Month: July 2009

DISGRACED RA MP HAS NO INTENTION TO SURRENDER HIMSELF TO ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 16:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, attorneys of RA MP Khachatur Sukiasyan ,
Arthur Grigoryan and Ara Zakaryan presented Sukiasyan’s statement
containing disgraced MP’s denial of accusations made against him. The
MP emphasized his complete innocence and the fact that as MP, he
possesses immunity status.

Sukiasyan stated that no one in Armenia could produce any incriminatory
evidence against him so he’s suffering hardships only for his promotion
of freedom of thought and human rights.

Sukiasyan’s attorneys emphasized that PACE recommendations are not
yet brought to their logical ending and the amnesty announced does
not spell full fulfillment of obligations by authorities.

They also added that Khacatur Sukiasyan has no intention to surrender
to Armenian authorities until July 31, 2009, being assured of his
own innocence, attorneys’ statement said.

INFLATION RATE WILL NOT EXCEED 3% IN RA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Inflation rate will not exceed 3% in RA, World
Bank Armenia country Manager Aristomene Varoudakis told a news
conference. "Inflation will not pose any threats to world economy in
financial crisis circumstances," he said.

Next year’s inflation rate will depend on various factors, including
oil prices. "We believe, RA’s economy will be restoring slowly next
year, which will hold inflation rate at the same level," Aristomene
Varoudakis added.

He also noted that RA economy has showed some signs of stabilization,
with GDP index lower than in first half-year. "WB forecasts of 9-11%
GDP index in 2009 haven’t changed, still we expect the index to
decrease in second half year," he said.

According to RA National Statistical Service -provided data, in
January -June 2009 in Armenia inflation rate is fixed 2,7% level,
GDP index at 16.3%.

IRAN-ARMENIA RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ENTERS AGREEMENT PHASE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 16:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The agreement will be signed with the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) over loan funds for the feasibility study (FS)
of the Iran-Armenia railroad construction project, Gurgen Sargsyan,
Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia said today.

According to Gurgen Sargsyan, within a year, an agreement will be
signed with ADB under which Armenia will receive funding to implement
the feasibility study.

MATENADARAN GIFTS PRAYER MANUSCRIPT TO PRESIDENT OF SERBIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 16:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "After a visit to Matenadaran, I realized that
the Armenian and Serbian peoples have much in common, especially in
culture," Serbian President Boris Tadic said during a visit to the
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts Matenadaran.

Boris Tadic familiarized with the main exhibition hall, a collection of
manuscripts of Cilicia and the history of the Armenian alphabet. Tadic
also signed the book of honorable guests.

Prayer manuscripts and album of ancient miniatures was presented the
President of Serbia. In turn, Boris Tadic, presented a book on Serbia
to the Institute.

BAKU NOT SKIMP IN DISTORTING ARMENIAN HISTORY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 17:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Since Soviet times Azerbaijan leads the anti-Armenian
propaganda and distort the history. In recent years, the distortion of
historical facts and strengthening the anti-Armenian propaganda became
a huge scale, since for poisoning the consciousness of Azerbaijan’s
people Baku makes major investments, Ruben Galichian, the Honorary
Consul of Armenia in London in 1992-2000, author of books on the
history and cartography, said.

"At present, the Azerbaijani side publishes books and articles in
English language with anti-Armenian content and presents them free
to well-known universities, libraries and public entities around the
world. The Armenian side has not taken any steps to stop the process
of misrepresentation. Time passes and the libraries of the world will
exhibit only book representing interests and approaches of Azerbaijan.

Ruben Galichian has decided to publish his book "Imaginary History of
Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan and Armenia, Myths and Facts". "In my book, I
touched upon the history of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918, gave
the historical arguments that define what is Agvank and Azerbaijan
(Caucasian Albania).

According to him, Baku does not hesitate to misappropriate Armenian
Churches, allegedly saying that they were built by the Albanians, who
allegedly were their ancestors. With all this, Ruben Galichian stressed
that today there are many scientific studies showing that the Armenians
have lived in Nagorno-Karabakh for more than 4 thousand years.

In the book the author has presented the facts and photographs
testifying destruction of Armenian churches and monuments in the
territory of today’s Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan, destruction of
Armenian cross stones (khachkars) in Old Djugha and Armenian cemetery
in Baku. "Today, Armenia inform the international community about
the policy of Azerbaijan, appeal to international courts to protect
its cultural heritage and to suspend the distortion of the Armenian
history by Baku," Ruben Galichian emphasized.

ARMENIA CAN’T NEGOTIATE OVER OPENING OF UPPER LARS CHECK POINT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the matter of opening of the Upper Lars checkpoint
Armenia can not act as part of negotiations, Gurgen Sargsyan , Minister
of Transport and Communication of Armenia said today. According to
him, the issue should be resolved solely between the officials of
the Russian Federation and Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA SEARCHING MEANS FOR YEREVAN-BATUMI HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 18:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A certain progress has been registered in
Yerevan-Batumi highway construction issue.

As RA Transport and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan told a news
conference today, Xiaoyu Zhao, Vice President of Asian Development
Bank has recently visited Armenia to discuss a number of transportation
issues, specifically Yerevan-Batumi highway construction.

Negotiations are conducted with ABD as well as other interested parties
for highway construction funding provision. The exact sum of project
funding has not been yet determined as project feasibility study
is currently is process. Upon study construction, financing issues
will be discussed in more detail, RA Transport and Communication
Minister stated.

NEITHER YEREVAN, NOR STEPANAKERT, OR BAKU INTERESTED IN RESUMPTION OF WAR

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 18:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The resumption of hostilities in the area the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict is unprofitable either for Yerevan, or Baku
and Stepanakert, Karen Bekaryan, head of Euro-integration NGO told
a press conference in Yerevan today.

"None of three parties to the Karabakh conflict are interested in a
military solution of the Karabakh conflict," Karen Bekaryan said. With
regard to Azerbaijan, Karen Bekaryan noted that Baku will start
fighting because hostilities can bring to zero all its oil revenues
and communications. Nevertheless, Armenian expert did not rule out the
possibility of provocation that could lead to uncontrollable situation.

TAXPAYERS’ CONSCIOUSNESS WILL ALLOW ARMENIA PAY OFF DEBTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 18:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ High tax assemblability will allow lowering
of national debt index ratio against 2015-2016 GDP index to 30%
level, WB Armenia country Manager Aristomene Varoudakis told a news
conference. According to him, small national debt of Armenia at the
time of crisis allowed RA government find necessary financing to
support the economy.

RA’s external debt will increase, as monetary resources were mobilized
to overcome financial crisis consequences. In 2012-2013 external debt
ratio against 2015-2016 GDP index will reach 45% level. Aristomene
Varoudakis also added that according to WB forecasts, increase in tax
payments, linked to restoring economy will enable repayment of external
debt. "High tax assemblability rate will allow lowering of national
debt ratio against 2015-2016 GDP index to 30% level," Varoudakis noted.

Still there are issues to be solved in tax administration and
assemblability sphere. "Tax payers have to fulfill their tax
obligations," WB Armenia country Manager emphasized.

PRESIDENT OF SERBIA COMPLETES OFFICIAL VISIT TO ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 18:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Farewell ceremony with Serbian President Boris
Tadic was held in the residence of the RA President. Prior to this,
presidents of two states, Serzh Sargsyan and Boris Tadic, summarized
the outcomes of the meeting.

This evening, the Serbian delegation, headed by President Boris Tadic,
left Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress