Month: June 2009

SYRIAN FM: KARABAKH CONFLICT’S RESOLUTION REQUIRES CONTINUOUS DIRECT DIALOGUE AND POLITICAL WILL

ArmInfo
2009-06-02 13:03:00

Syria is for just resolution of the Karabakh conflict meeting
the interests of both parties, said Syrian Foreign Minister Walid
Al-Mouallim in Yerevan, Tuesday. He came out for continuation of direct
dialogue and display of political will to find just resolution and
settle the relations of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Attempts to find any
other settlement to the conflict contradict the interests of the two
people and may aggravate regional problems and protract the desirable
resolution, the Syrian minister said.

SITTING OF COMMITTEE OF SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARIES OF CSTO TO BE HELD IN MINSK JUNE 5

ArmInfo
2009-06-02 12:59:00

Sitting of the Committee of Security Council Secretaries of CSTO
(CSCS) will be in Minsk on June 5. The sitting agenda includes about 20
issues, the national representation of CSTO IPCIS in Armenia reports.

As scheduled, the heads of Security Councils will discuss the
tendencies of development of the military-political situation in the
area of responsibility of CSTO and the neighbouring regions, as well
as the measures of response to the arising challenges and threats of
collective security.

They will also sum up the results of "Channel", "Nelegal" and
"PROXY" complex operative-preventive and special operations held
within the frames of CSTO. At the plenary session, heads of the
security councils will consider a package of normative legal acts on
formation and development of CSTO Collective Rapid Deployment Forces,
the decision on creation of which was made at February 4, 2009 extra
sitting of CSTO. CSCS members will also agree a block of documents
aimed at creation of an efficient system of collective counteraction
to the new challenges and threats, in particular, the projects of the
primary directions of actions of CSTO member- states on formation of
a system of collective response to emergency situations till 2012 and
an Action Plan of CSTO member-states on formation of a collective
system of counteraction to illegal migration of citizens of the
third countries for the same period, a draft List of organizations
having been recognized terrorist and extremist in CSTO member-states,
as well as a Joint Actions Plan on contribution to stabilization of
the situation in Afghanistan and counteraction to the challenges and
threats from Afghanistan.

Moreover, the heads of Security Councils will also discuss the
Priority directions of CSTO activity in the second half year, 2009 –
the first half year, 2010, a Consultation Plan of the members-states’
representatives on the issues of foreign policy, security and
defense for the same period, as well as other documents relates to
improvement of the military constituent of CSTO, its interaction with
other international structures and organizational bases of activity
of CSTO working members.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARFD DOES NOT INTEND TO SIGN FINAL PROTOCOL OF CEC UPON RESULTS OF ELECTION OF YEREVAN COUNCIL OF ELDERS

ArmInfo
2009-06-02 12:53:00

ARF ‘Dashnaktsutyun’ party does not intend to sigh a final protocol
of the Central Election Committee of Armenia upon the results of
the election of the Council of Elders of Yerevan, yesterday’s ARFD
statement says.

‘We have considered the election of the Council of Elders as an
opportunity to establish a political system, form a new model of the
capital administration, overcome the atmosphere of confrontation and
enmity, which developed after the presidential election in 2008, as
well as consolidate the society’, the document says. However, according
to the statement, the situation at the current election turned out
to be like before: the community and oligarchic authorities, bribes
and use of administrative levers played their role at the election.

The document also emphasizes that creation of problems in a
legal aspect in view of the election is useful and inexpedient,
and ‘Dashnaktsutyun’ party will never resign itself to this
situation. ‘ARFD representative to CEC will not sign a final protocol
upon the election results without indication of the specific violations
during the election’, the statement says.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CURRENCY SUFFERED NO SHARP FLUCTUATION DESPITE EXPECTATIONS: HSBC BANK ARMENIA CEO SAYS

ArmInfo
2009-06-02 13:08:00

Armenian national currency suffered no sharp fluctuation despite
expectations, Tim Slater, HSBC Bank Armenia CEO, said in an interview
with ArmInfo.

