Month: December 2008

WORLD BANK FORECASTS GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN

ARKA
Dec 10, 2008

YEREVAN, December 10. /ARKA/. The world financial crisis has dimmed
short-term prospects for developing countries and the volume of world
trade is likely to contract for the first time since 1982, the World
Bank (WB) said in the Global Economic Prospects (GEP) 2009.

GEP 2009 projects that world GDP growth will be 2.5 percent in 2008
and 0.9 percent for 2009. Developing countries will likely grow by
4.5 percent next year, down from 7.9 percent in 2007, while growth
in high-income countries will turn negative.

"People in the developing world have had to deal with two major
external shocks– the upward spiral in food and fuel prices followed by
the financial crisis, which has eased tensions in commodity markets,
but is testing banking systems and threatening job losses around the
world," said Justin Lin, WB chief economist and senior vice president.

"Urgent steps are needed to help reduce fallout from the crisis on
the real economy and on the poorest, including through projects that
build better roads, railways, schools, and health care systems."

In light of the crisis, the World Bank Group is increasing its support
for developing countries, including through new IBRD commitments of up
to $100 billion over the next three years as well as via its private
sector arm, the IFC, in the form of facilities for trade finance,
banking recapitalization, and fo r privately-funded infrastructure
projects facing financial distress.

ARMENIA EXPECTING $6.8 MLN FROM MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE BY MARCH 2009

ARKA
Dec 11, 2008

YEREVAN, December 11. /ARKA/. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
plans to allot over $6.8mln for its programs in Armenia in Q1 2009,
the RA Government’s press service said on Wednesday.

Under the contract signed on March 27, 2006, MCC is to assign
$235.65mln within five years for the irrigated agriculture and road
reconstruction programs in Armenia, with $108mln being allocated for
restoration of the country’s irrigation systems.

During their latest meeting chaired by RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, the Board of Millennium Challenge Account Armenia (MCCA)
approved the tenth tranche. The lion’s share of the funds will be
allocated for the irrigated agriculture and rural road reconstruction
programs, as well as for monitoring, assessment and control of the
program.

According to MCCA Executive General Ara Hovsepyan, program
expenditures will total $9.1mln, with the expenditures on the rural
road reconstruction program likely to reach $11.6mln by the end-Q4
2008. Total expenditures are expected to exceed $28mln by end-December.

With the 24.5km long highway in southwest Armenia almost built,
$60.3mln worth reconstruction of 273km roads has been launched. MCCA
plans to sum up the projects on construction of six water mains,
seven gravity canals and 18 pump stations by end-2008 in order to
launch construction in 2009.

RUGS WILL NOT RAISE ROLE OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Lragir.am
15:53:08 – 11/12/2008

There is one way of raising the role of the National Assembly – free
and fair elections, stated Member of Parliament Victor Dallakyan at
the National Press Club on December 11 in answer to the question of
reporters if the speaker of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan
has managed to raise the role and importance of the National Assembly
by which reason his becoming speaker was explained.

Victor Dallakyan said by replacing the old rugs of the National
Assembly or appointing one of the deputy speakers of the National
Assembly responsible of New Year celebrations the role of the
parliament will not rise. According to Dallakyan, the role of the
parliament will rise through free and fair elections, and the present
parliament does not reflect the wishes of the Armenian people and
the real political palette.

NKR SECOND PRESIDENT ARKADY GHOUKASIAN AWARDED WITH TITLE "HERO OF ARTSAKH"

De Facto
Dec 10, 2008

STEPANAKERT, 10.12.08. DE FACTO. On December 10 NKR President Bako
Sahakian signed a decree, according to which for exclusive services to
the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic and in connection with the anniversary
of the adoption of the NKR Constitution, the second President of NKR
Arkady Ghoukasian is awarded with the highest title of the Nagorno
Karabagh Republic, the "Hero of Artsakh" and the Golden Eagle Order. DE
FACTO received the information at the Central Department of Information
of the Office of the NKR President.

CSTO NATIONAL SECURITY SECRETARIES ADOPTED JOINT STATEMENT

De Facto
Dec 10, 2008

YEREVAN, 10.12.08. The Committee of Secretaries of National Security
Councils of Member-States of Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) has adopted a joint statement.

he statement says that the Committee, based on the provisions of the
declaration of the session of the Collective Security Council of the
CSTO (Moscow Sept 5 2008), confirms its support for Russia’s initiative
to conclude a treaty on European security envisaging formation of
a single efficient system of collective security in Euro-Atlantic
region. The CSTO member-states welcome the Russian-French initiative
to organize a pan-European summit at the OSCE involving the CIS, the
CSTO, the EU and NATO and concerning the future security architecture,
ArmInfo reports.

MATTHEW BRYZA: I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WORK ON SETTLEMENT THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

ArmInfo
2008-12-11 08:10:00

ArmInfo-TURAN: Usually the change of administration in Washington
means the change of the leadership of State Department, including the
State Secretary and his entourage. The talk is about the replacement
of political diplomats, carrying out foreign policy, but as a rule,
it does not touch career diplomats, Turan was told in the exclusive
interview by the Assistant of the U.S. State Secretary Matthew Bryza
responding the question if he will continue the work on settlement
the Karabakh conflict in the new U.S. administration.

"I am a career diplomat, and I hope to remain on my post, I would
like to bring to end, and to see the signing of the peace agreement,"
Bryza said. He admitted that the question on his staying on the post
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair will be solved by the new leadership
of State Department, and situation will be clarified in the end of
January. Concerning the talks on settlement of Karabakh conflict,
Bryza noted positive mood of the countries.

"I do not think that president Aliyev wants war," Bryza said commenting
on complaints of Armenian President that Moscow Declaration does
not rule out use of the force for the solution to the conflict. He
considers there is a good dialogue between the presidents of the two
states, and they trust each other. Bryza said that relations between
Aliyev and Sarkisian are better, than the relations between Aliyev
and Kocharian, and it is evident.

Concerning the often and mutually exclusive interpretation of his
statements by Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists, Bryza said
that he always tries to be as honest as possible. The principles of
settlement, which are being discussed at present, are the combination
of territorial integrity and self-determination, and the sides should
decide themselves how to solve it, Bryza said. "It is a pity that
sometimes journalists try to use what meets their expectations and
interests. The truth is that when you see one thing, you should not
close your eyes to another thing. Journalists must be professionals
and must understand it. The information should be built on the
understating of the question’s essence, instead of making it of
phrases, which you like more," Bryza said.

GHEORGHI PIRVANOV: BULGARIA CAN AND SHOULD PROMOTE BULGARIAN GOODS INTO ARMENIAN MARKET

ArmInfo
2008-12-11 14:19:00

ArmInfo. Bulgaria can and should promote Bulgarian goods in the
Armenian market, President of Bulgaria Gheorghi Pirvanov said at the
opening ceremony of the Armenian-Bulgarian Business Forum in Sophia
Thursday, ArmInfo correspondent to Bulgaria reported.

The country has enough potential for that, particularly, high quality
products, the president said. He is sure the Bulgarian market will
also be interesting to Armenian businessmen since it is rather
liberal. Taxes in Bulgaria are among the lowest ones in the EU and
all these factors will contribute promoting of Armenian goods in the
Bulgarian market, Gheorghi Pirvanov said. He believes it important
launching a dialogue between Armenian and Bulgarian business and the
current business forum is an evidence of this dialogue.

Fifteen Armenian companies participate in the business forum including
Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia, Armenian
Development Agency, Apaven Company, Europrofile, Metex, Elit- Group,
Shen-Concern, Great Valley, Jermuk May Gortsaran, Artsakh Fruit,
as well as ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA: ARMENIAN-BULGARIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION HAS GREAT POTENTIAL

ArmInfo
2008-12-11 14:18:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian-Bulgarian economic cooperation has great
potential, President of Bulgaria Gheorgi Pirvanov said today at the
opening ceremony of the Armenian-Bulgarian business-forum in Sophia,
ArmInfo special correspondent reported from Sophia.

‘We have got a wide basis for that, in particular, common historical
past, which is the key idea in the context of potential of the
economic relations development between Bulgaria and Armenia’, – the
president said. He also added it is very much important to establish
the political dialogue at all the levels of executive power, including
the presidents, governments and even local power bodies. ‘This cannot
but affect business. I would like to emphasize that Armenian-Bulgarian
relations have stronger basis than the relations of Bulgaria with
other European states.’, – Bulgarian president said. At the same time
he added that Armenian-Bulgarian economic relations lag behind the
political ones because of several reasons the main of which is bad
transport communication between the two states. The president hopes
that Armenian-Turkish talks will succeed.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL EVENTS MAY LEAD TO ARISING OF THE OVERLAND ROUTE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND BULGARIA

ArmInfo
2008-12-11 13:09:00

ArmInfo. Recent development of political events may lead to arising of
the overland route between Armenia and Bulgaria, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said today at the opening ceremony Armenian-Bulgarian
business-forum in Sophia.

‘Taking into account that the overland distance between Armenia and
Bulgaria is not so big, about 2 thsd km, it will be easy to pass
this distance. This will become the main stimulus for cooperation
development between the two countries’, – Armenian president said. He
also added Armenia thinks the relations with the European Union are
very much important, and has been implementing the work on signing
of Free Trade Treaty, further liberalizing of economy and gradual
holding of the democratic reforms in the republic.

‘We are going to continue this line in future, and we are sure to
succeed’, – Sargsyan said.

The president hopes Armenians of Bulgaria will become a unique bridge
between their historical and new motherland. ‘Our joint plans may be
expressed in two words – we have to work’, – the president concluded.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: ARMENIA ABLE TO CREATE MORE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR BULGARIAN BUSINESS

ArmInfo
2008-12-11 13:08:00

ArmInfo. Armenia is able to create more favorable conditions for
Bulgarian business, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said at the
opening ceremony of the Armenian-Bulgarian Business Forum in Sophia.

‘I think that our proposals will be interesting to Bulgarian
businessmen since the Armenian legislation is one of the most liberal
in the world.

Government of Armenia does its best to promote investments in the
country.

We are ready to support any programme that involves foreign
investors. I’d like to emphasize that Armenia is rather an attractive
country’, Serzh Sargsyan said. The president highlighted that natural
gas and electricity tariffs in Armenia are among the lowest ones in
the world and the construction of a new power unit for the Armenian
nuclear power plant greatly contributes to this.

Fifteen Armenian companies participate in the business forum:
Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia, Armenian
Development Agency, Apaven Company, Europrofile, Metex, Elit-Group,
Shen- Concern, Great Valley, Jermuk May Gortsaran, Artsakh Fruit,
as well as ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank.