Month: December 2008

ANC TO SUPPORT VARIANT OF CONFLICT SETTLEMENT ACCEPTABLE FOR KARABAKH

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian National Congress
is going to support any variant of conflict settlement that will be
acceptable for the Artsakh people. Arman Musinian, the Spokesperson
of first RA President Levon Ter-Petrosian, stated at the December 1
press conference. He said that according to opposition’s data, the
authorities of Karabakh mislead the people to make it calm down and
to avoid a revolt. According to A. Musinian, therefore the Karabakh
people is not able to orient itself.

As to the policy in Nagorno Karabakh problem carried on by the RA
authorities, according to A. Musinian’s observation, its greatest
shortcoming is that they continue the negotiations without NKR’s
participation. According to him, the ratification of the Moscow
Declaration without NKR representative’s signature will give the Azeri
President a possibility to speak from the positions of force. According
to A. Musinian, today Armenia has reached a difficult point in the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations, for which former President
Robert Kocharian, former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, President
Serzh Sargsyan, and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian are responsible.

"Though a bandit regime holds the power in Armenia, which is able to
fire at its own people, nevertheless we have stopped our rallies to
give these authorities a possibility to find a favorable solution
to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," A. Musinian said. However, as
he added, the authorities do not use that pause efficiently: their
policy is rather aimed at retaining and legitimizing their own posts
than at protecting the national interests.

CONSTRUCTION OF LINEAR SECTION OF ARARAT-KAJARAN GAS-MAIN PIPELINE COMPLETED

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A ceremony dedicated to the
completion of the construction of the linear section of 186.3-km
Kajaran-Ararat gas-main pipeline took place near the city of
Ararat on December 1. The indicated section is the continuation of
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Its construction began in 2004 on the
initiative of the Armenian government with the aim of extending the
resource base of Armenia’s natural gas supply and creating a second
entry line. Kajaran-Ararat gas pipeline was build in hard geological
and weather conditions, at an altitude of 1,500-3,000 meters above
sea level.

Thanks to the implementation of more than 130 million dollar investment
program, Iranian gas will be transported to central regions of Armenia
through Kajaran-Ararat gas pipeline, and payments for gas will be made
by the principle of "gas against electricity". Electricity generated
by Yerevan Thermal Power Plant with the capacity of 230 megawatts and
the 5th power unit of Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant with the capacity
of 480 megawatts will ensure delivery of its amount envisaged by an
agreement to Iran, while the sale of "profitable" electricity will
ensure repayment of gas transportation and the program’s investments.

The ceremony was attended by the Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan,
the chairman of Gazprom OJSC’s board Alexey Miller, the former Armenian
president Robert Kocharian, other officials.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TARIFFS OF SERVICES RISE BY 1.5% IN ARMENIA IN NOVEMBER 2008

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The tariffs of services rose by 1.5%
in Armenia in November on October 2008. According to the RA National
Statistical Service, tariffs of medical services grew by 4.9%, while
tariffs of personal and public catering services – by 1.2% and 0.4%
respectively.

0.5-2.4% fall in service tariffs was recorded in the spheres of
transport and culture. Tariffs of housing, municipal, communication,
educational, recreational, legal and banking services remained at
the level of the previous month.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION GROWS BY 4% IN ARMENIA AS COMPARED WITH JANUARY-OCTOBER 2007

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Industrial production of 639
bln 445.2 mln drams or 2 bln 91 mln USD was made in Armenia in
January-October 2008.

Production of 633 bln 103.2 mln drams was sold, including sales of
65 bln 21.5 mln drams in CIS countries and sales of 140 bln 624.4
mln drams in other countries.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the industrial
production index made 104% as compared with January-October 2007,
the same index without the production and distribution of electricity,
gas and water made 102.5%.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXCHANGE RATE OF ARMENIAN DRAM AGAINST DOLLAR INCREASES BY 0.3% SINCE EARLY 2008

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Comsumer prices in Armenia and the
settlement exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the U.S. dollar
increased by 5.1% and 0.3% respectively in November 2008 on December
2007.

5.1% growth of consumer prices was accompanied by a 13.1% fall of the
settlement exchange rate of the dram in the same period of last year.

According to the RA National Statsistical Service, a 0.1% inflation
in the Armenian consumer market was accompanied by a 0.4% fall in
the settlement exchange rate of the dram against the dollar (the
dram appreciated) in November on October 2008. The average settlement
exchange rate of the Armenian dram made 305.13 drams in November 2008,
which was lower by 3.7% as compared with the respective index of 2007
(316.85 drams).

FOOD PRICES FALL BY 0.1% IN ARMENIA IN NOVEMBER 2008

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.1% fall in prices of food
commodities was recorded in Armenia in November on October 2008, which
was mainly conditioned by a 4.3% fall in prices of bread products.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, a 12.2% growth in
prices of bread products was recorded in Armenia in November 2008 on
November 2007, and a 4.3% fall in November on October 2008, which was
mainly due to a fall in prices of flour (6.4%) and high-quality bread
(5.6%). Prices of some types of bread, macaroni, buckwheat, rice,
pea, lavash and grain fell by 0.8-2.5% in the indicated period.

There was a 0.2% fall of prices in the commodity group of meat products
in November on October 2008 and a 9.2% growth of prices in November
2008 on November 2007. Prices of mutton and beef declined by 2.6%
and 1.3% respectively, while pork prices grew by 0.4% in November on
October 2008.

Prices of other foodstuffs, coffee, tea, cocoa fell by 0.1-0.3%
in November on October 2008.

There was a 8.1% inflation in the commodity group of vegetables and
potato in November on October 2008, and a 7.6% fall of prices in
November 2008 on November 2007. A growth was recorded in prices
of tomato (1.6fold), cucumber (1.6fold), green pepper (44.5%),
egg-plant (31.6%), green beans (8.8%), cabbage (7.1%) and potato
(6.6%) in November on October 2008. Prices of cauliflower, carrot,
onion, beet and garlic fell by 3.4-25.9% in the indicated period.

In the commodity group of fruit, there was a 5.5% inflation in
November on October 2008 and a 12.1% fall of prices in November 2008
on November 2007. There was a growth in prices of pear (4.1%), apple
(4.1%), pomegranate (5.2%), grapes (31.1%), peach (44.9%), watermelon
(50.1%) and melon (55.9%) in November on October 2008. Prices of
tangerine, blood orange, orange, lemon, and banana fell by 1.8-22.1%
in the indicated period.

Prices of fish products rose by 12% in Armenia in November on October
2008. 2,5% inflation was registered in the commodity group of butter
and vegetable oil in the indicated period, mainly due to a 10% growth
of prices of melted butter. Prices of corn oil grew by 0.9%, those
of butter, sunflower and olive oil fell by 0.7-1.3% in November on
October of this year.

The average republican price of eggs grew by 2.5% in November on
October 2008. Prices of dairy products grew by 2% in the same period
due to a 4.4-7.7% rise in prices of matsun, yoghurt, curds and fresh
milk. Prices of dairy products grew by 3.6% in November 2008 on
November 2007.

0.1-0.5% inflation was recorded in the commodity groups of
confectionery, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, soft drinks, and
granulated sugar in November on October 2008.

DIESEL FUEL PRICES INCREASE BY 11.4% IN ARMENIA IN NOVEMBER 2008 ON SAME MONTH OF 2007

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Gasoline prices fell by 2.1%,
while diesel fuel prices grew by 11.4% in Armenia in November 2008
on November 2007.

According to the RA National Statistical Services, gasoline prices
fell by 11.9%, diesel fuel prices – by 11.7% in November on October
2008. Gasoline prices fell by 2.5%, diesel fuel prices grew by 6.2%
in November 2008 on December 2007.

