Month: November 2009

RISE IN SALE PRICES OF SEVERAL MEDICINES RECORDED IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A rise in the sale prices of several
medicines has been recorded as a result of the checks conducted by
the RA State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition in
October-November of this year. According to the preliminary study of
the Commission’s experts, the behavior of the big economic entities
engaged in the import and sale on the markets of cardiovascular,
anti-virus and diabetic medicines may bear evidence of possible
violations of the legislation on competition. For that reason, at
the November 17 sitting, the Commission initiated legal proceedings
in the indicated markets.

During the proceedings, the compliance of the behavior of the
following entities with competition rules will be examined. These
economic entities are: Esculap LLC, Argo Pharm LLC, Asteria LLC,
Alpha Pharm CJSC, Natali Pharm LLC, Vaga Pharm LLC, Arpimed CJSC,
Arpharmatsia CJSC, Amikus LLC, Lagi LLC, Deghabaza Yerevan LLC,
Rus Pharm LLC, Richter Lambron LLC, Tonus Les LLC, Pharm Gohar LLC,
Asteria LLC, Pharm Trust LLC, and Orient Pharm LLC (these economic
entities are the biggest ones in the market). At the Commission’s
sitting, the economic entities were asked to provide information about
the components of the structure of the purchase prices of goods and
their sale prices, also the reasons for a change in prices. They were
also asked to present copies of the agreements and invoices.

The list of the medicines of social importance, whose prices have been
raised in an unfounded way (in the preliminary opinion of experts)
will be available on website.

STATE COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC COMPETITION TO ESTABLISH RIGID CONTROL IN CONSUMER GOODS MARKETS

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The measures to reveal violation
of competition rules in the markets of several consumer goods, and
the issue of initiating legal proceedings in the medicine market were
discussed at the November 17 sitting of the RA State Commission for
the Protection of Economic Competition.

The checks conducted by the Commission to examine the sale prices of
goods of social importance show certain tendencies to growth in sale
prices on gasoline, diesel oil, medicines, vegetable oil, butter and
granulated sugar markets in recent period. Taking into account the
fact that every year the sale prices of a number of consumer goods
tend to rise in the period before New Year, the Commission will
rigidly control the behavior of economic entities in the indicated
markets and undertake measures on the prevention and disclosure of
the possible violation of law due to an unfounded rise in prices
by economic entities that account for a large share of sales in the
indicated markets.

By instructions of the Commission, in the period of November 20 to
December 31, in each case of a rise in prices, the economic entities
with the largest share of sales in gasoline, diesel oil, medicine,
vegetable oil, butter, and granulated sugar markets shall present,
within two days, information about the size of the price growth,
its reasons, or other circumstances that caused the necessity to
raise prices.

THREE-YEAR PROJECT ON IMPROVEMENT OF PESTICIDE QUALITY CONTROL BEING IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations jointly with the RA Ministry
of Agriculture organized on November 17 a one-day conference for
representatives of society, the state and private sectors to discuss
the current state and the prospects of pesticide quality control and
pesticide residue monitoring, also the steps to solve the current
problems in the sector and FAO’s assistance in this respect.

According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Agriculture, the
conference was held within the framework of the project on pesticide
quality control and pesticide residue monitoring in Armenia. The
project was launched this year.

Its purpose is to help Armenia improve pesticide quality control
in line with international standards and implement programs on
monitoring of pesticide residue in order to increase food supply,
raise the quality of agricultural products and make use of the new
opportunities in food trade.

The cost of this three-year project is two million dollars. It is
being financed by the Greek government and implemented by FAO and
the RA Ministry of Agriculture. Greece is currently financing through
FAO two projects with the total budget of 3.6 million USD and another
three with the total budget of 1.4 million USD.

"The creation of laboratories equipped with modern equipment is quite
difficult in the local conditions and requires not only a sufficient
area and expensive equipment, but also a highly qualified staff and
the proper budget to ensure stability," FAO technical advisor Klaus
Ziller said.

MELIKSETIANS’ FAMILY IN BREST TRANSFERS 1 MILLION ROUBLES TO ACCOUNT OF ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
BREST

BREST, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Rafael Meliksetian,
his wife Anahit, children Narine and Samson residing in Brest
transferred 1 million roubles to the account of the Armenian Apostolic
Church religious community.

According to diaspora.by, the family of Meliksetians calls their
compatriots for taking part in the fund-raising for the church
construction. "We need your assistance and support. We are the children
of the same nation. Let’s hold each other’s hands in solidarity and
build our church in the Belarusian fertile land. Each brick coming
from soul is important for us in our little part of Armenia."

AUCTION OF TREASURY SHORT-TERM BONDS WITH 39-WEEK MATURITY HELD ON NOVEMBER 17

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. An action of state (treasury)
short-term bonds (AMGT39178106 issue) with a 39-week maturity was
held on November 17. The amount of bonds subject to placement was 1
billion drams, the demand made 1.25 billion drams. The placement of
bonds made 1 billion drams, the revenues from placement amounted to
937 million 556 thousand 223 drams. The weighted average yield of
the placement is 8.7828%, the limit yield is 9.2050%.

9 dealers participated in the auction, the press service of the RA
Ministry of Finance reported.

106 AUDITORS HAVE QUALIFICATION CERTIFICATES IN ARMENIA AS OF NOVEMBER 17

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Finance conducted
6 qualifying examinations for auditors in 2009, as a result of which
22 applicants received an auditor’s qualification certificate. By the
decision of the commission on qualification of auditors, qualification
certificates were also given to the applicants qualified by member
organizations of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
– based on the documents submitted by them.

NT was informed by the Information and PR Unit of the RA Ministry of
Finance that 106 auditors had a qualification certificate in Armenia
as of November 17.

MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION WAS SIGNED BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY OF ARMENIA, COUNCIL OF CIVIL SERVICE OF ARMENIA AND BRITISH COUNCIL

ARKA
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 17. /ARKA/. Memorandum of cooperation was signed on
Tuesday between the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, Council of Civil
Service of Armenia and British Council in the frames of the program
of British Council "European Union: cooperation and skills".

Memorandum was signed by Nerses Yeritsyan, Minister of Economy, Manvel
Badalyan, Head of Council of Civil Service and Arevik Saribekyan,
Head of British Council Armenian Office. The program "European Union:
cooperation and skills" is directed at the exchange of experience
and development of skills of civil servants involved in the process
of European integration which assists in efficient implementation of
the program "European neighborhood" and "East partnership".

According to Memorandum, Ministry of Economy which is the coordinator
of the activities between EU and Armenia will provide professional
consultations for the implementation of the program. Council of
Civil Service of Armenia which provides training and attestation of
civil servants will assist in conducting courses in the frames of the
program and its result will be included in mandatory training of the
Council. British Council organizes courses for civil servants with
the participation of highly qualified international experts.

Three-year program "European Union: cooperation and skills" implemented
by British Council, funded by British Embassy in Armenia and assisted
by the Government of Armenia started in 2009.

WB: POVERTY RATE REACHES 28.4% IN ARMENIA IN 2ND Q 2009

ARKA
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 17. /ARKA/. Lire Ersado, a senior economist at the
World Bank, told journalists on Tuesday that poverty rate rose 2.8
percentage points in Armenia in the second quarter 2009, compared
with the same period a year earlier.

He said referring to the WB preliminary study that poverty rose from
25.6% in the second quarter of 2008 to 28.4% a year later.

The number of the poor has grown by 90,000 people over the quarter.

Ersado said that extreme penury almost doubled in Armenia from 3.6%
to 6.9%.

The number of people living in extreme poverty grew by 107,000.

The WB expert, however, said that Armenian government and households
have taken effective steps to curb penury growth.

He thinks that otherwise poverty would grow 7.6%.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SIGNED THE LAW "ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR POWER BLOCK"

ARKA
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 17. /ARKA/. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
signed the law "On construction of new nuclear power block (blocks)".

The law adopted by National Assembly of Armenia on October 27 envisages
opportunity of construction of new nuclear power defines the main
requirements of the construction space and security, construction and
exploitation of the block (blocks), liabilities of the Government of
Armenia and outreach of population.

For the construction of nuclear power block in Armenia about $4-5
billion is needed. The cost of construction depends on the capacity of
power block and will be known after finalization of construction works.

Armen Movsisyan, Minister of Energy of Armenia said that in case of
right organization of preparation process and construction of new
power block with capacity of 1-1.2 thousand MVt, there will not be
any problem with funding.

All preliminary studies showed that the most optimal option is
construction of new power block (blocks) on the basis of functioning
Armenian Nuclear Power Station. Moreover, its capacity is 400 MVt
when the space of the station envisages exploitation of the block
with the capacity of 1.2 thousand MVt.

The operating Armenian Nuclear Power Station is located near the city
Metsamor (approximately 20-30 km to South from Yerevan). The station
is functioning since 1976.

TURKEY DOES NOT EXCHANGE FRIENDS FOR EU MEMBERSHIP

Yerkir
16.11.2009 12:54
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – "Let nobody lay down preconditions to us forcing
to turn back on Cyprus and our Cypriot brothers in return for joining
EU. Let everyone know that Turkey does not exchange friends for EU
membership," said Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek.

"Yes, Turkey wishes for peace in Island (Cyprus), but a fair one. We
will always side with our brothers," Cicek stated, adding that
Turkey intends to continue providing political, economical and other
assistance to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress