Month: November 2009

JETRO REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT ARMENIA

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, November 27, /ARKA/. A representative of the Japan External
Trade Organization (JETRO) will pay a visit to Armenia to establish
new business contacts with local businessmen, Armenian foreign
ministry said.

It said the agreement to this end was reached in Tokyo by the visiting
Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian and JETRO president Yasup
Khayashi. Edward Nalbandian is visiting Japan at the invitation of
its government.

The foreign ministry in Yerevan said Nalbandian and JETRO president
discussed chances of developing Armenian-Japanese trade and economic
cooperation. It said the Armenian minister presented the investment
climate of Armenia.

"As a result of the meeting the sides agreed that a JETRO
representative will visit Yerevan to discuss with Armenian partners
ways to start mutually beneficial cooperation,’ the ministry said.

JETRO, or the Japan External Trade Organization, is a
government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade
and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Originally
established in 1958 to promote Japanese exports abroad, JETRO’s core
focus in the 21st century has shifted toward promoting foreign direct
investment into Japan and helping small to medium size Japanese firms
maximize their global export potential.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EBRD TO DEVELOP SUBWAY, TROLLEY PARKS AND PAID PARKING LOTS IN YEREVAN

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, November 27. / ARKA /. The European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development and the City of Yerevan will cooperate in development
programs of the underground metro, trolley parks, and fee based
parking lots.

As it was reported on the official site of the capital’s city hall,
the mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan and Business Group Director of
the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in South-Eastern
Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia Olivier Descamps discussed the
prospects of development of urban infrastructures.

According to the report, the EBRD will provide both consultations
and credit funds.

"The successful negotiations inspire one to quickly launch the
programs," Descamps said.

He also said that an agreement on the implementation of these programs,
according to preliminary agreement will be signed in January of
next year.

In his turn, the mayor of Yerevan suggested starting with small
programs in order for the large-scale investments to be used more
purposefully.

The EBRD is one of the largest investors in Armenia.

Investments of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
in Armenia in 2009 will total 150 million USD versus 75 million USD
for the year 2008.

Currently, the EBRD has invested more than 335 million Euros in the
implementation of more than 70 programs in various sectors of the
economy of Armenia.

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND’S TELETHON IN LOS ANGELES RAISES $16 MILLION

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, November 27. /ARKA/. About $16 million were donated and
pledged in the course of the telethon Hayastan All-Armenian Fund held
Thursday in Los Angeles, the press office of the fund reports.

The raised money will be spent for recovering social and economic
infrastructures, such as water pipelines, schools and roads, in
Shushi, Karabakh.

Along with that, rural communities in Armenia and Karabakh will
be developed.

According to the press release, 5,290,000 U.S. dollars of the mentioned
amount have been pledged at the benevolent supper held in Moscow
ahead of the telethon.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Russian entrepreneurs of Armenian
descent were present there.

Another $1.8 million of the total amount has been raised during
European phonethon.

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund was established in 1992.

The fund implements national projects and develop Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh’s infrastructures.

The president-headed council of the fund’s trustees is made up of
prominent representatives of Armenian communities worldwide.

RECONSTRUCTED DEPOT IN YEREVAN WILL OPERATE IN APRIL 2010 – SCR

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, November 27. /ARKA/ . "Reconstructed railway depot of Yerevan
will operate in April 2010", said Sergey Harutyunyan, Chief Engineer
of South-Caucasian Railway.

"We conduct works on strengthening the thermal circuit and are fully
reconstructing locomotive and wagon depot of Yerevan for which we have
already obtained equipment and prepared schedule of works. SCR plans
to launch the reconstructed depot in April 2010", said Harutyunyan
to the journalists of ARKA on Friday.

It is planned to establish wagon-wheel workshops in wagon depot of
Yerevan. Investments of SCR in reconstruction of united depot of
Yerevan will make about 50 million rubles. It is difficult to tell
more accurate figures now", said Harutyunyan.

Similar reconstruction works are conducted in locomotive and wagon
depot of Gyumri where the works of gas supply have been already
started. He said that reconstruction of gas supply and heating are
necessary for quality increase of production.

"One of strategic tasks of SCR is development of railway machinery
construction. These plans can seem ambitious and not real but we
consider that in Armenia it is real", he said.

Currently due to the lack of wagon and locomotive depot, the stock
of SCR is being repaired in Georgia after which they will send it
to Armenia. CJSC "South Caucasian Railway" is 100% affiliate of Open
JSC "Russian Railway". CJSC "Armenian railway" was transferred under
concession management of CJSC "SCR" according to Concession Agreement
signed on February 13, 2008. The terms of concession management is
for 30 years with the right of prolongation for another 10 years.

ARMENIA’S NATIONAL CIVIL DEFENCE DOCTRINE TO BE WORKED OUT IN LINE WITH IPAP

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, November 27, /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Security Council
said today the National Civil Defence Doctrine will be worked out in
line with Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).

It said during today’s sitting chaired by the Secretary of the National
Security Council of Armenia, Arthur Baghdasaryan, the inter-agency
commission decided to submit the Doctrine to the National Security
Council for ratification in May 2010.

The National Security Council said Arthur Baghdasaryan emphasized
the importance of formation of a civil defense system corresponding
to contemporary requirements,. He also noted that the adoption of the
Doctrine would be of great applied significance for the implementation
of strategic reforms in the field of civil defense and withstanding
the contemporary challenges.

The adoption of the Doctrine envisages the assessment of the
current state of civil defense, formation of a civil defence
system corresponding to international standards, improvement of the
crisis-management.

A regional crisis-management centre will be established in Yerevan,
which will later have regional divisions.

SASUN MIKAYELIAN TO CONTINUE HIS TREATMENT AT HOSPITAL OF CONVICTS PENITENTIARY INSTITUTION

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Justice has
not received yet RA Ombudsman Armen Haroutiunian’s official note on
worsening of health condition of a convict on the March 1 case, former
NA deputy Sasun Mikayelian. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
about it by Minister’s Spokesperson Lana Mshetsian. Nevertheless,
the issue was discussed by the order of Minister Gevorg Danielian. In
consideration of doctors’ conclusion that S. Mikayelian’s health is
out of danger and there is no basis to move him to a civil hospital
it was decided to continue his treatment at the Hospital of Convicts
penitentiary institution.

NIKOLAY BORDYUZHA TREATS NEGATIVELY STATEMENTS ON SOLVING POLITICAL PROBLEMS IN MILITARY WAY

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. NATO and CSTO should cooperate
in case the Armenian-Turkish border is opened. CSTO Secretary
General Nikolay Bordyuzha stated this at a press conference. He had
participated in the round table initiated by CSTO in Yerevan.

"NATO and CSTO member states have the same task – fighting terrorism
and extremism, drugs, circulation of small-calibre arms and ammunition,
their spreading, illegal migration, as well as necessity of not
permitting destabilization of situation in various regions. The sooner
we begin to combine our efforts and to cooperate the more efficiently
we will be able to achieve our purposes," N. Bordyuzha emphasized.

He mentioned that the Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations process
has become active lately. "Only this year the Presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan have met for six times. This efficiency of meetings
is evidence that the two countries’ leaderships are disposed to find
mutually acceptable solutions to a very complicated problem," N.

Bordyuzha said.

In connection with Azeri President’s bellicose statements N. Bordyuzha
declared: "What can be my attitude to statements on a possibility of
breaking out a war? Of course, negative. I am a former serviceman,
I have often been at hot points, I have seen blood and I know what
it will be like. I treat categorically negatively any statement on
a possibility of solving political problems in a military way."

He mentioned that he considers timely RF President’s initiative,
signing of a legally binding document by all sides to ensure European
security. That initiative will exclude possibilities of giving any
force solution to political problems.

GIRO MANOYAN: NO BREAKTHROUGH WILL BE RECORDED IN NEGOTIATIONS ON NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IN COMING MONTHS

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Head of ARFD Hay Dat (Armenian
Cause) Yerevan Office Giro Manoyan is convinced that no breakthrough
will be recorded in the neogotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement
in the coming months. At a meeting with journalists, reminding OSCE
Co-chairs’ statement that they "have a serious work to do in the
coming several months" G. Manoyan said that those several months
should be multiplied for several times and it will come that not
several months but at least a year is meant.

G. Manoyan touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh problem on the background
of the Armenia-Turkey relations said that the negotiations with Turkey
have become a lever of pressure upon Armenia in the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh. In his words, Armenia should have stopped the negotiations
with Turkey declaring that "Turkey has changed the rules of the game
in the half of the game by presenting the Nagorno Karabakh issue as
a precondition and thus has already failed the negotiations."

ALL ARMENIAN TELETHON 2009 RAISES DONATIONS AND PLEDGES OF 15 MILLION 875 THOUSAND DOLLARS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s
12th annual Telethon broadcast live from Los Angeles for 12 hours
has finished. Summing up the results of the fundraising activities
this year, the Fund announced donations and pledges of 15 million 875
thousand 043 dollars. The raised sum will spent on reconstruction of
social and economic infrastructure in Shushi: water pipes, schools,
roads, apartment buildings, thus initiating the revival of Shushi. In
parallel with this work, the Fund will continue rural community
development projects in Armenia and Artsakh.

The Telethon was attended by guests from Armenia and Artsakh, including
the Fund’s Executive Director Ara Vardanian, Prime Minister of the
NKR Arayik Harutyunian. Head of the Artsakh Diocese Bishop Pargev
Martirosian, Spokesman for NKR President David Babayan, Representative
of the NKR to the U.S. Robert Avetisian, other guests and benefactors
participated in the Telethon.

One of the important fundraising events held prior to the Telethon was
the fundraising gala in Moscow where Russia-based Armenian businessmen
gave pledges of 5.29 million dollars which were also included in the
results of this year’s Telethon.

Another important fundraising event was the annual pan European
Phoneathon. Its results were donations and pledges of 1.8 million
dollars, which exceeds by 10% last year’s index of 1.5 million
dollars. More than 12,400 families participated in the Pan European
Phoneathon 2009.

According to the Fund, the Telethon 2009 was the most efficient
out of those held so far in terms of the number of participants and
considerably exceeds the indices of the previous years. The results
of the national fundraising were especially impressive in Armenia:
more than 20 thousand people made donations. Over 13 thousand people
made donations in post offices. One innovation of this year included
donations through SMS messages – thanks to VivaCell MTS, the main
sponsor of the Telethon 2009. Among sponsors were also ACBA Credit
Agricole Bank, Ameria Bank, Ardshininvestbank, and ArmPost.

The fundraising activities in Armenia and Artsakh are continuing. The
results of this year’s fundraising will be summarized in late 2009
when the Fund will sum up the donations and announce the names of
the donors.

HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN: ARMENIA ATTACHES MUCH IMPORTANCE TO REGIONAL COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION PROCESSES

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

MOSCOW, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A delegation led by RA NA Speaker
Hovik Abrahamian, on November 21, participated in the plenary session
of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly. The same day
the RA NA Speaker gave a speech at the BSEC PA plenary session. He,
in particular, said:

"Armenia attaches much importance to regional cooperation and
integration processes: that is why RA was one of the founders of BSEC
and its parliamentary structure. The role of the parliaments is to
spread organization’s ideas and goals within the framework of BSEC PA.

Our further legislative activity aimed at economic and trade
cooperation in the Black Sea region will contribute not only to
solution of our domestic problems but also to confidence and mutual
understanding between our countries and peoples.

Armenia’s parliament conscientiously and purposefully moves forward
in the direction of creating a legislative field for assisting the
process of further liberalization of trade, cooperating in the social,
cultural, educational and environmental spheres.

Armenia considers topical the issue of transport ways and at all
international conferences speaks for joining transport systems with
Black Sea region’s European countries’ transport corridors and systems.

I consider that transport system’s integration will be more efficient
if all 12 BSEC member states are involved. The realization of the
idea of creating a Black Sea transport link will promote that process.

We are convinced that mutually beneficial cooperation between our
region’s countries, accessibility of transport communications can
form an atmosphere of confidence, which is so necessary for solving
the regional problems.

Stable development of the energy sector on the basis of regional
cooperation is the main priority of Armenia’s energy policy. Today
Armenia’s energy system is considered one of the fully-established
ones in the CIS territory. It has developed infrastructures and
intersystem contacts with neighboring countries. Armenia, Iran and
Georgia have a positive experience of integrating to energy systems.

We are ready to take concrete steps to integrate to the Black Sea
electric-energy link formation. Within the framework of the European
Energy Charter Armenia is ready for negotiating with any country,
which is interested in implementation of programs in the sphere of
energy sources. Efficient cooperation in the energy sphere will ensure
provision of reliable and cheap energy in the Black Sea region."

According to the RA NA Public Relations Department, the same day H.

Abrahamian met with Chairman of RF State Duma Boris Gryzlov. The
interlocutors attached importance to cooperation between the two allied
countries, which replenishes the high-level political dialogue of RA
and RF Presidents.

At the meeting, an agreement on RF State Duma Chairman’s visit to
Armenia was also reached.

RA NA Speaker’s meeting with Chairman of Turkish Grand National
Assembly Mehmet Ali Shahin took place on November 23. During the
meeting, the interlocutors presented their views over the process of
establishing bilateral relations without preconditions. H. Abrahamian
emphasized that the Armenian side considers it necessary that the
signed Armenian-Turkish protocols should be ratified in reasonable
time constraints.