Month: December 2008

HEGHINE BISHARIAN: MAKING PART OF COALITION OYP IMPLEMENTS ITS LEADER’S PREELECTION PROGRAMS

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 25, 2008
YEREVAN

In 2008 the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party passed a way of
political ordeals and achieved a positive result by making part of
the ruling coalition. Heghine Bisharian, the OYP Vice-Chairwoman
and the head of the National Assembly faction of the same name,
stated at the December 25 press conference. According to her, former
presidential candidate, OYP leader Artur Baghdasarian’s programs are
the basis of government’s program today, and OYP members are happy
that they will be able to implement them. H. Bisharian reminded that
during the preelection campaign A. Baghdasarian promised to attend
to earthquake zone’s apartment construction problems. And now, as
the OYP Vice-Chairwoman emphasized, the government has managed to
undertake steps, thanks to which earthquake zone’s 6 800 homeless
inhabitants will be provided with apartments in the coming three years.

A. Baghdasarian’s other preelection promise on returning the deposits,
according to H. Bisharian, is also on the way of fulfillment: "with
OYP’s efforts," the funds allocated for the deposits will amount to
1.6bbn drams in 2009. Besides, for the purpose of assisting families
having many children on OYP’s initiative the government has made a
decision to pay 430 thousand drams (nearly 1400 USD) on the occasion
of the birth of every third child from 2009.

H. Bisharian did not exclude that OYP will nominate its candidate in
the 2009 election of Yerevan Mayor.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

2008 WAS SUCCESSFUL IN RESPECT OF STRENGTHENING AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-KAZAKH RELATIONS

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 25, 2008
YEREVAN

The political relations between Armenia and Kazakhstan are at a high
level. Nurbolat Alimbayev, the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of
Kazakhstan to Armenia, said at the December 25 press conference adding
that 2008 was a successful year in the respect of strengthening and
development of the relations between the two countries: a number
of mutual official visits have taken place during the year. In his
opinion, the most important axis in the Armenian-Kazakh relations is
mutual confidence and friendship between the two countries. According
to N. Alimbayev, the most important problem in the development of
the relations between the two countries is the lack of a direct
transport communication.

He said that the construction of the Kazakhstan-Iran-Armenia railway
is among the priority programs.

According to N. Alimbayev, Kazakhstan carries on balanced policy
with all countries. "We do not have a notion of small, medium-sized
or big country," he said. In response to the question of what is
Kazakhstan’s most important achievement since its independence,
N. Alimbayev said that no doubt it is country’s home political
stability based on consent and tolerance between religions and nations.

Touching upon the issue of making investments in Armenia’s
economy, Kartay Kharirov, the Adviser for Economic Issues of
Embassy of Kazakhstan, said that they have done some work in that
direction. However, according to him, no investment proposal has been
presented to them by the Armenian side so far.

It was also mentioned that Kazakhstan’s Armenian community is rather
big, nearly 25 thousand people, and large-scale activity is carried
out in country’s cultural, scientific, and other spheres.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES SHOULD IMMEDIATELY FULFILL ALL PACE REQUIREMENTS, ANC REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDERS

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 25, 2008
YEREVAN

The slaughter organized by the authorities on March 1 had undesirable
consequences for Armenia’s international reputation, as well as for
its relations with abroad. Vladimir Karapetian, Armenian National
Congress Responsible Person for Foreign Relations, stated at the
December 25 press conference.

According to him, the authorities have failed fulfillment of the
requirements of PACE Resolutions N 1609 and 1620. "It is a pity that
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated that Armenia had fulfilled
more than 50% Resolutions’ requirements, while the draft resolution
adopted by PACE Monitoring Committee in fact refutes Minister’s
statement," V. Karapetian said. He reminded that both PACE Resolutions
first of all demand releasing all political prisoners.

As to the possibility of Council of Europe’s using sanctions to
Armenia, the ANC representative said that in spite of the fact
that PACE extended the term of Resolutions’ fulfillment by six
months, nevertheless no progress has been recorded in the issue of
Resolutions’ fulfillment so far. According to V. Karapetian, if the
Armenian authorities are indeed interested in protection of Nagorno
Karabakh’s interests and are concerned with Armenia’s and NKR’s fate,
they should immediately fulfill all PACE requirements.

A GROUP OF NKR PUBLIC FIGURES CREATE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY ISSUES

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 25, 2008
YRREVAN

A group of NKR Public figures have created a Council on Foreign Policy
and Security Issues. As the main priority the Council sets before
itself a task to unite the existing intellectual potential for the
purpose of making it serve for solution of the problems faced by
Artsakh in the sphere of foreign policy and security, to work out
practical proposals for interested state and non-state persons,
including through organization of public discussions regarding
issues actual for the republic. The Council will periodically prepare
analytical materials, publish commentaries and expert estimations.

According to the report received from Stepanakert Press Club,
the Council members have agreed to act on the basis of principle of
devotion to national interests, as well as not party, but professional
powers.

Former NKR Deputy Foreign Minister Masis Mayilian will head the
Council.

According to him, specialists not only from Artsakh, but also people
sympathizing with Artsakh and working beyond country’s boundaries will
be involved in the Council as experts. M. Mayilian is sure that Public
Council’s work will contribute to activizaton of work of not only NKR
foreign policy official subjects, but also individual structures of
the republic.

CONTROL OF BREAD WEIGHT AND QUALITY TO TIGHTEN IN ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 25, 2008
YEREVAN

At the December 25 sitting, the government approved the bill on
making an addition and an amendment to the RA Code of Administrative
Infractions. The bill will be submitted to the RA National Assembly
in envisaged order. According to a press release of the RA Government
Information and PR Department, the bill’s goal is to tighten control
of bread weight at trade facilities and control of bread quality at
bakeries in Armenia.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES IN FIRST READING 2 TAX PACKAGES AND BILL ON AMENDMENTS IN LAW ON FIXED PAYMENTS

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 25, 2008
YEREVAN

The RA National Assembly on December 25 passed in first reading 2
tax packages and the bill on amendments and additions to the Law on
Fixed Payments. The indicated packages and the bill were discussed
the day before.

By a decision taken two days ago, "Prosperous Armenia" faction
making part of the political coalition voted against the amendments
and additions to the Law on Fixed Payments, by which the government
proposes, in particular, revising the taxation order of gas filling
stations, hairdressing salons and hotel rooms, as well as raising tax
rates for gaming-tables and game-playing machines. The faction also
voted against one of the tax packages, which includes the draft law
on privileged payments and some amendments and additions to a number
of tax laws.

The parliament passed in first reading the bill on an addition to the
Law on State Debt. According to the main speaker, RA deputy minister
of finance Suren Karayan, under the current law, the amount of a state
guarantee shall not exceed 20% of the assets of the guarantee receiver
at the moment of applying for a guarantee. The addition proposed by
the government envisages establishing an exception for the current
restriction on provision of state guarantees, which will enable to
use state guarantees as an instrument for meeting the existing demand
for credit resources in the economy in case of crisis situations and
big state purchases. It was mentioned that lifting this restriction
does not pose any danger because under the Law on Budgetary System,
a state guarantee provided to a legal entity shall be ensured by a
pledge of the given person, and the pledge shall be no less than the
whole amount of the guarantee.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

7 TEST LABORATORIES ACCREDITED IN ARMENIA THIS YEAR

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 25, 2008
YEREVAN

In 2008 the Accreditation Agency of the RA Ministry of Economy has
made expert examination of the documents submitted for accreditation
of 27 test laboratories and 11 certification bodies. As a result,
11 certification bodies and 7 test laboratories have been accredited.

With the aim of joining European and international accreditation
organizations, the agency conducted negotiations with the European
cooperation for Accreditation (EA) and the International Laboratory
Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) this year. At the same time
negotiations were conducted with the Russian agency in order to
receive advisory services on introduction of a quality management
system in line with ISO 9001 standard in the Accreditation Agency.

OFID TO PROVIDE 14 MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT TO ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 25, 2008
YEREVAN

The Armenian ambassador to Austria Ashot Hovakimian and the
Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID)
Suleiman J. Al-Herbish on December 23 signed an agreement on allocation
of a 14 million dollar credit by the OFID to the Armenian government.

As NT was informed by the RA MFA Press and Information Department, the
credit is provided for implementation of the "Marketing Opportunity to
Farmers" program which envisages promotion of the economy of Armenian
rural areas through credits and investments.

GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS HALTS NAIRIT CHEMICAL PLANT

ARKA
Dec 25, 2008
YEREVAN

The global financial crisis has halted Yerevan’s Nairit, the press
office of the chemical plant reported on Thursday.

"The global crisis lowered demand for synthetic rubber. As a result,
the lower demand has reduced Nairit’s exports, since the plant works
only for consumers", the press release says.

This paralyzed the plant’s operation and caused technological halt
until February 1, 2009.

The press office says that 1,528 (55.7%) of 2,744 workers sent to
forces leave. The live will last until March 1, 2009.

The plant’s administration will pay salaries to these workers in
accordance with the Armenia’s labor code.

The press office says that jobs can be cut only as a result of
transition to self-financing in 2009 – the crisis can’t prompt
dismissals.

"The press office of Nairit CJSC is empowered to state that the company
has no payable wages and equated payments for industrial and service
units’ personnel for October", the report says.

The wages and equated payments total AMD 241.5 million, of which 33.8
million were paid on December 23, 51.2 million on December 24 and
wage arrears (AMD 156.5 million) will be repaid before December 27,
12 days later than the term implied by the law.

Nairit was the only plant producing chloroprene rubber in the S
oviet Union.

In 1989, the plant was closed for environmental reason.

The plant started functioning in 1992 and worked to its partial
capacity.

In 2001, the enterprise was free of debts.

In 2006, 90% of Nairit’s shares were sold to British Rainoville
Property Limited for $40 million. The remaining 10% belong to Armenian
Government.

OFID TO EXTEND $14 MILLION LOAN TO ARMENIA

ARKA
Dec 25
YEREVAN

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) will extend $14mln
loan to Armenia, the RA Foreign Ministry reports.

Armenia’s Ambassador to Austria Ashot Hovakimyan and OFID Director
General Suleiman J. Al-Herbish.

The funds will serve for the Program Marketing Opportunities for
Farmers aimed at developing Armenia’s villages with the help of
investments.

Hailing OPEC’s cooperation with the RA government, Al-Herbish vowed
support to further initiatives.

On behalf of the RA government, Ambassador Hovakimyan thanked OFID for
assisting Armenia, assuring the OFID director general he will witness
the program’s productive results as he visits Armenia in 2009.