Month: July 2009

ECONOMIC DECLINE IN ARMENIA IN 2009 TO EXCEED 10% ON A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE: ADVISER TO ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER

ArmInfo
2009-07-31 13:51:00

ArmInfo. Economic decline in Armenia in 2009 will exceed 10% on a
conservative estimate, Tatul Manaseryan, the Adviser to Armenian
Parliamentary Speaker for Economic Affairs, told media on Friday.

"I am not among optimistic economists who believe that crisis will be
overcome already in 2009. Quite on the contrary, I believe that that
this can hardly be expected even in 2010. Armenia should exert genuine
efforts to maintain even zero growth," T. Manaseryan said. He thinks
that unfavorable balance in import and export may grow as well. "In
this context, the government should focus on the industrial sector
and sales of import substitution products," he said. As regards
the foreign exchange market, the government should take certain
regulatory measures there. "I expect no serious fluctuation there
but the government will have to apply certain mechanisms to avoid
unpredictable scenarios in the market in conditions of instable
economic situation," T. Manaseryan said.

National Statistical Service of Armenia reported 6.8% growth of GDP
for 2008 versus 2007 (nearly 3650 billion drams of $11.9 billion).

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY OPENS RAILWAY MUSEUM OF ARMENIA AT YEREVAN CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION

ArmInfo
2009-07-31 13:50:00

ArmInfo. South Caucasus Railway has opened a Railway Museum of Armenia
at the building of Yerevan Central Railway Station. SCR leadership
and veteran-railmen attended the opening ceremony.

"The South Caucasus Railway is an operating structure that serves
the economy of Armenia. In addition, it has over a century-long
history directly connected with the history of Armenia. We think it
very important to know it and preserve our traditions", says Sergey
Haroutiunyan, the SCR chief engineer. The stands in the Museum present
the history of railway communication in Armenia starting from the 19th
century when Tiflis-Aleksandropolis (now Gyumri) railway was built up
to the present day. "The whole exposition and design of the exhibition
hall shows the cooperation of Armenia and Russia which is continued
also at present," he says. The reconstruction of the exhibition hall
took 8 million drams. SCR CJSC is the 100% subsidiary of the Russian
Railway OJSC and the concessionaire of the Armenian Railway CJSC.

LAWMAKERS ADDRESS TURKISH BACKPEDALING

armradio.am
31.07.2009 11:02

Under the leadership of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
Co-Chairs, Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark
Kirk (R-IL), along with Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George
Radanovich (R-CA), a bipartisan group of legislators sent a letter to
President Barack Obama highlighting Turkey’s failure to live up to its
commitments regarding normalizing of relations with Armenia without
preconditions, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

The letter read in part "We write to you [Mr. President] with our
concerns about Turkish backpedaling on the agreed upon roadmap
to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia." Recalling
stated U.S. policy "that normalization should take place without
preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe," the letter pointed
out Armenia’s constructive approach and raised concerns about Turkey’s
counterproductive actions: "While the Government of Armenia remains
committed to this roadmap and has long offered to establish ties
with Turkey without preconditions, Turkey’s public statements and
actions since April 24th stand in sharp contrast to this agreement
and undermine U.S. policy that normalization take place without
preconditions."

Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny commended this bipartisan
initiative stating that "Armenia has repeatedly offered to normalize
relations with Turkey without preconditions only to be rebuffed
by Turkey.

We also support the position espoused by the Members that the
Administration should separate the issues of normalization and Genocide
affirmation. U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide should not be
held hostage to normalization of relations."

NEWLY RENOVATED VEDI POLYCLINIC WELCOMES CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS

armradio.am
31.07.2009 11:16

On July 31, 2009, the head of the USAID/Armenia Social Reform Office
Sangita Patel and Mayor of Vedi Varuzhan Barseghyan cut the ribbon
at a ceremony marking the re-opening of the Vedi Medical Center’s
Children Polyclinic.

This renovation was made possible through the joint efforts of the
US government, local Armenian government and the Vedi Medical Center
with the support of USAID Project NOVA.

The Vedi Municipality and the Medical Center provided 25% of the
renovation budget, while USAID Project NOVA contributed 75%. In
addition, as part of Project NOVA, the Vedi Polyclinic personnel –
pediatricians and family physicians – participated in a series of
state-of-the-art training activities focusing on child health.

Project NOVA has worked in the Vedi region since 2006. Project
interventions include the establishment of a School of Motherhood,
renovation and furnishing of the Women’s Consultation Center at
the Vedi Maternity, as well as training of medical personnel in
key maternal and child healthcare competencies. The Project has
also renovated 10 rural health posts in the Vedi region through the
Community Partnership for Health initiative, trained 14 community
nurses in Safe Motherhood Clinical Skills and provided them with
basic equipment and supplies required for mother and child healthcare.

USAID Project NOVA works in Armenia to improve the quality of and
access to maternal and child healthcare, particularly in rural areas,
by improving the performance of healthcare workers, providing basic
clinical equipment and supplies, renovating healthcare facilities,
and mobilizing and educating communities.

It is implemented by a consortium of international organizations
– Emerging Markets Group, IntraHealth International and Save the
Children in close partnership with the Ministry of Health, marz
health departments, Yerevan State Medical University, leading medical
colleges, National Institute of Health and healthcare facilities.

