Month: November 2009

ACCORDING TO HAKOB HAKOBIAN, LIVING STANDARD OF CITIZENS FINANCED FROM BUDGET TO DECLINE BY 2-3% IN 2010 ON 2009

Noyan Tapan
Nov 26, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the 2010 draft state budget
of Armenia, expenditures on social protection amount to about
240 billion drams. Chairman of the RA National Assembly Standing
Committee on Social Affairs, member of the Republican Party of Armenia
Hakob Hakobian said at the Urbat Club on November 26 that capital
expenditures were reduced by 8 billion drams compared to the 2009
actual expenditures, while all social indices were left unchanged.

He said that naturally, under conditions of the crisis the
government was unable to raise the salaries of employees of budgetary
institutions, as well as benefits and pensions. He forecast that the
living standard of citizens financed from the budget will decline by
2-3% in 2010 on 2009.

He informed those present that their standing committee has submitted
a number of proposals on the 2010 draft state budget. In particular, it
was proposed including in the budget a program envisaging compensation
for the deposits made with the former USSR Savingsbank before 10 June
1993, and allocating 1 billion drams to this program.

The standing committee proposed allocating 2.5 million drams in
addition to the draft budget-envisaged 16.5 million drams for the
program of social and rehabilitation services for disabled children
and youth.

The next proposal is related to an increase in the sum paid in case
of the birth of a third (fourth, etc.) child in a family under the
program of the one-time benefit for a new-born child. In the opinion
of H. Hakobian, this program can be financed with 689.5 million drams
envisaged for quite an inefficient program on paid social labor. If
this proposal is accepted, 5,910 families with three and more children
will receive 540 thousand drams each instead of the envisaged 430
thousand drams.

To recap, the 2010 draft state budget has been calculated based on
the settlement exchange rate of 376 drams per dollar.

ARMENIA, KAZAKHSTAN HAVE SUFFICIENT ROOM FOR ENLARGING ECONOMIC COOPERATION

ARKA
Nov 26, 2009

YEREVAN, November 26. /ARKA/. Armenia and Kazakhstan have sufficient
room for enlarging economic cooperation, Nurbolat Alimbaev,
Kazakhstan’s charge d’affaires in Armenia, said Wednesday answering
the question ARKA News Agency put up to him.

"Trade turnover is small – $2.5 million," he. "However, taking into
account changes in Armenia and over it, we hope for improvement."

He told journalists at the seminar focused on Kazakhstan’s forthcoming
chairmanship in OSCE that his country has always been interested in
economic, political and cultural cooperation with Armenia.

"Our embassy’s presence here shows our interest."

According to National Statistical Service of Armenia, Armenia’s trade
turnover with Kazakhstan has reduced 81.7% over the period between
January and September to $3.4 million.

The country’s export to Kazakhstan totaled $1.8 million (0.4% of
Armenia’s export) by late September after shrinking 32.4% in Jan-Sept
2009, compared with the same period a year before, and imports from
Kazakhstan totaled $1.7 million after reducing 89.6%.

Kazakhstan opened its embassy in Armenia in 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EBRD HAILS ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES’ BAILOUT POLICY

ARKA
Nov 26, 2009

YEREVAN, November 26. /ARKA/. Olivier Descamps, EBRD Business Group
Director in South Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, met
with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in Yerevan on Tuesday,
the press office of Armenian government reports.

He gave a high mark to Armenian government’s efforts to ward off the
crisis and welcomed its bailout policy.

Descamps also hailed the premier’s speech in National Assembly.

He said that the EBRD intends to invest $150 million in Armenia
this year hitting the historical record and added that the bank is
interested in establishment of pension and insurance funds.

Descamps said EBRD would keep supporting small and medium entrepreneurs
in their efforts to save energy.

The premier and the EBRD business group director also spoke about the
bank’s probable participation in creation of a free economic zone in
the areas adjacent to Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport.

Prospects for construction of North-South transport corridor were
discussed at the meeting as well.

ARMENIA AND SERBIA TO ESTABLISH AIR COMMUNICATION

ARKA
Nov 26, 2009

YEREVAN, November 26, /ARKA/. The government of Armenia has approved
today signing of an intergovernmental agreement with Serbia on
establishment of regular air communication between Armenia and Serbia.

Arsen Poghosian, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Department, said
at the government session that the agreement will serve as a legal
basis for establishment of regular air communication between the
two countries.

He said regular flights between Serbia and Armenia may have a positive
impact on development of tourism and boost economic and cultural
contacts between the two countries.

PROMOTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA CONSULATE TIES DISCUSSED AT JOINT MEETING

IRNA, Islamic Republic News Agency
Nov 25 2009
Iran

25 November, Tehran: Ways of promoting consulate ties between
Iran and Armenia were discussed in a joint meeting here on Tuesday
[24 November].

The sixth joint consulate meeting of Iran and Armenia started its
work here on Tuesday.

According to the Foreign Ministry Media Department, issues like
passport, visa, student affairs, legal and social problems and protocol
issues are among agenda.

Issues like more facilities for visa, less tariff of visa for visitors
of both countries, promotion of economic and academic relations,
increasing cooperation in the fields of law, exchanging convicted
persons, fight against drugs, bilateral police cooperation, and
developing border cooperation were among issues discussed on the
first day of the meeting.

The two sides are to sign a memorandum of understanding at the end
of the meeting.

JAPAN SUPPORTS TALKS ON KARABAKH ISSUE

news.am
Nov 26 2009
Armenia

Nov. 25, 2009 RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan arrived in Japan on
an official visit to met with Speaker of the House of Representatives
Takahiro Yokomichi. The latter signified Armenia-Japan friendly
relations and expressed a hope that Nalbandyan’s visit will assist
the development of bilateral relations.

The officials discussed issues on cooperation expansion between the
two parliaments in the course of the meeting.

RA FM also met with his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada. He
underlined that Nalbandyan is the first high-ranking official from
Caucasian region since holds the office and it is a good opportunity
to discuss steps towards the development of mutual relations. RA FM
presented Okada the stances and priorities of Armenian foreign policy.

The parties also touched upon talks on NKR conflict resolution.

Nalbandyan presented the outcomes of Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting in
Munich. Japan supports negotiation process and the peaceful settlement
of the conflict based on the principles and norms of the international
law within OSCE MG framework. Okada welcomed efforts in Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation, expressing hope that the Protocols will be ratified
and applied to the peace establishment in the region.

November 26, Edward Nalbandyan will meet Crown Prince Naruhito.

TECHNICAL TROUBLES IN YEREVAN METROPOLITAN

Aysor
Nov 26 2009
Armenia

Aysor.am received information from the Yeritasardakan station of
Yerevan underground that it is around half an hour that there is no
train going to G. Nzhdeh station. The employees of the Yeritasardakan
station to the question which is the reason of the delay of the
train answered: "And we are wondering why the stream of the people
is unilateral".

While the train was being late the number of the people was increasing
at the station. The queue was so big that many of them were standing
in queue for going out from the station.

Ninel Vardanyan the press secretary of the "Yerevan Metropoliten
after K. Demirchyan" told to Aysor.am that is not informed about
the trouble, then some minutes later checking with the deputy of
the security service the reason answered that there was a technical
trouble the electricity was gone, now it will start working.

To the question why the employees of Yeritasardakan and other stations,
as well as the passengers have not been informed was no answer.

VANADZOR-1 POWER PLANT TO BE PUT INTO OPERATION IN 2010

Aysor
Nov 26 2009
Armenia

Director of the Northern Branch of the Armenian High-Voltage Networks
company, Gevorg Gevorkyan, has presented today last developing in
the process of reconstruction of Vanadzor-1 Power Plant.

"Age-worn equipment is supplanted by European-made components providing
the population and industrial consumers with the certain electric
power supply. The Vanadzor-1 Power Plant provides with electricity
the most part of Vanadzor town," he said.

"Accidents happen, but not often, while after the modernization works
neither accident will happen, and the losses will be brought to a
minimum," he added.

The Vanadzor-1 Power Plan will be put into operation in 2010
September. Its renovation begun in June, this year, and are funded
by KfW Bank. The reconstruction is carried out by Simens Company with
assistance of Areva and ABB companies.

Armenian High-Voltage Networks Company has 14 power plants. Next year
the company intends to begin reconstruction of Gyumri Power Plant
which will provide Turkey with electricity.

In 2003 the fully restored with funding from KfW Bank the Vanadzor-2
Power Plant was put into operation. It will run at least 30 years
on without any system failures, according to Gevorg Gevorkyan. The
Vanadzor-2 Power Plant provides Georgia with electricity, but it is
for two years as the terms of the contract with Georgia has expired
and not resigned yet.

ARMENIAN FM HOLDS MEETINGS IN TOKYO

news.am
Nov 26 2009
Armenia

At his meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, and
Speaker of the Japanese Parliament Takahiro Yokomichi in Tokyo, RA
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian pointed out that Armenia attaches
high importance to developing comprehensive relations with Japan. The
Press and Information Department, RA Parliament, told NEWS.am that
the Mr. Takahiro Yokomichi welcomed Armenia’s efforts to improve its
relations with Turkey and establish peace in the region. He expressed
the confidence that the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations
will be beneficial to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

At his meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Minister Nalbandian
stated that Armenia intends to open a legation in Tokyo. The Armenian
FM invited his Japanese counterpart to visit Armenia.

Ministers Nalbandian and Okada exchanged notes on the delivery of
equipment for restoring the collections of the Armenian National
Gallery.

The Armenian FM also visited the Japan External Trade Organization
(JETRO). JETRO Chairman Yasuo Hayashi and the RA Foreign Minister
discussed the opportunities for developing bilateral trade and economic
relations. Minister Nalbandian informed Mr. Yasuo Hayashi of Armenia’s
investment environment and sectors. The sides reached an arrangement
about a JETRO representative’s visit to Yerevan to establish contacts
with Armenian businessmen and discuss fields of cooperation.

The sides expressed their willingness for active cooperation in
rapid reforms of the UN Security Council, including the increase in
the number of Council members. In this connection, the Armenian side
reiterated its strong support for Japan’s permanent membership of the
Security Council., and in return the Japanese side expressed its deep
appreciation for the support.

ARMENIA, FRANCE TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON DEFENSE COOPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.11.2009 18:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian government approved Thursday the
proposal to sign an Armenian-French agreement on defense cooperation.

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said that the document will envisage
creation of favorable conditions for cooperation in different fields,
including armed forces and armament arrangement, military personnel
management and information protection mechanisms.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress