Month: June 2009

FINANCE MINISTER OF ARMENIA: ARMENIA WILL USE RUSSIAN STABILIZATION LOAN FOR $500 MILLION WITHIN COMING YEARS

ArmInfo
2009-06-04 13:12:00

ArmInfo. Armenia will use the Russian stabilization loan for $500
million within the coming years, Finance Minister of Armenia Tigran
Davtyan told ArmInfo. ‘Armenia hardly can use these funds within
2009. Part of the amount is likely to be used in 2010 and within the
coming years. These are budgetary funds and will be used purposefully’,
Tigran Davtyan said. He said Armenia has informed Russia that the
loan was ratified and is expected within 1-3 days.

The minister said the government will spend the loan on restoration
of the disaster zone, on development on SMEs. Part of the amount will
be spent to support strategic companies, another part to create a
stabilization fund for macroeconomics and budget deficit for 2010. Part
of the amount may be used to form a mortgage fund at the Central Bank,
he said.

The minister highlighted some trends of stabilization in the economy
of Armenia. ‘We are little behind global processes. One should expect
improvement in the economy of Armenia as soon as it is stabilized in
the USA and Russia’, the minister said.

Earlier on 2 June the Parliament ratified the intergovernmental
agreement with Russia for provision of the $500 million stabilization
loan to Armenia.

The loan will be provided at the LIBOR+3%, which is equal to 4%
annual interest. The maturity of the loan is 15 years with a 4-year
grace period.

ECONOMIC FORUM STARTS IN SAINT PETERSBURG TODAY

ArmInfo
2009-06-04 12:03:00

ArmInfo. Economic Forum starts in Saint Petersburg today. President
of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev will expectedly hold
negotiations with the counterparts from Azerbaijan and Armenia
today. The programme of the Forum is quite extended. S. Petersburg
will become a center of the world’s political life for several
days. Presidents of the Near and Far abroad, as well as representatives
of the world business elite will arrive to Russia for 3 days, the
Russian news service reports. The investment climate in Russia will
become the key topic of the Forum. Over 2,000 participants will be
present at the Forum, among them representatives of the political
elite and heads of the biggest corporations, such as Exxon Mobile,
Gazprom, TNK-BP and ONEXIM. However, not all the applicants will
arrive to the Forum because of the crisis. The reasons of the crisis,
its consequences for different business sectors, insight into the
history on the topic of the previous crises will be discussed during
the Forum. Moreover, Roundtables will be organized for the companies
of the banking, oil, transport and cinematography sectors. Possibility
of appearance of a reserve currency will become one of the central
topics of discussion.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA TO MEET HIS RUSSIAN, AZERBAIJANI COUNTERPARTS IN ST. PETERSBURG

armradio.am
04.06.2009 11:12

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan left for Saint Petersburg
for a two-day working visit to participate in the 13th International
Economic Forum, President’s Press Office reported.

The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham
Aliyev are expected to meet on the sidelines of the forum.

President Sargsyan is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart
Dmitry Medvedev.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN: STEPANAKERT SHOULD RETURN TO THE BARGAINING TABLE AT SOME POINT

armradio.am
04.06.2009 11:58

"Today the OSCE Minsk Group is the only internationals structure,
which is fully informed of the problem, knows its genesis and closely
cooperates with the monitoring group that follows the cease-fire
regime. Therefore, the Minsk Group is the format with which we connect
the hopes for progress, especially considering that it is represented
by powers like Russia, USA and the whole Europe in the face of France,"
Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan said in an
interview with "Novosti Armenia."

Does the Armenian side consider that the involvement of Stepanakert
as a party to the talks at some point is unavoidable? "If Azerbaijan
really wants a peaceful solution and does not use the negotiations
to propagate its own position, it will agree that the real party to
the conflict, Nagorno Karabakh, should sit at the bargaining table,"
Shavarsh Kocharyan said.

Which are the expectations of the Armenian side from the meeting of
the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Saint Petersburg? According
to the Deputy Foreign Minister, the Armenian side has always been
constructive.

"We anticipate results from every meeting. At least, the Maindorf
declaration was signed. It was another step towards peaceful
settlement," he said.

"Our position is very20constructive, but at the same time the outcome
of this meeting depends on the constructiveness of the Azerbaijani
side, which constantly tries to present its everyday blackmailing
statements and constructiveness," Shavarsh Kocharyan concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPEAKER HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO HIS BRAZILIAN AND FRENCH COUNTERPARTS

armradio.am
04.06.2009 14:05

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Hovik Abrahamyan,
sent a message of condolence to the President of the National Congress
of Brazil, Jose Sarney,and the President of the Chamber of Deputies,
Michel Temer, as well as the President of the French Senate, Gérard
Larchet, and the President of the National Assembly Bernard Accoyer,
on the numerous human losses as a result of the crash of the Air
France plane en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

On behalf of the National Assembly of Armenia and himself, Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan extended condolences and sympathy with the people
and authorities of Brazil and France, as well as the families and
friends of the crewmembers and passengers of the crashed plane.

ARMENIAN RAILWAY READY FOR THE OPENING OF THE SHARED BORDER WITH TURKEY
Shakeh Avoyan

"Radiolur"
04.06.2009 16:16

The Armenian railway is quite ready for the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, said Shevket Shaydulin, Director General of
the South Caucasus Railways CJSC, which has assumed the concession
management of the Armenian railway. He told a press conference today
that the works to modernize the infrastructures in that direction
were under way.

"We are ready to resume the rail communication between Armenia and
Turkey. Today there is a distinct program of activities, a business
project is being worked out. We are taking corresponding steps to
modernize the Akhuryan station at the border," he said.

