Month: December 2008

ARMENIA FULFILLS ALMOST ALL REQUIREMENTS OF PACE: FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2008-12-15 15:41:00

ArmInfo. Armenia has taken a number of measures to fulfill PACE
requirements, in particular, the Resolutions 1609 and 1620, Foreign
Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian said at the press conference
in Yerevan Monday.

He said the greatest part of PACE requirements has been
fulfilled. ‘Armenia is taking measures to settle certain issues. These
issues cannot be settled over a day, two or three. I do not think that
any country could fulfill such tremendous work in such a short period
of time, whereas Armenia has managed to do it’, E. Nalbandian said. The
Armenian authorities will continue working in this direction. ‘We do
this not to favor anyone, but to make reforms since our people need
them. It is first of all within the interests of our people and we
will keep on working’, E. Nalbandian said.

HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL OF ARMENIA: FIGHTING CORRUPTION WITHOUT COOPERATION WITH PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS IMPOSSIBLE

ArmInfo
2008-12-15 15:30:00

ArmInfo. Fighting corruption without cooperation with public
organizations is impossible, Manvel Badalyan, Chairman of the Armenian
Civil Service Council, said at the final conference helld under the
Anti-Corruption Conference ‘The Role of Government, Non-Governmental
Organizations and Media in the Fight against Corruption’ Monday.

He said the activity of government structures must be open, transparent
and accessible to public organizations and media. ‘I must say without
false modesty that the activity of the Civil Service is transparent. We
have never closed doors either against media or public organizations. A
present 5 public organizations are monitoring our activity and we
welcome this and call on public sector and media for new initiatives.

There is a stereotype in public that a journalist inquiring something
searches for something bad, whereas we ask for your inquiry to reveal
our lacks and omissions’, Badalyan said. He is confident in sooner
counteracting of all the corruption risks of government machine.

ANTI-CORRUPTION CONFERENCE ‘THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDIA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION’ IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2008-12-15 15:26:00

ArmInfo. Final conference was held today in ‘Congress’ hotel in
Yerevan within the frames of the programme ‘The Role of Government,
Non-Governmental Organizations and Media in the Fight against
Corruption’ being implemented by ‘Eurasia’ Partnership Foundation.

Chairman of the Civil Service Council of Armenia Manvel Badalyan,
Ambassador of USA to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, Chairman of "Eurasia"
Cooperation Foundation George Zarubin, Chairman of "Transparency
International" Anti-corruption Center Amalia Kostanyan and other
guests took part in the conference.

Participants in the forum discussed the issues of intercooperation of
public organizations, mass media and the government authorities in
solution of one or another problems in corruption-fight. Importance
of transparency of the government authorities’ activity, as well as
a reporting and open activity of the regional public structures was
emphasized at the conference. To note, the anti-corruption programme
of ‘Eurasia’ Foundation has been implemented in 8 regions of Armenia,
moreover, US $400,000 were allocated to the local anti-corruption
organizations as assistance. Presently, As a result of the program,
10 Communities in two regions are now implementing anticorruption
strategies and 10 cases were won in administrative court.

FIRST PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA AND MEMBER OF GERMAN BUNDESTAG MEET

ArmInfo
2008-12-15 11:17:00

ArmInfo. First President of Armenia, leader of the oppositional
Armenian National Congress Levon Ter-Petrosyan met member of the
German Bundestag Michael Link and representative of Friedrich Nauman
Foundation Wolfgang John.

As ANC Office told ArmInfo today, the issues of the internal
political situation in Armenia, the problems of "political prisoners",
the prospects of further cooperation of Armenia with the European
structures were discussed during the meeting. The parties also touched
on further cooperation of the German Liberal-Democratic party with
the political parties in the structure of the Armenian national
Congress. ANC representatives Levon Zurabyan, Avetis Avagyan and
Vladimir Karapetyan took part in the meeting.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA OFFERED CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS ON DECEASE OF COUNTRY’S EX-PRESIDENT

ArmInfo
2008-12-15 11:11:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sagsyan offered condolences to
President of Cyprus on decease of the country’s ex-president Tassos
Papadopoulos.

As the Armenian presidential press service told ArmInfo, S. Sargsyan’s
message to president of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias says: ‘I knew
about decease of ex-President of Cyprus Tassos Papandopoulos with
deep sorrow. His contribution to the modern history of Cyprus as a
wise leader of the brother Cyprian people and a faithful son of his
Motherland is invaluable. His contribution to the cause of tightening
of brother relations between Armenia and the Republic of Cyprus is
great. In the name of the Armenian people and on my behalf I express
my deep condolences to the family of the deceased and to the brother
Cyprot people’.

