Month: June 2009

0,3% DEFLATION FIXED IN ARMENIA IN JUNE 2009

ArmInfo
2009-06-30 14:16:00

ArmInfo. 0,3% deflation has been fixed in the consumer market of
Armenia in June 2009, and 0,5% inflation in Jan-June, 2009.

As National Statistical Service of Armenia told ArmInfo, the prices for
food products (including alcohol drinks and tobacco) in June 2009 fell
by 1,4% as compared to May 2009, and the prices for non-foods raised
by 2%, tariffs and service also raised by 0,4%. Index of consumer
prices in Armenia in June 2009 made up 103,6% as compared to June
2008, including index of prices for food products (including alcohol
and tobacco) – 99,8%, nonfoods – 104,8%, tariffs and services – 110,1%.

Index of consumer prices in Jan-June 2009 made up 105,2%, including
the index of prices for food products (including alcohol and tobacco)
– 103%, nonfoods – 109%, tariffs and services – 107,3%.

Average monthly growth of consumer prices in Jan-Jun 2009 made up 0,8%,
that is lower by 0,3 than the indicator of the similar period of 2008.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NA SPEAKER CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT SARGSYAN ON HIS 55TH BIRTHDAY

armradio.am
30.06.2009 11:07

Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Hovik
Abrahamyan congratulated President of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Serzh
Sargsyan on his 55th birthday. The message reads:

"Dear Mr. President,

I heartily congratulate you on your 55th birthday anniversary.

All these years contain a big reserve of personal devotion that
have served and will serve to the Republic of Armenia and Armenian
people. I am sure that the further years will still have rich material
for recording that.

I am sure that the features of a leader and a man: patience, diligence
and tolerance, will be exemplary for every state and political
figure. I am also sure that our country will reach new heights
under your leadership, and our people will have new achievements
of unification.

I am ready to support you in all your endeavors to the best of
my ability.

Congratulating you on your birthday I wish you good health, strength
and vigor, success and happiness."

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS FROM HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

armradio.am
30.06.2009 13:48

The President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, congratulated
the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, on his 55th birthday.

"Dear Serzh Azatovich, I cordially congratulate you on your 55th
birthday.

As a responsible politician you are doing much for the social
development of Armenia and for the improvement of its image on the
international arena.

Russia ranks high your consistent steps towards the reinforcement
of strategic partnership and expansion of cooperation between our
countries.

I remember with warmth our recent meetings in Moscow and
St. Petersburg. As usual, they passed in an atmosphere of
constructiveness and trust and proved once again that the
Armenian-Russian relations have a great future. I’m confident that
this advantageous atmosphere will contribute to the deepening of the
political dialogue and cooperation between Armenia and Russia for
the benefit of our peoples and for the sake of peace and stability
in the region.

I wish you good health and new achievements for the benefit of the
Armenian nation. I wish happiness and success to your friends and
relatives."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DAVID HARUTYUNYAN: ARMENIA WILL REMAIN UNDER MONITORING
Siranush Muradyan

"Radiolur"
30.06.2009 15:47

Summing up the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, head of the Armenian delegation to PACE David
Harutyunyan said the issue of Armenia will hardly be discussed at the
fall session of the Assembly unless there are unexpected developments
in the country.

David Harutyunyan predicts that Armenia will remain under monitoring
like 11 other Council of Europe member states.

According to the Head of the Armenian delegation, in Res. 1677
the Assembly welcomed the amendments to the Electoral Code and the
amnesty. However, it expressed regret for the dissolution of the
fact-finding group, expressing hope that the ad hoc parliamentary
commission will do what the group did not manage to do.

The Head of the Armenian delegation noted that all their suggestions
were accepted. "All our suggestions were accepted, which is the result
of diligent work. Nothing falls from the sky," he said.

In response to Zaruhi Postanjyan’s accusations, David Harutynyan
said he had not signed any document presented by Azerbaijan. Besides,
he had no intention to have the page of March 1 closed.

GREEK BUSINESSMEN IN ARMENIA FOR A THREE-DAY BUSINESS FORUM
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
30.06.2009 16:37

A three-day Armenian- Greek business forum kicked off in Yerevan
today with a view of invading new markets and finding new spheres
of cooperation.

As a result of the first-day discussions, President of the
Agrarian-Peasant Union of Armenia Hrachya Berberyan received a
suggestion from Greek counterparts, who expressed willingness to
provide agricultural machinery.

"This is a traditional forum held for the third time, and we always
have concrete agreements and initiatives as a result," President of
the Armenian Union of Entrepreneurs Arsen Ghazaryan said.

The commodity turnover between Armenia and Greece is low: $15-20
million. No increase is expected this year because of the economic
crisis, but this is the best time for laying the foundation for future
cooperation. "We expect the commodity turnover with Greece to reach
at least $ 100-150 million," Arsen Ghazaryan said.

IN THE FRAMEWORK OF A VISIT TO SYUNIK MARZ, RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN CALLED AT THE KAPAN BRANCH OFFICE OF THE SME SUPPORT CENTER, ESTABLISHED WITH THE HELP OF THE OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE

Satur day, 27 June 2009

At the opening ceremony of small and medium-size business support
center in Kapan town, the symbolical tape was cut off by Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan and head of the OSCE Yerevan office Sergey Kapinos.

