Month: November 2009

AZERBAIJAN CONTINUES BREAKING CEASE-FIRE REGIME

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 11:52:00

ArmInfo. Over the past week the Azerbaijani party broke cease-fire
regime firing at the positions of the NKR Defence Army in different
direction of the line of contact.

As ArmInfo correspondent reported from Stepanakert, according to the
data of the NKR Defence Ministry, in particular, on 6 November the
enemy fired the Karabakhi positions in Hadrut, Martuni, Askeran and
Martakert directions. On 7-8 November the cease-fire regime was broken
in the south, south-eastern, eastern and north-eastern directions of
the line of contact. The relevant respond measures were taken by the
NKR Defence Army.

PRICES OF PRECIOUS METALS UP IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 13:33:00

ArmInfo. Prices of precious metals are rising in Armenia.

Thus, official price of gold (gold bullions) established for the
current week (November 9 – 15) in Armenia were up 3.8% as compared
to the prices for the last week and totaled 13,432.2 AMD per gram,
the Depository of Precious Metals and Stones of Armenia told ArmInfo.

Ex-factory silver price was up 2.1% to 212.7 drams/g, platinum – 1.6%
to 16,779.59 drams/g, and palladium – 0.2% to 4,071.89 drams/g.

The source reports that as comparing to early January 2009, gold price
in Armenia grew 56.2%, silver price – 98%, platinum price grew 87%
and palladium – over twice.

OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER TO CONTRIBUTE TO REGIONAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 14:00:00

ArmInfo. Opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will contribute to
the regional tourism development, Head of the Tourism Department of
Armenia’s Ministry of Economy Mekhak Apresyan told journalists today.

He thinks that the regional tour packages may be of high demand with
the border opening, since the tourists from far countries prefer to
visit several countries at once when visiting one region. ‘Opening
of the border contributes to both economic development in general
and development of tourism in particular’, M. Apresyan emphasized.

Moreover, he said that not only the internal tourism but also the
external one will win from the border opening. "I do not consider
development of the external tourism a negative phenomenon, especially
as the inflow of tourists to Armenia much exceeds the outflow",
he said.

According to the data of the National Statisitcal Service of Armenia,
422807 tourists visited Armenia in Jan-Sep, 2009, that exceeds
the indicator of the similar period, 2008 by 5,8%. Total of 396560
people left Armenia as tourists over the same period, that exceeds
the indicator of Jan-Sep, 2008, by 1,2%.

ARMAVIA SEES OFF THE 600-THOUSANDTH PASSENGER FOR 2009

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 11:52:00

ArmInfo. Armavia Armenian Airlines seen off the 600-thousandth
passenger for 2009. This was the passenger of Yerevan-Krasnodar flight
Raya Mkhitaryan who received a TV with a flat screen as a gift.

‘This is not an unexpectedness for Armavia employees – our personnel
has already accustomed that our anniversary passengers get valuable
gifts. I think the 700-thousandth passenger of our company will also
use our services till late 2009.

According to Armavia Director General Norayr Belluyan, the
500-thousandth passenger of the company received a notebook as a gift
for the current year.

MULTI-LINGUAL INFORMATION PANELS AND ROAD DIRECTION SIGNS INSTALLED ON THE TERRITORY OF ARENI – TRCHUNNERI CAVERN, ST ASTVATSATSIN CHURCH

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 11:49:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC and
the Armenian Monuments Awareness Project (AMAP) announced today the
installation of multi-language information panels on the territory
of Areni – Trchunneri Cavern, St Astvatsatsin church (Noravank Canyon
entrance), the company’s press release says.

Areni is on the Arpa River, where it begins its descent into the
Nakhichevan Plains. Some believe Areni was founded in the time of
Genesis by Noah and his sons, who tilled the first grape vines.

Excavations have found a number of Bronze, Iron and Hellenistic
artifacts, including several large clay pots used in the production
of wine.