USAID WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME REPRESENTATIVE HAILS THE EFFECTIVE COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

armradio.am
31.07.2009 11:40

Representative of the USAID World Food Programme Maha Ahmed presented
her credentials to the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian.

Minister Nalbandian expressed gratitude to Mrs. Ahmed for the support
the World Food Programme provides to Armenia.

Maha Ahmed hailed the effective cooperation between the Armenian
Government and the World Food Programme and presented the programs
envisaged in Armenia.

GSP+ TO RAISE ARMENIAN COMMODITIES COMPETITIVENESS IN EUROPEAN MARKETS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
31.07.2009 11:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The purpose of a practical course held in
Armenia on Friday is familiarization with advantages of GSP+ system
implemented in the framework of TAIEX, the Technical Assistance and
Information Exchange Instrument of the Institution Building unit
of Directorate-General Enlargement of the European Union, RA Deputy
Economy Minister Vahe Danielyan said.

"This is a complicated structure consisting of ad valorem tax and
tariff elements. It will help raise competitiveness of Armenian
commodities in European markets," he said, adding that much work
has been done to bring the quality of Armenian goods in line with
European standards.

To participate in GSP+ system, Armenia joined 27 EU conventions.

"We should be consistent and responsible, since GSP+ is reviewed once
in 3 years," Danielyan said.

VAHE DANIELYAN: ARMENIA’S AMBITIONS HELPED JOINING GSP+

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
31.07.2009 11:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s ambitions helped it joining GSP+ system,
according to Vahe Danielyan, RA Deputy Minister of Economy.

"Armenia has to monitor its legislative framework to confirm commitment
to the EU criteria," he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

He said the RA Ministry of Economy is presently negotiating joining
the Free Trade Agreement.

"GSP+ is available for all Armenian companies. It’s just essential to
understand that this system is an opportunity but not an obligation. I
believe that our entrepreneurs will intensify activities and boost
export volumes," Danielyan said.

The European Union has granted preferential tariff rates to 16
developing countries that meet its criteria for sustainable development
and good governance.

The preferences, dubbed GSP+, are in addition to the standard
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) the EU extends to developing
countries. Under the standard GSP, preferential access to the EU market
is provided to 176 developing countries and territories in the form
of reduced tariffs on around 6400 goods when entering the EU market,
with no expectation of reciprocal treatment.

TATUL MANASERYAN: ARMENIA SHOULD DEVELOP ITS OWN MARSHALL PLAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
31.07.2009 14:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia should develop its Marshall Plan, jointly
with the other countries of the region, an adviser to RA National
Assembly speaker said.

"It will take time to overcome the consequences of the crisis. At that,
peculiarities of Armenian economy will prevent it from making of use
of all opportunities the crisis may provide," Tatul Manaseryan told
a news conference on Friday.

As to world economy, it tends to stabilization, according to him.

Manaseryan pointed out to the steps the Armenian government takes to
combat the crisis. However, he mentioned that these are not enough
and a common economic model should be developed.

"There are some dominating countries wishing to make the most of the
situation," he said. "So Armenia and neighboring countries should
have their own recovery plan."

ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED TO CONSCIENTIOUS LAND USERS

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
July 30, 2009

Today, NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan conducted a conference with
the heads of regional administrations of the Republic and discussed
a number of issues connected with the completing harvest of cereals
and the forthcoming autumn sowing activities.

The Prime Minister gave an unsatisfactory estimation to the obvious
results of harvest and emphasized that its main reason lies in the low
standards of land cultivation, particularly, in the improper level of
combating against plant pests. It was instructed to take agricultural
measures towards care of sown areas within the necessary time limits
having planned in advance all the works. At the conference a demand
was advanced to begin the first tillage for autumn sowing process in
time and to finish the whole agricultural campaign until September
10 through mobilizing the available organizational and technical
resources.

The Government will continue rendering assistance of various forms to
farmers engaged in grain production. With tenants this operation will
be performed through the Fund of Village and Agriculture Development,
land owners will be provided support through the mediation of community
and regional administrations. "We shall support only the farmers
implementing proper land cultivation",- Prime Minister A.Haroutyunyan
stated once more.

In concern with the areas in separate regions damaged by the
hailstorm of July the head of the Government reported that there
will be state assistance provided in form of financial and commodity
compensation. The Department of Territorial Administration and Local
Self-government of the NKR Government Staff and the Fund of Village
and Agriculture Development were charged with a task to complete the
examinations in the damaged areas and to prepare proposals based on
individual approach. Particularly, separate owners are anticipated
to be exempted of land rents.

NKR Minister of agriculture A.Tsatryan partook in the conference.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY BADLY DIVERSIFIED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
31.07.2009 15:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The first signs of crisis management appear in
the economy sectors where the crisis originated, according to Tatul
Manaseryan, adviser to RA National Assembly speaker.

"When se witness revival of industries which were first affected by
the crisis we will understand that the country is recovering from the
crisis. Construction industry was the engine of Armenian economy. It
offered job opportunities and secured infrastructure development,"
Manaseryan told a news conference toady.

"Armenia’s economy is badly diversified. We should develop the sectors
which can ensure its sustainable development," he said.

As to the national mortgage campaign, Manaseryan said it will raise
competition between the construction firms and interested sides.