Shevket Shaydulin assured that there would be no problems with railway
transportation in case the border was opened. The Company intends to
make an investment of $900 million in that direction.

GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE SUBSIDIZING ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATE ENTREPRENEURS IN MARZES
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
04.06.2009 17:02

The issue of resisting the global financial-economic crisis was again
on the agenda of today’s sitting of the Armenian Government. The
Government decided to expand the subsidization of loan to enterprises
and private entrepreneurs in rural communities.

According to RA Minister of f Finance Tigran Davtyan, the Government
has started implementing a pilot program from March of the current
year. Tens of loans have been provided to most vulnerable communities
in Shirak and Gegharkunik marzes. The Government subsidizes the loans
by covering 10% of the loans. Now the executive body confirms its
willingness to continue the program, involving a number of new regions.

According to Tigran Davtyan, this program will not only greatly
benefit the enterprises and private entrepreneurs in rural regions,
but will also expand the number of creditor.

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE APPROVES GENOCIDE AWARENESS ACT

armradio.am
04.06.2009 14:43

Earlier today, the California State Senate passed Senate Bill 234, the
"Genocide Awareness Act," reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly). The Assembly, an early proponent of the measure introduced
by State Senator Mark Wyland (R), activated its ARAMAC grassroots
network in California to encourage support and passage of the bill.

On April 29, the Senate Education Committee voted unanimously in favor
of SB 234. During the public witness hearing, Armenian Genocide denier
Bruce Fein and the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)
testified against treating the Armenian example and parallel cases
in Cambodia and Darfur as genocide. In response to the opposition’s
testimony, State Senator Joe Simitian (D), a member of the Education
Committee, expressed his disappointment, especially given the
incontestable historical fact of the Armenian Genocide and asked,
"Why is it that genocide happens over and over and over again?…It
happens because we are unwilling to step back and confront man’s
inhumanity to man." The truth of the Armenian Genocide, Simitian
stated, "has long been settled."

State Senator Christine Kehoe (D), Chair of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, moved the bill directly to the Senate floor for a vote,
stating, "The continuing events in Darfur remind me of the words of
philosopher George Santayana who wrote: ‘Those who do not learn from
history are doomed to repeat it.’ Those horrific events only serve to
raise the importance of acknowledging and learning from past events
like the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust. Making sure that Senate
Bill 234 becomes law will help make sure that the Armenian Genocide
is not forgotten for this and future generations."

"The Armenian Assembly applauds Senator Kehoe for promptly bringing
this legislation to the floor for a vote," stated Yeghig Keshishian,
the Assembly’s Western Region Director. "The Assembly would also like
to commend Senator Wyland for introducing this legislation and thereby
once again placing California in the forefront of national politics
as it pertains to human rights education and genocide prevention."

Upon successful passage in the California State Assembly, State Senator
Wyland’s "Genocide Awareness Act" would then be signed into law by
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bill requires the California
Curriculum Commission to vote on the inclusion of an oral history
component related to genocides as part of its high school curriculum,
including the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. California pioneered
new education standards by adopting the Model Curriculum for Human
Rights and Genocide, which includes the Armenian Genocide.

A N N O U N C E M E N T

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
June 03, 2009

for Benefactors

All those people who want to donate for economic, social, health,
cultural and educational spheres of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
can make money-transfers to the following bank accounts:

In US Dollars

Beneficiary’s bank: Artsakhbank CJSC

Address: 3 Kievyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia

SWIFT: ARTSAM22

Account number: 223001101532

Name of the beneficiary: The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh

INTERMEDIARIES

. UBS AG ZURICH CH, SWITZERLAND (ACCOUNT: 230-36034.71H USD) —
ARTSAKHBANK CJSC (ACCOUNT: 223001101532 )

. HSBC BANK USA , NEW-YORK (ACCOUNT: 000-05145-4) — HSBC , ARMENIA
, YEREVAN (ACCOUNT: 001-166453-181) — ARTSAKHBANK CJSC (ACCOUNT:
223001101532 )

. SAVING BANK OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (ACCOUNT: 30111840300000000307)
— ARTSAKHBANK CJSC (ACCOUNT: 223001101532 )

In Euros

Beneficiary’s bank: Artsakhbank CJSC

Address: 3 Kievyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia

SWIFT: ARTSAM22

Account number: 223002001533

Name of the beneficiary: The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh

INTERMEDIARIES

. UBS AG ZURICH CH , SWITZERLAND (ACCOUNT: 30-36034.70R EURO) —
ARTSAKHBANK CJSC (ACCOUNT: 223002001533 )

. HSBC BANK PLC, LONDON ( ACCOUNT: 39024668 ) — HSBC , ARMENIA ,
YEREVAN (ACCOUNT: 001-166453-182) — ARTSAKHBANK CJSC (ACCOUNT:
223002001533 )

. SAVING BANK OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (ACCOUNT: 30111978900000000307)
— ARTSAKHBANK CJSC (ACCOUNT: 223002001533 )

In Russian Rubles

Beneficiary’s bank: Artsakhbank CJSC

Address: 3 Kievyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia

SWIFT: ARTSAM22

Account number: 223004001531

Name of the beneficiary: The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh

INTERMEDIARY

. SAVING BANK OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (ACCOUNT: 30231810100000000307)
— ARTSAKHBANK CJSC (ACCOUNT: 223004001531 )

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED OUTGOING AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS TO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ONNO ELDERENBOSCH

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

The Prime Minister thanked the Ambassador for his tenure-long efforts
aimed at strengthening the bilateral ties and expressed hope that
Mr. Elderenbosch will continue contributing to the development of
Armenian-Dutch relationship.