In 1321 the St Astvatsatsin church was commissioned by Archbishop
Hovhannes Orbel. It was designed by the architect, sculptor and
miniaturist Momik (1250?-1333/9), who, brought from Kilikia (Cilicia)
to Gladzor, had immediate impact with his exquisite 1302- 1304
miniatures, "Entombment" and "Angel Appearing to Holy Women" ("the
Gospel of War"). The monument is located on a slope on the Arpa River.

This Karst Cavern (Karst Caverns are made from tens of thousands
of years of dripping mineral water into limestone crevices)
consists of three halls (rooms, galleries), the first two of which
are interconnected through passageways. The total area of the cave
surface is close to 500 square meters.

The information contained on the panels was prepared by the staff
of the AMAP, and approved by the Ministry of Culture, International
Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)-Armenia, and the Armenian
Apostolic Church.

AMAP receives major sponsorship from VivaCell-MTS and is also supported
by the Honorary Consul of Italy and by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) through its Competitive Armenia
Private Sector (CAPS) program.

The protection of cultural values and culture itself is everyone’s
duty – this is the main principle of the organizers.

‘THE LAND OF NOAH’ DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ARMENIA TO BE SHOWN ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 10:45:00

ArmInfo. The Italian channel Ray Secretary General of the Council
of Europe Terry Davis and the Discovery Channel are interested in
acquisition of copyright for showing "The land of Noah" documentary
about Armenia. Head of Tourism Division of Armenian Economy Ministry
Mekhak Apresyan told ArmInfo correspondent that negotiations are
already being held with these TV channels.

According to him, this film is being transmitted on Scandinavia
channel in Scandinavian countries, and the Spanish TVE channel,
which is broadcast for 450 mln spectators, has already acquired the
copyright and will shortly start showing it. The English language film
"The land of Noah" lasts 52 minutes and presents the origination of
Armenians as a nation, historic and modern Armenia, its culture and
traditions. Furthermore, the film presents historical Ararat, the city
of Ani, Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian Genocide. Apresyan added that
at the moment the film is being translated into Armenian and Russian.

To recall, the presentation of the film took place in Yerevan in August
2009. Spanish companies Bass Business and Transglobe held research and,
besides Armenia, chose 12 more countries about which a cycle of films
"Escape" will be made. The value of the agreement between the Armenian
Government and companies Bass Business and Transglobe is 225 thsd EUR.

CAFESJIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS OPENS IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 11:43:00

ArmInfo. The Grand Opening of the Cafesjian Center for the Arts on
November 7 in Yerevan was attended by President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsan, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, government members,
arts men and cultural workers. Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan
told media that opening of the Center is a big cultural event for
Armenia.

The majority of exhibitions presented by the Cafesjian Center for the
Arts are derived from the private collection of its main benefactor,
Mr. Gerard L. Cafesjian. This collection of more than 1,200 works
includes one of the most comprehensive glass collections in the world.

It is particularly rich in the work of the Czech couple Stanislav
Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova, whose work revolutionized the use
of glass as an artistic medium. Other important glass artists in
the collection include Dale Chihuly, Bohumil Elias, Pavel Hlava,
Jaromir Rybak, Ivana Sramkova, Bertil Vallien, Lino Tagliapietra,
Mark Peiser, and Hiroshi Yamano. The collection also has substantial
holdings in drawing, painting and sculpture by such influential artists
as Fernando Botero, Arshile Gorky, Jennifer Bartlett, and Andy Warhol.

Grand opening highlights include the special Arshile Gorky collection,
the newly unveiled Cafesjian Sculpture Garden, a re- dedication of
the Khanjyan Triptych, an intimate conversation and photo exhibit by
Beatles’ former wives Cynthia Lennon and Pattie Boyd, the outstanding
work of glass artists Dale Chihuly, Swarovski, and more. All this is
available also at the website

The Visitor Center is located at the ground floor entrance of the
Cascade. Admission tickets may be purchased here, as well as tickets
to the many events held every week in the Cafesjian Center for the
Arts. In addition, a variety of informational brochures related to
the Cafesjian Center for the Arts are found here. Cafesjian Sculpture
Garden is located at the base of the Cascade and presents one of
the finest collections of monumental sculpture found anywhere in
the world. Its unobstructed walkways, long vistas, and formal garden
areas have been specially designed to provide a modern setting for
large-scale sculpture by such internationally recognized figures as
Fernando Botero, Lynn Chadwick, Jaume Plensa, and Barry Flanagan.