MONEY TRANSFERS BY ANELIK SYSTEM TO ALL DIRECTIONS EXCEPT TO ARMENIA DECREASING

ArmInfo
2008-12-15 15:49:00

ArmInfo. Turnover of Anelik transfer system in Armenia keeps on
growing, Bagrat Chzmachyan, Vice Chairman of Anelik Bank Board told
ArmInfo.

He said the bank intends to ensure $150 million transfers to Armenia
via Anelik money transfer system instead of $145 million as of Dec
1 2008 (including $132 million, 61 million rubles and 2 million
euro). The ratio of transfers to and from Armenia is 75%-25%. Money
transfers to and from Armenia keep on dynamically growing and even
exceeding last year’s indicators, B. Chzmachyan said.

At the same time, total turnover of Anelik to all destinations will
total about $1.7 billion till the end of 2008 instead of predicted
$2 billion.

Bagrat Chzmachyan said transfers to all destinations are decreasing
due to the economic situation in the world markets, except transfers
to Armenia.

The turnover of Anelik system totaled $1.5 billion on 1 December 2008.

Anelik international transfer system has 63000 points in 90
countries. The system transfers money in US dollars and euro, as well
as in national currencies including Armenian drams and Russian rubles.

90% RESPONDENTS OF A POLL BY TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL SPOKE AGAINST TWOFOLD ADVANCE OF SALARY TO ARMENIAN JUDGES

ArmInfo
2008-12-15 15:31:00

ArmInfo. 90% respondents of a poll by Transparency International spoke
against twofold advance of salary of judges in Armenia, Director of the
Transparency International Armenian Office Amalia Kostanyan said today.

She also added corruption risks will not reduce until the people’s
thinking changes. ‘I do not agree that corruption starts from the
lowest levels of the government machine. Employees of the lowest link
often have to take bribes as a strict hierarchy of their distribution
exists. Non-management employees, when talking to me, said: ‘Now
bribery is banned, however, unlike us the management will not suffer
from this as they have business. Therefore, corruption should be viewed
from several points of view, and it is incorrect to blame a priori
only those who physically take bribes’, A. Kostranyan emphasized.

To recall, at one of the latest sessions of the Armenian parliament,
the MPs introduced alterations and amendments to the Law ‘On Salary
of Heads of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches of
the Power’, according to which the salary of judges will be twice
increases, which will make it possible to reduce corruption risks.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S MACROECONOMIC SITUATION SHIELDS FROM CRISIS: MINISTER

ARKA
Dec 15, 2008

GYUMRI, December 15. /ARKA/. Armenia’s macroeconomic situation can
alleviate the impact of the global financial crisis on the country,
RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan said in Gyumri on Friday.

"Armenia’s stable macroeconomic situation and economic background,
as well as the small budget deficit and debt enable the country to
carry out development programs," the minister was quoted saying.

Alongside with carrying out its anti-crisis program, Armenia is making
rogress, Yeritsyan added.

He did not rule out possible crisis bites into Armenia’s economy,
saying the current macroeconomic rates enable the country to advance.

Armenia saw 9.2% year-on-year economic growth between January and
Ocotber 2008, with annual inflation being 6.6%.

The country’s budget surplus reached 10.8bln drams in October,
against forecasted deficit of 26.7bln drams.

Armenia’s foreign trade turnover rose 31.5% year-on-year to 1,381.8bln
drams ($4,520.4mln) between January and October 2008.

RA PRESIDENT SENT MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS

DE FACTO
Dec 15, 2008
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, 15.12.05. DE FACTO. RA President Serzh Sargsian sent a
message of condolences to the President of Cyprus in connection with
death of the ex-President of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to the RA President’s Press Office, the message states:
"Dear Mr. President, With great sorrow I learnt about the death of
the ex-President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tasos Papadopulos.

Invaluable is Tasos Papadopulos’ input in the contemporary history of
Cyprus as a wise leader of the friendly Cypriot people and a devoted
son of his Motherland. Great was his contribution to the deepening
and reinforcement of the brotherly Armenian-Cypriot ties.

On behalf of the Armenian people and myself, I extend my deepest
condolences to the family of the late and the friendly people of
Cyprus."

CONFERENCE DEVOTED TO CONFLICTS IN BALKANS AND CAUCASUS HELD IN LION

DE FACTO
Dec 15, 2008
STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, 15.12.08. DE FACTO. A conference entitled "The
International Recognition of Unrecognized Balkan and Caucasian States"
initiated by a youth wing of ARF Dashnaktsutyun was held at the
Supreme School of Political Sciences of Lion City.

The conference was led by renowned scientists. Robert Charvent,
the Dean of the University of Nice, delivered a speech on the Kosovo
issue. Florence Martirosian, an analytic, a member of the Conflict
Research Center, presented Abkhazian and South-Ossetian conflicts.

Hovhannes Gevorgian, NKR Permanent Representative in France, delivered
a speech on the Karabakh conflict and its settlement process, the
NKR MFA Press Office reports.