"Assistance to small and medium-size enterprise is too high on the
Government’s economic agenda. The strengthening of the system of SME
assistance is pivotal in terms of boosting local economy and coping
with the global crisis at the local level," the head of the Armenian
government said.

Strong with its 10 field offices, the SME Support Center has been
implementing programs of State support for about 5 years now.

In the newly established field office, local businessmen had meetings
and discussions with the Prime Minister and the head of the OSCE
Armenia office.

The branch office will help implement technical and financial
assistance programs. It will also provide support to beginners and
assist with such projects as may be presented by local small and
medium-size enterprises.

UNDER A WORKING VISIT TO SYUNIK MARZ, RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN CALLED AT THE AGARAK COPPER AND MOLYBDENUM PLANT

Saturd ay, 27 June 2009

Under a working visit to Syunik marz, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
called at the Agarak copper and molybdenum plant. In Agarak, the Prime
Minister first met with the local population to get a first-hand view
of the exciting problems. Then a consultative meeting was held with
the executives of the plant.

Answering the journalists’ questions after the meeting, Tigran Sargsyan
said that the loan of USD 14 million as extended to the plant by a
government decree will help boost activities in the long run. It is
crucial from two perspectives: economic and social. As to the economic
aspect, it will finance the purchase of new equipment and increase
productivity. As to the social aspect, firstly, citizens were right
to complain of wage arrears.

In this connection, the management has assured us that no further
arrears will be accumulated after loan disbursement. Secondly, the
new equipment will increase work efficiency, and the plant will get
a competitive edge in the long run," the Prime Minister said. He
noted that an arrangement had been reached between the Government
and the management of the plant that the level of staffing will not
be allowed below 900 amid crisis. Today the management re-confirmed
this arrangement. According to head of the government, thanks to
the loan, the administration will be able to pay off the debt in
full. The management promised that the May and June arrears will soon
be completely repaid. The plant is scheduled to resume operations
from this July the 1st.

Armenian Molybdenum Production Ltd and Zangezur Mining Ltd will get
USD 15 million in loan proceeds each. The Prime Minister indicated
that the credit will be used to develop such infrastructures as may
promote growth in exports and reduce the cost price. The State may
rest assured that the loan will be repaid as production capacity and
the new equipment is pledged under the loan. "This means that first
of all we safeguard our financial assets against losses and, on the
other hand, we create favorable conditions for borrowing enterprises
to keep up with competition and increase exports amid crisis," the
Prime Minister said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRANCE DOES NOT CEASE ITS EFFORTS FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NKR CONFLICT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.06.2009 11:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ France, in its capacity of MG OSCE Co-Chair,
does not cease efforts aimed at assisting Armenia and Azerbaijan
to achieve peaceful, fair and durable settlement of NKR conflict,
French MFA official representative’s statement says.

"On June 26 in Paris, on the initiative of mediator states, RA and
Azeri Foreign Ministers, Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mamedyarov held
negotiations. First, each of Ministers met mediators to have detail
and constructive negotiations. Later, they held a meeting attended by
mediators, and discussed improvement achieved during the last summit
conference between RA and Azeri Presidents Sargsyan and Aliev, held
in the beginning of June in St. Petersburg and the possibility to
continue improvement into the future.

Success achieved in St. Petersburg was consolidated and spheres that
could yield positive results were defined during negotiations. MG
OSCE Co-Chairs made new offers to achieve compromise. In this context,
mediators resolved to organize a visit to Baku, Yerevan and NKR in the
beginning of next month to prepare presidential meeting in Moscow,"
the statement concluded.

AZERBAIJAN HOPES FOR RUSSIA’S SUPPORT IN KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.06.2009 12:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said his country
hopes for Russia mediation for the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.

The talks are coming to a final stage, according to him.

Aliyev thanked Russia and visiting President Dmitry Medvedev
personally for participation in the settlement process. He said the
Saint Petersburg trilateral meeting created a favorable atmosphere.

"The conflict should be resolved on the basis of international law,"
he said, Novosti Azerbaijan reported.

GUARDIAN COUNCIL CONFIRMS AHMADINEJAD VICTORY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.06.2009 12:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran’s top electoral body, the Guardian Council,
has confirmed the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the presidential
election after a partial recount, BBC reported.

News of the decision, which comes after a series of protests by the
opposition against what it says was a rigged ballot, was announced
by state TV. The 12-strong council is the most influential body in
Iran and is currently controlled by conservatives.

Some 17 people are thought to have died during opposition street
protests.

"The secretary of the Guardian Council in a letter to the interior
minister announced the final decision of the Council… and declares
the approval of the accuracy of the results of… the presidential
election," the state broadcaster said.

A partial recount of the election carried out on Monday showed no
irregularities in the vote, Iran’s English-language Press TV television
station added.

Mr Ahmadinejad was officially re-elected with 63% of the vote on 12
June. His main challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has said the whole
election should be annulled and held again.