The total area occupying over 11 thousand square meters comprises
the Visitor Center, Museum Store, Speical Events Auditorium and
Expositions.

HSBC BANK ARMENIA MADE ITS BUSINESS GREENER

ARKA
Nov 9, 2009

YEREVAN, November 9, /ARKA/. HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc said in a statement
that it has pledged to sponsor planting up to 1000 trees in Yerevan
to encourage its customers to opt to receive their statements
electronically and for signing up to Personal Internet Banking
services, thus helping to preserve the environment.

‘Continuing the good tradition of tree planting initiated in 1996, on
8 November HSBC Bank Armenia staff and their families will plant 500
trees in "Huysi Avan" residential community together with specialists
from Armenia Tree Project and community members,’ the statement said.

Tree planting is only one aspect of a comprehensive "Green Bank"
campaign which the Bank has initiated. Following the launch of
Telephone Banking in March 2009 and Internet Banking in July 2009,
the availability of electronic statements is aimed at reducing paper
consumption and helping to preserve the environment.

"To further encourage our customers and community to use green
channels and sign up for Telephone or Internet Banking services and
switch to e-statements, today we go green with tree planting. It is
also important to mention that all HSBC Armenia staff do their daily
banking via direct channels, acting as role models for the community",
said Tim Slater, HSBC Bank Armenia Chief Executive Officer.

The area where the tree planting will take place was also chosen
with care. "Huisi Avan" is a shelter for 76 underprivileged Armenian
families, mainly refugees, with a minimum of three children. By
planting decorative trees and donating much needed fruit trees,
the Bank is helping to improve the lives of people in need.

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc is a subsidiary of HSBC Bank plc. It was
registered in Armenia in 1995.

HSBC Bank plc holds 70% of HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc, 30% are owned by
Diaspora Armenians. In 2009 January HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc joined
NASDAQ OMX Armenia.

ARKA RECEIVES HONORARY DIPLOMA OF VTB BANK (ARMENIA)

ARKA
Nov 9, 2009

YEREVAN, November 9. / ARKA /. ARKA News Agency represented by the
Director Konstantine Petrosov was awarded with a diploma of CJSC VTB
Bank (Armenia) and recognized as the best media partner of the bank.

"This project is a good start of information openness of the market and
opportunities to all bank customers to use the information in the open
mode," the General Director and Chairman of the Directorate of Bank
VTB (Armenia) Valery Ovsyannikov said at the launch of a new financial
product of ARKA News Agency, the portal, on Friday.

He also expressed his wish of possible creation of an Armenian economic
newspaper, and possibly a television channel.

"It all helps us to open information access for users and customers
who can safely choose to work with any organization," Ovsyannikov said.

As part of its strategy to develop Internet-based businesses, ARKA
News Agency has launched three new projects at ,
, on October 2009.

In addition to operational information, the portal will have available
analytical and exclusive materials and data regarding banks, insurance
and credit institutions, and their comparative financial indicators,
statistical information.

The customers can take advantage of the new services, which are
on-line conference and on-line consultation. The site also has a loan
calculator and a currency converter.

ARKA News Agency started its first specialized Internet project in
telecommunications and high technology at http://teleÑ~Aom.arka.am
in October 2008.

The agency plans to expand its specialized Internet-based resources.

ARKA News Agency has been operating since May 1, 1996. In 2002 and 2003
ARKA News Agency was awarded the International Star Award for Quality
in Gold Category of the Business Initiative Directions organizations.

It is the first news agency in Armenia, specialized in providing
financial and business information.

Among its partners are the biggest world and Russian news agencies
and databases, such as DowJones, Reuters, Internet securities Inc.,
Rosbusinessconsulting (RBC).

Other subscribers are different organizations, including the
Government of Armenia, the Central Bank of Armenia, other government
and commercial structures, banks, international financial institutions,
consulting companies, embassies and mass media outlets.