Month: November 2009

RATIFICATION OF THE PROTOCOLS NOT ON THE AGENDA

armradio.am
12.11.2009 17:55

Ratification of the protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia in Zurich
on October 10 does stand on the agenda of the Turkish parliament’s
foreign relations commission," member of Turkish parliament from AKP,
member of the parliament’s foreign relations commission Zeynep Daghi
said, APA reports.

"I know for sure that the protocols are not on the commission’s
agenda," she said.

The Turkish parliament sent the Armenian-Turkish protocols to the
foreign relations commission on October 21.

WASHINGTON UNDERSTANDS THE SENSITIVITY OF AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY ON THE KARABAKH ISSUES

armradio.am
12.11.2009 18:05

Washington understands the sensitivity of Azerbaijan and Turkey on
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey
said in his interview with Turkey`s Heber Turk TV channel.

Washington makes great efforts towards settling the dispute, the
diplomat underlined.

He pointed out a more experienced diplomat was appointed recently as
the next U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The ambassador also said presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia meet
regularly. "We want these meetings to continue," he emphasized.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COUNTDOWN TO ERDOGAN: ANCA URGES NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY IN SUPPORT OF SENATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

armradio.am
12.11.2009 18:28

The Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) ‘Countdown to
Erdogan’ moved from the internet to phone lines on Thursday, November
12 with the launch of a National Call-In Day to encourage Senators
to cosponsor and work for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, S.Res.316.

"The strong early response by Armenian Americans – and also a growing
number of non-Armenians – to our ‘Countdown to Erdogan’ campaign has
really broadened our community’s civic engagement, with thousands
of WebMails already being sent to support both the adoption of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution and decisive U.S. action to end the
genocide in Darfur," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We
now urge team members to pick up the phone and call their Senators
to thank those who have already cosponsored the initiative and urge
others to take immediate action."

Since Monday, in addition to contacting their Senators, activists
have urged President Obama to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive
action to end the Darfur genocide, participating in a WebMail
campaign initiated by Africa Action. Anti-genocide activists were
also encouraged to watch a special live broadcast of Save Darfur’s
interview with Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration and NSC Assistant
Secretary on Multi-Lateral Affairs Samantha Power on the current
situation in Darfur.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN ATTENDS THE OPENING OF THE AMERICA BANK HEADQUARTERS

armradio.am
12.11.2009 18:22

President Serzh Sargsyan attended the opening ceremony for the
headquarters of the Ameria Bank in Yerevan.

The President walked about the newly constructed building and
familiarized with the process of provision of high-level banking
services through contemporary technologies.

President of the Board of Directors of the Ameria Ruben Vardanyan
briefly presented the development programs of the bank

President Sargsyan wished success to the leadership and staff of the
bank in accomplishing their programs.

MINISTER: ARMENIA EXPECTS $60 MILLION FROM ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK FOR RECOVERING RURAL ROADS

ARKA
Nov 11, 2009

YEREVAN, November 11. /ARKA/. Armenia expects $60 million from
Asian Development Bank for recovering rural roads, Transport and
Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said on Wednesday.

The matter, he said, is under negotiation now, and construction is
planned to be launched in April or May 2010.

"A tender for design will be announced soon and another tender,
for construction, is planned to be completed by spring," Sargsyan said.

The minister said that the Asian Development Bank is though to start
transferring money in early 2010.

In the 2010 state budget, Armenian government is planning to recover
about 120 kilometers of rural roads from the Asian Development
Bank’s loans.

The Asian Development Bank was established in 1966.

The bank has 67 members.

Armenia joined the bank on September 20, 2005.

Armenia has signed a number of agreements and the mutual understanding
memorandum with the Asian Development Bank.

The bank’s rural road and water supply projects in Armenia are
estimated to cost $83 million.

Armenia has received $381 million from the bank.

CONSTRUCTION OF NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR IN ARMENIA TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2010

ARKA
Nov 11, 2009

YEREVAN, November 11. /ARKA/. The construction of North-South
transportation corridor in Armenia is to be launched in 2010, Armenian
Transport and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said on Wednesday.

The first stage of the construction is estimated to cost $60 million.

The corridor will be laid from Armenian city of Meghri to Bavra,
on the border with Georgia.

Asian Development Bank will lend $500 million to Armenia for this
purpose.

The loan will be given to Armenia for 32 years with eight years of
grace period.

The annual interest of the grace period is set at 1%, and later it
will rise to 1.5%.

Sargsyan said that the first stage will be launched in 2010.

The second and third stages will be planned in 2010 as well.

The minister said the Asian Development Bank will transfer the loan
in several tranches.

The first, $60-million tranche is intended for reconstruction of a
18-kilometer section connecting Yerevan with Ashtarak.

The second stage will prolong the road up to Gyumri and the third
tranche will be targeted for construction of a new section of
Goris-Kapan road.

"Successful implementation of the first phase will make it possible
to launch the second stage right in 2010, and the Asian Development
Bank will transfer the funds intended for that," Sargsyan said.

The road is planned to be put into exploitation in 2016.

The Asian Development Bank was established in 1966.

The bank has 67 members.

Armenia joined the bank on September 20, 2005.

Armenia has signed a number of agreements and the mutual understanding
memorandum with the Asian Development Bank.

The bank’s rural road and water supply projects in Armenia are
estimated to cost $83 million.

Armenia has received $381 million from the bank.

ARMENIAN INECOBANK INTRODUCES NEW VERSION OF "BANK-CLIENT" SYSTEM

ARKA
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, November 12. /ARKA/. Armenian Inecobank has introduced a new
version of "Bank-Client" system, the bank reports on its official site.

The new version of the system makes it possible to enjoy the bank’s
services wherever a client is.

Now clients are able to see their bills and get other data.

Besides, they can get information in any format, see their account
balances and control changes.

The new version lessens possibility of errors.

"Those clients using an old version of "Bank-Client" system can replace
it with a new one for free by submitting a relevant application to
the bank", the bank reports.

Inecobank cjsc was registered on February 7, 1996. DEG (Deutsche
Investititions-und Entwicklunsgesellschaft mbH), a member of KfW
Group, with 13.5% of shares and IFC with 10% are among the bank’s
shareholders.

Inecobank cooperates with European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, USAID, KfW, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and
other organizations.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES CONCEPT FOR SHIFTING TO DIGITAL TELEVISION

ARKA
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, November 12, /ARKA/. The Armenian government has approved
today the national concept for shifting to digital television,
which is supposed to be completed in 2015. Economy Minister Nerses
Yeritsian said the analogue broadcasting puts a brake on further
development of the sector, while transition to digital television
opens new development prospects.

The minister said as a result of transition to digital television
radio frequencies will be vacated which can be used later for further
advancement of information technologies.

Transition to digital television will ensure high quality broadcasting
and protect it against interferences. Nerses Yeritsian said the experts
did not calculate the cost of transition yet, but according to some
preliminary estimates it may cost from $20 million to $200 million.

He added that the government will have to secure funding for transition
which may be implemented in cooperation with private sector. He
said introduction of digital television will not affect vulnerable
segments of the population for whom a special social package will be
developed. In his words, transition to digital television will not
cause problems because 99 percent of TV sets bought in the last 5-6
years are able to receive digital signals

The minister said transition will be implemented in several stages,
to be preceded by public debates and o be followed by amending the
relating legislation. The technical stage is supposed to be completed
in 2013.

HEAD OF PROFILE COMMITTEE OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA IS SATISFIED WITH THE EXPENSES TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THE SOCIAL SECTOR IN 2010

ARKA
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, November 12. /ARKA/. Hakob Hakobyan, Head of standing
committee of the Parliament of Armenia on social issues is satisfied
by the expenses to be allocated for the social sector in 2010.

"During economic crisis our main task was to maintain the expenses
of 2009 also in 2010", said Hakobyan to the journalists on Thursday.

In 2010, 31 billion drams versus 32.3 billion drams in 2009 for the
payment of benefits to vulnerable families will be allocated. Next
year social payments to vulnerable population will be maintained
which makes 25-30% of population.

During the hearings of state budget, the Committee on Social Issues
is going to propose compensation of "frozen" deposits in Savings
Bank of the USSR in 1 billion drams, as due to limitations no budget
allocations are envisaged for 2010.

In 2010 income of state budget of Armenia will make 676.6 billion
drams, expenses – 859.6 billion drams with the deficit of 183 billion
drams. In 2010 allocations from state budget for social sector will
be more than 242.4 billion drams. Discussions of draft state budget
in Parliament committees lasted from October 30 to November 6.

Review of the draft budget will take place on November 16 in National
Assembly of Armenia.

ARMENIA TO SPEND ONE BILLION DRAMS ON ANTI-HAIL SYSTEMS

ARKA
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, November 12, /ARKA/. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said
today one billion Drams will be spent on installment of anti-hail
systems in the country. Addressing Cabinet members during a recurrent
session he said part of the money will be released by the government
and the other part will come from a Japanese government’s grant.

According to the prime minister, next year will be crucial in terms
of raising the level of protection from hails. The government has
also approved today a plan of actions designed to develop anti-hail
system across the whole of the country and transferred free of charge
some equipment to a special agency dealing with atmospheric agents.

Emergency minister Mher Shahgeldian said the anti-hail program was
developed by an interagency team of qualified experts which was later
discussed with all stakeholders. In line with the plan of actions
several regions of the country affected most by hails will be in the
limelight of the government. In 2010-2011 a total of 79 anti-hail
systems will be installed to protect over 30,000 hectares of land.

According to agricultural experts, the annual damages caused by various
natural disasters to farmers amount up to $20 million, almost half
of them are caused by hails.($1 – 388.01 Drams).