He said that since the devaluation in March, the national dram has been
within the Central Bank’s target zone for almost three months. Hence,
depositors will begin exchanging their savings into national currency
as trust in the Armenian dram is gradually regained. T. Slater sees
some prerequisites in this context. In addition, T. Slater is sure
that the interest rates for bank products will be considerably changed
as well. He thinks that the interests for dollar products will be
reduced whereas the high interests of dram products will be left
unchanged. The different between the interests of dram and dollar
products at HSBC Bank Armenia is 5%, T. Slater said.

On March 3 2009 the Central Bank of Armenia announced return
to floating rate policy. The same day the Armenian dram sharply
devaluated – 22%. The exchange rate sharply grew from 307 to 375
drams/1 US dollar. As of June 1, the exchange rate at retail market is
370 drams/1US dollar. Armenian CB forecasts 360-380 drams/1US dollar
exchange rate in average for 2009.

SPECIFIC WEIGHT OF BUDGET DEFICIT IN GDP TO BE RAISED TO 7,5%

ArmInfo
2009-06-02 13:12:00

Specific weight of the budget deficit in Armenia’s GDP will be raised
from 5% to 7,5%. The relevant proposal, advanced by the Armenian
government, was introduced by Finance Minister of Armenia Tigran
Davtyan in the parliament today.

Having introduced the draft law ‘On Alterations and Amendments to the
Law ‘On Budget System’ in the first reading, T. Davtyan emphasized that
the necessity of introducing alterations to the law has been aimed
at activating the process of state funding of the social projects on
mitigation of consequences of the global economic crisis. Naturally,
the crisis affected the revenue side of Armenia’s state budget and
caused its reduction. In view of this, it is scheduled to attract
considerable funds to continue the social programmes. The government of
Armenia is negotiating with the international financial institutes and
states for attraction of serious credit funds, that has given occasion
to introduction of alterations to the law. However, according to the
minister, it does not mean that the government will reach out for the
ceiling of 7,5%. He added that all the programmes of social nature,
including housing construction in the area of Spitak earthquake,
will be implemented without fail. T. Davtyan recalled that 1% budget
deficit makes up about 31 bln drams in Armenia’s GDP. So, 2,5%
increase of the deficit rate will make up about 70 bln drams.

Moreover, the minister said, the government does not intend to issue
public securities for redemption of the budget deficit. The budget
deficit will be funded on four directions: credit funds of the World
Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and the
Russian Federation. Credit funds at the rate of $800 mln will be
attracted in the current year. The attracted funds will allow to
successfully implement the available programmes and reduce the bank
interest rates. The created interdepartmental working group carries
out a permanent monitoring of macroeconomic stability in Armenia
which indicate growth of the budget deficit as of today by 6-10%.

The executive power has already frozen some programmes to the
total sum of 93 bln drams and postponed their implementation for
the 4th quarter, 2009. T. Davtyan emphasized that the first signs
of stabilization of Armenia’s economy will become apparent in 2010,
by the governmental forecasts.

FALL OF BRANDY PRODUCTION IN ARMENIA DEEPENS

ArmInfo
2009-06-02 13:10:00

Production of brandy in Armenia over Jan-Apr, 2009, reduced by 45,3%
to 2752.6 thsd liters, National Statistical Service of Armenia reports.

The fall over a month deepened from 36,8% over the first quarter. The
producers connect the reduction of production with the global crisis
which led to reduction of the export demand in Russia and Ukraine.

The brandy is mainly exported, and the Russian market predominates
in the export structure.

Noteworthy, production of other alcoholic beverages in Armenia over
the first four months grew. So, production of liqueur and spirits
grew by 3,7% to 3619.8 thsd l, production of wine – by 0,3% to 1043
thsd l and champagne – by 2,7% to 42,5 thsd l.

‘ASHTARAK-KAT’ PRESENTS ‘MILK HOLIDAY’ TO ARMENIAN CHILDREN

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 20:43:00

Today, "Ashtarak-Kat" Company, the biggest producer of whole milk
products in Armenia, arranged a real holiday for the children of
"Orran" charitable public organization on the International Children’s
Day.

Within the frames of the Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR),
"Ashtarak-Kat" presented sweets of own making and other gifts to
the children of "Orran". As PR manager of "Ashtarak- Kat" Tatevik
Gabazyan told ArmInfo, the Company extends its cooperation with
different charitable organizations assisting the needy children. "If
earlier, our company gave assistance directly to the children with
no participation of charitable organizations, now, due to the third
party being well up in the children’s problems, our assistance will be
more efficient and will facilitate the children’s life", T.Gabazyan
said. Moreover, she said, within the frames of SCR, "Ashtarak-Kat"
intends to activate its charitable activity in 2009. "In view of the
global economic crisis, assistance to the needy Armenian children by
different organizations and countries has reduced, so, our company
decided to fill this gap and pay more deference to those in need",
T. Gabazyan emphasized.

Head of "Orran", the wife of the first Foreign Minister of Armenia
Raffi Hovannisian, Armine Hovannisian, said 96 children from age 6 are
under care of "Orran" charitable organization where 30 volunteers work
besides the general staff. All the children attending the organization
are schoolchildren, though, on completing the school, they are rendered
further assistance for continuation of studies. The children dine
in the Center, do the homework, take part in the sport and cultural
coteries of the organization. "Much emphasis is laid on organization
of cultural events, visiting theatres and museums", A. Hovannisian
said. She added that the organization’s specialists do their best for
the children to show interest to the charitable activity. At present,
the organization renders assistance to the children living in Yerevan,
however, shortly it is scheduled to open a branch in Vanadzor as well.

On June 2, "Ashtarak-Kat" will hold the next action in the Yerevan
Victory park dedicated to the International Children’s Day. Within the
frames of the action, the famous singers and actors will sell ice-cream
and other sweets of "Ashtarak-Kat" in the Park, and the funds from
sale will be transferred to the Armenian Children Assistance Fund,
jointly with which the action is held.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A 2.7 MAGNITUDE QUAKE STRIKES ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-06-02 13:00:00

The National Seismic Protection Service of Armenia reported a 2.7
Magnitude earthquake in 10km southeast from the town of Ashotsk,
Armenia, at 6:09am local time on June 2. The shakes in the epicenter
measured 3-4 points MSK.

DISCUSSIONS ON THE BOOK "NAGORNO KARABAGH: FACTS AGAINST LIE" TOOK PLACE AT THE NKR MFA

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

2009-06-02 16:41

Discussions on the recently published book "Nagorno Karabagh: Facts
Against Lie. Information-Ideological Aspects of the Nagorno Karabagh
Conflict" by Arsen Melik-Shakhnazarov took place at the NKR MFA.

NKR Deputy Foreign Minister Vardan Barseghian, NA Deputies,
experts, and MFA employees participated in the discussions. The
book was introduced by journalist and writer, activist of the
Karabagh National-Liberation Movement Maxim Hovhannisian who noted
the importance of Arsen Melik-Shakhnazarov’s work as documentary
description of NKR people’s struggle for self-determination in the
context of the information-propagandistic war unleashed by Azerbaijan.

In his turn, the book’s author emphasized that the Azerbaijani
propaganda created false stereotypes and distorted the gist of the
Karabagh conflict, due to which the truth about the conflict should
be introduced to the international community.

Translation of the book into the English and other languages was
recommended. The NKR MFA expressed its readiness to facilitate the
book’s translation and distribution.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN CALLED AT AN ALL-REPUBLICAN EXPOSITION ORGANIZED IN THE NATIONAL ESTHETICS CENTER, ENTITLED "I AM THE CITIZEN OF A RULE-OF-LAW STATE."

Monday, 1 June 2009

The exposition was preceded by a nationwide contest involving
schoolchildren from all marzes of Armenia. They have tried to represent
their vision of the phenomenon of cash-registers by means of oil
paintings and show which way the citizens can defend their rights. Two
works were awarded the chief prize and 5 others won minor prizes.

"Fostering a citizen of the Republic of Armenia is a highly responsible
task. This process has its source at school, when children feel
themselves as citizens and masters in homeland, realize the way the
State is organized and revenue is collected. Today’s function has an
educational dimension as well considering that the principles of and
the ways to having a powerful State are being shaped in our children
by means of games."