking system, RA Prime
Minister told the Golos Armenii (Voice of Armenia).

The impact force of the crisis depends on a country’s international
balance of payment, as well as trade and financial flows, Sargsyan
said, pointing out 30% adequacy and high liquidity of local banks.

The banks continue their harsh and shrewd policy despite sharp
criticism of the real sector of economy, the premier added.

He emphasized the role of the Central Bank’s policy, saying it is
the only remedy from the crisis.

Twenty-two commercial banks with 367 branches are currently operating
in Armenia. As of September 30, 2008, total assets and capital of
local banks amounted to 954.1bln drams and 214.9bln drams respectively,
with their liabilities totaling 739.2bln drams.

During the same period, crediting of Armenia’s economy reached
617.5bln drams against 434.5bln drams earlier this year, with consumer
credits and mortgage loans amounting to 172.5bln drams and 81bln
drams respectively. ($1-308.55 drams).

UNEMPLOYMENT ARMENIA’S MAIN PROBLEM NEXT YEAR

ARKA
Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Unemployment will be problem number
one for Armenia next year, said Bagrat Asatryan, the ex-chairman of
the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA).

The RA Statistical Service reports that 90,800 jobseekers are
officially registered in Armenia, with 76,000 of them having
unemployment status.

"About 400,000 people left Armenia for Russian as seasonal workers
every year. The global crisis may cause them to return to Armenia,
but the authorities will not be able to create same-wage jobs for
them. So unemployment will be Armenia’s main problem next year,"
Asatryan told a press conference.

Sona Harutyunyan, Head of the RA State Employment Agency stated
earlier that the negative impact of the world economic crisis could
cause unemployment to rise by 1% at most in Armenia.

Asatryan said that most of the seasonal workers leaving for Russia
are employed in the construction, trade and services sectors, which
are the most vulnerable sectors. Referring to official statistical
data, he pointed out a decrease of 41% in the construction sector in
Armenia this October as compared with September.

According to Asatryan, resisting the global economic crisis and forming
a realistic picture of the impact the crisis has had on the national
economy will be the Armenian authorities’ priority task.

Vardan Bostanjyan, the Vice-Chairman of the Ec onomic Commission, RA
Parliament, member of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction,
said that the resolution of prospective returnees’ employment problem
will require at least two or three years.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER`S ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY THE MEDIA

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2008-12-16 16:20
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

At the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Helsinki, 4 and 5 December,
the Azerbaijani delegation circulated a document, summarizing
its viewpoints on the principles of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement. What is Stepanakert`s position with respect to those
principles?

The attempts of the Azerbaijani party to impose on the mediators
and the world community in general, using different international
forums, its own vision of both the conflict between Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan, and the ways of its settlement are not a novelty. In
the framework of this policy, Baku resorts to different techniques,
in particular, presents itself as a victim of its own aggression
launched against the people of NKR and uses slogans for European
values and democracy as a cover for its goals.

Meanwhile, the latest statements by the Azerbaijani leadership, in
particular, the peculiar interpretation of provisions of the Moscow
Declaration by Ilham Aliyev, i.e the political settlement of the
conflict does not exclude use of force, as well as the above-mentioned
Azerbaijani principles of conflict settlement demonstrate all the
hypocrisy of the Azerbaijani diplomacy and thwart all the efforts
of the international community to find ways of peaceful resolution
of the conflict. Moreover, this kind of actions by Azerbaijan sho w
not only disrespect for the international mediators` work, but also
create an impression of Azerbaijan as an improper partner, which is
ready to denounce a previous agreement the very next day.

Have there been any changes in the position of official Baku towards
the settlement of the conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan
since 1988?

At all stages of the conflict development, Azerbaijan has been and
continues to be the main bearer of the idea of military resolution
of the conflict.

Counting on power turned into ethnic pogroms and expulsion of Armenians
from Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad and other parts of the former Azerbaijani
SSR, which was followed by operation "Koltso" (Ring) on deportation
of the population of Armenian villages of the Shahoumian, Hadrout
and Shoushi regions of Nagorno Karabakh. During the military phase
of the conflict, Baku time and again moved away from restrictions and
termination of hostilities, frustrated cease-fire agreements, was the
first and repeated violator of the four UN Security Council Resolutions
on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and did not comprehensively and
promptly fulfill a single requirement of the resolutions. After the
cease-fire, the leadership of Azerbaijan has been actively and in
quantity purchasing offensive weapons, thus promoting arms race,
as well as continues threatening the Nagorno Karabakh Republic with
resumption of hostilities. The readiness to risk reg ional peace,
a basic precondition for social-economic development and realization
of international investment projects, makes the policy of official
Baku a serious threat not only to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
but also to regional peace and security.

Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of the intention to impose a fait accompli
based solution…

The current status quo is the result of aggression and consequent
hostilities of Azerbaijan against NKR and its people. As an
initiator of the war, Azerbaijan carries full responsibility for the
consequences. The existing status quo is the minimum that allowed
guaranteeing the security and independence of NKR and its people
under Azerbaijani aggression. The policy of the NKR authorities is
directed to maintaining peace and guaranteeing the irreversibility
of the process of establishment of long-time stability in the
region. Changing the status quo, as we see it, will inevitably lead
to destabilization of the situation and escalation of tensions with a
possible resumption of hostilities. During the years of Soviet rule,
the leadership of the Azerbaijani SSR, including "national leader"
Heydar Aliyev, was trying to make Nagorno Karabakh not self-sufficient
and dependent on Baku, first of all with their attempts to change the
demographic composition of the population. This was also the case while
drawing the borders of the former Nagorno Karabakh autonomous region.

Today, they are trying to retur n Nagorno Karabakh into the
past. However these attempts are doomed to failure.

Has the Nagorno Karabakh party received the "technical document",
which according to the information, provided by the French Co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group, was presented to the parties in Helsinki in
the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Council?

The Nagorno Karabakh authorities have not received this document yet;
however as a party to the conflict, acknowledged as such in accordance
with OSCE basic documents on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, we expect
to get it soon from the Minsk Group Co-chairs.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW ORDER OF EGHISHE PRIZE DELIVERY WAS AFFIRMED

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
December 15, 2008

According to the decree of the NKR Government a new order of annual
Eghishe Prize delivery and the commission membership were affirmed. In
compliance with the affirmed order the prize delivery will be
carried out in four nominations: literature, art, the humanities,
cinematography and television films. Prizes are awarded to the
authors for those creative and scientific works which present a
certain artistic and scientific value and contribute to the further
development of culture and science in Artsakh.

The winners are awarded with a NKR Government Diploma and a monetary
award (250.000 drams for each nomination).

The literary-artistic and scientific works can be presented to
prize delivery only after having been printed in press, published in
separate books or after having found application in corresponding
sphere, and the works of art and cinematography-after having been
presented in personal and collective exhibitions, concerts, press,
performed in the theatre and on television.

The creative and scientific works are accepted by the prize delivery
commission each year till October 1.

BUDGET DISCUSSIONS IN DEPUTY FACTIONS

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
December 16, 2008

On December 15, the joint session of "Democracy" deputy faction of
the NKR National Assembly and the permanent commission on issues of
budget and financing and economic management on the agenda concerning
the NKR law project on "NKR State Budget 2009" took place.

The NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan and the NKR Minister of Finance
Spartak Tevosyan were present at the session chaired by the Head of the
NKR National Assembly, a member of "Democracy" faction Ashot Ghoulyan.

The Budget discussions during the session were carried out in
question and answer form. The questions of faction members referred
to development perspectives of various spheres of the country’s vital
activity in the forthcoming year, within that framework the necessity
of anti-crisis programme development, the anticipated budget receipts
and expenses, the top issues of taxation and crediting policy, capital
and housing construction works, the agricultural production efficiency
securing ways, the salary increase of employees of separate spheres,
particularly, the systems of healthcare and education and other issues
of social character. In concern with the issues raised the NKR Prime
Minister and the Minister of Finance gave thorough clarifications.

Generalizing the joint session A.Ghoulyan noted that the initial
parliamentary discussions on the budget project and the accompanying
bills, as a result of which, the proposals of the deputies will be
presented to the NKR Government in a condensed form according to the
defined time limit, come to an end. He assured that the "Democracy"
faction will be ready to assume the responsibility for the adoption
of the State Budget Project of the next year within the framework
of discussion of proposals presented by the "Democracy" faction and
their adoption by the NKR Government,- the Informational Service of
the NKR NA informs.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress