Month: November 2009

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN STRATEGIC COOPERATION IS NOT A TEMPORARY POLITICAL STATE OF AFFAIRS, BUT REFLECTION OF NATURAL SITUATION IN THE TWO COUNTRIES’ RELATIONS

ArmInfo
2009-11-11 18:50:00

ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the
ribbon-cutting ceremony of Armenian Cultura Center in Kaliningrad
region of Russia.

ArmInfo correspondent reports from Kaliningrad that Governor of
Kaliningrad region Georgy Boos, Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush
Hakobyan, Armenian Agriculture Minister Gerasim Alaverdyan and Mayor
of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Armenian president made a speech before the Armenian Diaspora
representatives. "I am glad to be in Kaliningrad, especially taking
into account such an important event as the opening of the Armenian
Cultural Center. Creation of such a center shows that strategic
cooperation between Armenia and Russia is not a temporary political
state of affairs and not a mercantile intention, but reflection of
the natural situation in the mutual relations between our states
and two peoples",- Sargsyan stressed and added that only by means
of direct communication it is possible to make everyone understand
the extremely important postulate repeated during the meetings with
Armenian Diaspora for many times: "If you want to be a good Armenian,
be a worthy citizen of the country you live in".

S.Sargsyan thanked the Russian leadership in the person of President
Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for the support in
implementation of such undertakings as creation of Armenian cultural
spiritual centers in Russia. Sargsyan thanked Governor of Kaliningrad
region Georgy Boos for the consistency in his actions and development
of ties between Armenia and Kaliningrad region. The president expressed
hope that Boos will shortly visit Armenia, and they will sum up the
results of the work done in 2009 and outline the new plans.

The president also thanked Honorary Consul of Armenia to Kaliningrad
region, Director General of "Lukoil", Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the Armenian Regional National Cultural Autonomy Yuri
Khojoyan. "Not everyone can build a church – a spiritual cultural
center. This is not a matter of money, a lot of people have huge
resources but don’t do that",- Sargsyan said.

To note, the president brought for the new center collected books
and art albums published in Armenia over the past two years. Serzh
Sargsyan instructed the Armenian ministers of Culture and Diaspora
to take this center under their patronage.

To recall, this is the president’s third visit to the regions of
Russia. Earlier Sargsyan visited Orenburg and Rostov.

To note, today Serzh Sargsyan laid wreaths at the Armenian khachkar
(cross-stone). On behalf of Governor of Kaliningrad region Georgy Boos,
an official dinner party will be given in the Armenian president’s
honor. Nov 11 evening the Armenian delegation headed by Serzh Sargsyan
will return to Yerevan.

ARAX POULTRY FACTORY IS PLANNING TO INVEST ALMOST 1MLN EUR IN MODERNIZATION

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:30:00

ArmInfo. Arax Poultry Factory is planning to invest almost 1mln EUR
in modernization, Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan said during
a government meeting today.

The Government has decided to put off the company’s VAT payments
for imported equipment from Oct 2009 till Oct 2012. This privilege
is provided to companies whose investments exceed 300mln AMD. Arax
Poultry Factory has so far invested 360,000 EUR in modernization. The
money has been spent mostly on the purchase of German equipment. These
investments will allow the company to create 230 additional jobs with
average salary of 70,000 AMD.

This is already the fourth company to have got such a privilege
this year.

VIVACELL-MTS SUBSCRIBERS TO BE ABLE TO SEND SMS DIRECTLY FROM COMPUTER

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 15:03:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC
announces that starting from today the subscribers may register on
VivaCell-MTS SMS portal () and enter
the message text directly from the computer. As VivaCell-MTS reports,
to register the subscriber needs to send the word SMS to the short
number 767. Soon he/she will receive a password to access the account
and use all the opportunities of the "Online SMS" service. Here the
subscriber can also keep his/her contacts and group them, create SMS
templates, schedule the sending of messages and much more. The cost of
1 message via "Online SMS" service makes up 15 drams in VivaCell-MTS
network and 20 drams to other networks.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. GOVERNMENT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL 15 MILLION DOLLARS TO ARMENIA TO REHABILITATE MAIN CANALS

ArmInfo
2009-11-11 18:57:00

ArmInfo. On November 11, 2009 the Millennium Challenge Account –
Armenia (MCA-Armenia) SNCO signed a contract with a consortium
consisting of Arpa- Sevan OJSC (Armenia) and Sade (France) to
rehabilitate/repair 35,4 kilometers of sections on the Arzni-Shamiram,
Lower Hrazdan, Artashat and Shirak main canals and about 70
hydro-technical structures in Arzni-Shamiram and Shirak main canals.

Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia told ArmInfo that together with
the work under the first package of main canals, a total of 39.6
kilometers of canals will be rehabilitated and more than 20 million
dollars invested in the improvement of the canal infrastructure in
Armenia. More than 110, 000 beneficiaries in around 200 communities
will be able to have access to more reliable water in Ararat,
Aragatsotn, Armavir, Kotayk, and Shirak marzes.

The value of the contract is 14,618,601 dollars and the term of the
contract 18 months. The scope of the rehabilitation works includes
cleaning of the canals, rehabilitation of outlets and gates, and
utilization of monolith concrete, reinforced concrete and such advanced
technologies as shotcrete.

Additional works under MCA-Armenia’s Irrigation Infrastructure will
involve the rehabilitation of 17 pumping stations, construction of up
to six gravity schemes, upgrading of tertiary irrigation systems in
over 70 communities and improvements to the Ararat valley drainage
system. Total investment into the MCA-Armenia Program should amount
to about 180,000, 000 dollars by the time the program ends in 2011.

GAS SUPPLY OF KAPAN CEASED BECAUSE OF BREAKAGE

ArmInfo
2009-11-11 18:51:00

ArmInfo. On 11 November, at 3:00 AM gas supply of Kapan was ceased
because of the breakage at the main gas pipeline Kapan-Kajaran,
press-service of CJSC ‘ArmTusgasprom’ reported.

At present ‘Transgas’ company has been implementing works on
liquidation of the incident and restoration of gas supply as soon
as possible. According to the preliminary data, the works will be
finished on 13 November.

ARMENTEL: DIAL-UP SUBSCRIBERS ARE ADVISED TO DISCONNECT THEIR MODEMS WHEN GOING OFF-LINE

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:32:00

ArmInfo. ArmenTel advises its dial-up subscribers to disconnect their
modems when going off-line so as to protect themselves from viruses
generating international calls.

Head of Customer Service Burastan Movsissyan says that in some cases
such calls can be generated even by shut down computers. This is a
very urgent problem as 20% of ArmenTel’s fixed telephony subsribers
still use Dial-up. International calls can also be blocked from the
phone number the computer is connected to.

As regards complaints, Movsissyan says that 36% of them concern
big bills for SMSs sent to short numbers (quizzes, votings), 25% –
GPRS-viruses, 21% – "mobile fraud" (alleged victory in some nonexistent
draws). In the field of fixed telephony, 47% of complains concern
dial-up viruses, 44% – big bills in newly digitized areas in regions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENTEL: DON’T CALL BACK TO UNKNOWN INTERNATIONAL NUMBERS

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:28:00

ArmInfo. ArmenTel urges its subscribers not to call back to unknown
international numbers.

Head of ArmenTel’s Customer Service Burastan Movsissyan says that one
of the most widely spread ways to get money out of cellular clients is
to make him call back to an unknown long distance call, get no answer
and, as a result, pay a bill for the call or even for some additional
services provided to the recipient number. Movsissyan also advises
not to respond to SMSs urging customers to take part in some prize
draws by sending paid messages. "As a result, our customers come to
our office and claim their prizes. But we have nothing to do with the
people organizing such draws. We notify our customers of all draws
we organize," says Movsissyan.

IN A NUMBER OF CASES ARMENTEL CUTS SUBSCRIBERS’ ROAMING BILLS IN BORDERLINE AREAS

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:26:00

ArmInfo. In a number of cases ArmenTel cuts the roaming bills for
the subscribers living in borderline areas. Head of Client Servicing
Department of ArmenTel Burastan Movsisyan said that the subscribers
living in borderline regions sometimes enter the zone of foreign
operators’ coverage. "This happens because cellular coverage cannot
completely comply with the state borders. Therefore our subscribers,
for example, from Gyumri and adjoining villages of Shirak region may
enter the zone of the Turkish operator Turkcell coverage and receive
relevant notification. In this case one should enter the mode of
choice of the network and choose ArmenTel network, Movsisyan said.

As regards roaming in general, she said that not all subscribers know
the roaming prices and conditions, particularly, the circumstance that
not only outgoing but also incoming calls are paid in roaming. "Some
subscribers accustomed to the fact that one shouldn’t pay for incoming
calls can speak on roaming long without thinking that they are to
pay for the incoming call. In any case, people should familiarize
themselves with the whole information on tariffs and services, this
concerns not only roaming",- Movsisyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACTIVITY ON CREATION OF ‘GNISHIK’ WILDLIFE RESERVE IN VAYOTS DZOR REGION, ARMENIA, TO START IN 2010

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:19:00

ArmInfo. Activity on creation of "Gnishik" reserve in Vayots Dzor
region, Armenia, will start in 2010.

Head of WWF-Armenia Karen Manvelyan told ArmInfo the area of the
reserve will total nearly 15,000 ha. There are 960 types of plants
in the reserve 60 of which are in the Red Book of Armenia and 24
are endemics (6 endemics in Vayots Dzor). In addition, there are 240
types of vertebral in the reserve including 49 were registered in the
Red Book of Armenia and 12 in the Red List of the IUCN. Among these
animals are leopard, moufflon, bezoar goat and grown bear. "Gnishik"
extends up to Noravank embracing gorges, Alpine and subalpine meadows.

There reserve is expected to have a center for moufflon breeding.

Starting the early next year, the area of the future wildlife reserve
will be planned. There are 6 populated areas nearby the reserve,
but the major area belongs to Gnishik community. K. Manvelyan said
a tractor, beehives and seeds have been provided to the village
of Gnishik.

Reserve Gnishik will be created as part of the 4-year program
implemented by the UNDP-GEF. WWF is a co-financier. The project costs
$950,000. WWF will invest nearly $500,000.

TURKEY LAYS A NASTY TRICK ON ARMENIA: THE 6TH CASE OF SWINE FLU H1N1 HAS BEEN REVEALED IN THE REPUBLIC

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:16:00

ArmInfo. The sixth case of H1N1 swine flu has been revealed in Armenia.

Chief infectiologist of Armenia Ara Asoyan told ArmInfo correspondent
that the patient is a citizen of Turkey. Like in the previous cases,
the symptoms of the new flu were revealed in the airport. At the
moment he is in "Nork" infection hospital, where 4 more swine flu
patients are being treated. Asoyan assured that 2 of them will be
discharged tomorrow.

The first case of H1N1 was revealed in Armenia on November 10. All
the carriers of the new virus brought the virus from abroad: two from
Iran, and three – from Russia. To recall, the symptoms of the new flu
are high temperature, cough, sore throat, cold or stuffiness in nose,
pain all over the body, headache, algor, weakness, as well as diarrhea
and vomit.