PRICES OF NON-FOOD COMMODITIES FALL BY 1.7% IN ARMENIA IN NOVEMBER 2008

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. 1.7% fall in prices of non-food
commodities was recorded in Armenia in November on October 2008, on
which the fall of gasoline and diesel fuel prices (11.9% and 11.7%
respectively) had a direct impact.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, prices of domestic
electric appliances, furniture, detergents, and cultural goods fell
by 0.1-0.6% in November on October 2008. In parallel with this,
prices of fuel, kitchen utensils, cosmetics, building materials,
footwear, clothes and fabrics increased by 0.1-1.6%. The prices in
the other commodity groups under observation remained at the level
of the previous month.

STUDENT COUNCILS HEADS OF FOUR ARMENIAN UNIVERSITIES CONCERNED WITH CORRUPTION IN UNIVERSITIES’ SYSTEM

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The student council heads of
four Armenian Universities, Yerevan State University, Armenian State
Economic University, Yerevan State Linguistic University, and Armenian
State Agrarian University are concerned with the corruption phenomena
striking deep roots in country’s university system and are convinced
that it has a direct impact on the education quality in the country.

The heads of student councils are convinced that corruption phenomena
first penetrate into the institutions during the entrance examinations,
then continue in the study years: "ungifted entrants becoming students
this or that way graduate from the university the same way."

According to Tsolak Akopian, the student council chairman of Yerevan
State University, according to the social survey conducted in YSU
19 faculties, the most corrupted is the Law Department, 24.63%,
International Relations Department, 20.67%, Economy Department. 19.05,
Foreign Languages 15.68.

Meanwhile he said that no corruption phenomena are recorded especially
in the natural science departments. According to the survey results,
those phenomena are recorded when students move from one department
to another.

And as the main reason of corruption they mention lecturers’
low salary.

Robert Makarian, the head of the Agrarian University student council,
affirmed that everybody is to blame for corruption phenomena, from
education responsibles to students. He is convinced that only an open
examination process can reduce these phenomena.

The student council heads have made a joint letter addressed to the
Armenian authorities, RA President, NA Speaker, and RA Prime Minister
expecting assistance in fighting corruption. They ask country’s
leaders for guarantees that if names are publicized these people will
be protected from persecutions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTER OF DIASPORA DISCUSSES IN U.S. WAYS OF DEEPENING ARMENIA-ARTSAKH-DIASPORA LINKS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Minister of Diaspora Hranish
Hakobian on November 26 had meetings with representatives of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the Union of the Armenian
Evangelical Churches and the Union of Iranian Armenians of Los Angeles
in the U.S.

During a dinner given by the AGBU, at which the President of
the NKR Bako Sahakian and the Head of Artsakh diocese Pargev
Martirosian were present, discussions on deepening and developing
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora links took place. As NT was informed by
the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Diaspora,
Hranush Hakobian presented the ministry’s major strategic tasks set
by the Armenian president, underlining the necessity for implementing
joint Armenia-Diaspora programs with the aim of performing these
tasks. Issues related to development and implementation of youth
programs, organization of higher educational practice of Diasporan
students at various institutions in Armenia, extension and development
of the activities of Saturday and Sunday schools, as well as giving a
new quality and spirit to Diaspora-Armenia relations under "Ari Tun"
("Come Home") project were discussed.

At the meeting with members of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical
Churches, the minister of diaspora spoke about the prospects of
strengthening and devloping Armenia-Diaspora links, at the same time
expressing a high opinion about the educational and charity programs
implemented by the Armenian Evangelical Church. In her speech Hranush
Hakobian stated that any Armenian body of the Diaspora – any religious,
cultural or party structure – is a direct partner of the ministry. She
attached importance to the development and implementation of programs
in cooperation with Diasporan structures in the spheres of education,
culture, economy, information, etc.

The NKR president Bako Sahakian attended the meeting with
representatives of the Union of Iranian Armenians, during which
the minister pointed out the well-organized character, activity and
vitality of Iran’s Armenian community, expressing confidence that
the Iranian Armenians retain these good traditions in the U.S.

During all the meetings, interesting and comprehensive discussions on
the strengthening and development of Homeland-Diaspora links were held,
while the minister called on the meeting participants to take an active
part in Telethon 2008, underlining the ideas of unity of this event.