Month: February 2015

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA SIGN LOAN AGREEMENT FOR EXTENDING SERVICE LIFE OF METSAMOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

YEREVAN, February 6. / ARKA /. Armenia’s deputy minister for
international economic integration and reforms Suren Karayan and
Russian’s deputy finance minister Sergey Storchak signed today in
Moscow an agreement whereby Russia will provide Armenia with a loan
for extending the service life of the Armenian nuclear power plant.

The agreement was signed during Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan’s
visit to Moscow.

In late December 2014 Russia’s government confirmed its intention
to extend a $270-million loan and a $30 million grant to Armenia for
extending the service life of the second unit of the Metsamor Nuclear
Power Plant until 2016.

Armenian energy and natural resources minister Yervand Zakaryan said
at that time that the loan would be provided with a 3 percent interest
rate repayable in 15 years. The minister said the preparatory work
would be carried out in 2015-2016 to get prepared for starting the
reconstruction of the facility in 2017 spring.

“According to preliminary estimates, the reconstruction will last
for about six months, but more specific terms will be known after
the completion of the preparatory work and specification of the real
amount of planned activities,” said Zakaryan.

He said also that the construction of a new power unit is scheduled
to begin in 2018 and to be over in 2026 that will allow to shut down
the operating unit.

The Metsamor plant located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan, was
built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake
in 1988 that killed some 25,000 people and devastated much of northern
Armenia.

One of the plant’s two VVER 440-V230 light-water reactors was
reactivated in 1995. The government wants to build a new facility that
is supposed to operate at twice the capacity of the Soviet-constructed
facility.

Metsamor currently generates some 40 percent of Armenia’s electricity.

But the government has yet to attract funding for the project that
was estimated as much as $5 billion.-0-

MERCOSUR WANTS TO EXPAND COOPERATION WITH EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION

12:26, 06 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Argentine Ambassador to Russia Pablo Anselmo Tettamanti says the
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is an important partner for Argentina,
and Mercosur wants to continue developing cooperation with their
Eurasian partners. He also added that Russia is discussing new
investment opportunities with Argentina.

Mercosur countries see the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) as an
important partner and will continue to develop cooperation with it,
Argentine Ambassador to Russia Pablo Anselmo Tettamanti told RIA
Novosti.

According to the ambassador, Argentina facilitated significant
progress in reaching an agreement between Mercosur and the Eurasian
Economic Union in the last six months of 2014. A number of meetings
held in Moscow and Buenos Aires have led to the creation of a draft
cooperation agreement in the economic and trade spheres between the
two regional trading blocs.

“The EEU is an important partner for us and we are certain that
Mercosur will continue along the line of cooperation development. A
memorandum on mutual understanding will allow us to sit down and
discuss in more detail what exactly we want to achieve,” Tettamanti
told RIA Novosti.

BULGARIA SIMPLIFIES TOURIST VISA PROCEDURES FOR ARMENIA

17:14, 06 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Bulgaria’s Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova and Foreign Minister
Daniel Mitov agreed to simplify tourist visa procedures for citizens
of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Georgia,
novinite.comreports.

The measure is aimed at boosting visitor numbers from traditional
markets such as Russia and Ukraine, according to the press office of
Bulgaria’s Tourism Ministry.

It is also part of a campaign aimed at countering the downward tend
in early bookings from these countries for the 2015 summer season.

The new regime envisages the issuance of short-term double-entry and
multiple-entry visas for organized trips.

This type of visa has a validity period of up to one year and is
available to citizens who have already used Bulgarian visas.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH WAR VETERAN’S FAMILY LIVES ON HIS DISABILITY PENSION (VIDEO)

17:39 | February 6,2015 | Regions

The Danoyan family lives near the main road leading to Marmarashen
community in Ararat province. The family is engaged in farming,
like many families in the village.

Danoyan do not complain of their life but cannot ignore the injustices
faced by so many. “There are many people who live in luxurious houses
and in excellent conditions. There are still many others who can
hardly meet both ends meet,” says Susanna Stepanyan, the wife of
Valerik Danoyan.

Valerik is a Karabakh war veteran. During the war, he was wounded
and underwent vocal cord surgery. The family lives on the AMD 30000
disability pension given to Valerik.

“People who did not participate in the war receive more money than
Vakerik does,” says the woman.

Details are available in the video.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY REFUTES REPORTS OF AZERBAIJANI MEDIA ABOUT NEW CASUALTIES FROM ARMENIAN SIDE

19:22 06/02/2015 >> POLITICS

Azerbaijani, Private soldier Farid Agayev Rufat oglu was killed at
the front line, reports the press service of the Ministry of Defense
of Azerbaijan. The report is posted on the official website of the
Ministry. As it is noted in the report, the soldier of the Azerbaijani
Armed Forces died on February 5 as a result of severe wounds received
during the shootout. Azerbaijani Defense Ministry did not specify
where exactly the soldiers died.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani side decided to extend another
disinformation about the losses of the Armenian side. Thus, the
Azerbaijani news agency “APA”, referring to “the Armenian media,”
reports that allegedly last night two soldiers of the Armed Forces
of Armenia were killed, at the same time it claims that the name
of the second soldier is not reported. However, the press service
of Artsakh Defense Army has officially confirmed the death of one
of the soldiers on the line of duty – Shakespeare Hakobyan (born in
1990). There are no reports of the second unconfirmed combat losses
from the Armenian side in the Armenian media.

In order to clarify the situation Panorama.am turned to the press
secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisyan. “No
wonder, another disinformation extended by Azerbaijan. The Armenian
side has given one combat loss which the official website of the NKR
Defense Army had published. We are not tended to hide information
about our losses from our society,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan said.

According to Azerbaijani media, at night the Armenian troops
had allegedly “opened fire at direction of the residents of the
Azerbaijani border-close village of Alibeyli at Tovuz region, as
a result of which 32-year-old resident of the village was injured,
and one of the houses was sat on fire.”

Responding to Panorama.am request on this issue, the spokesman for
the Armenian Defense Minister Artsrun Hovhannisyan noted that the
Armenian army has never been at war with the civilians and is not
at war today as well. “The Armenian side reported that the frontier
units of the NKR had to resort to a proportionate responsive action
with the Azerbaijani Armed Forces just yesterday, as the Azerbaijani
armed forces intensively violate the ceasefire, because of which our
soldiers was killed. However, we do not shoot on Azerbaijani villages.

Azerbaijani side is disinforming the public,” said Artsrun
Hovhannisyan.

According to the Armenian media, last night, as a result of intensive
fire from the Azerbaijani inhabitant of Armenian border-close
village Nerkin Karmiraghbyur of Tavush region Vanik Ghoukassian who
is 60-year-old was killed. According to the mayor of the Armenian
border-close village of Movses Ararat Avalyan, the Azerbaijani units
fired at the village, damaged the pipeline, church and 7 houses.

According to the press secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry
the day before the Azerbaijani units had opened heavy fire mainly
from large-caliber weapons, on their own villages which have border
with Armenia in Tavush region; it was aimed at further accusing the
Armenian side.

Since the beginning of 2015 the state structures of Azerbaijan have
acknowledged the death-facts of 6 soldiers: According to official
figures 5 of them died in combat conditions on the front lines.

Although the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claims that the career
soldier Babashov Nizami Shamil oglu died as a result of careless
handling of a gun, from funeral photos it becomes clear that the
funeral ceremony was accompanied by honor guard, honorary salvo
in presence of high-ranking militants. It’s very strange when you
consider the fact that they were burying a soldier who died as a
result of careless handling of a weapon. Moreover, the Azerbaijani
news website “Qafqazinfo.az”, which was the first to report about the
death of the soldier, became unavailable shortly after the publication
of the photos of Babashov. According to the chief editor of Elbrus
Scrabble the website has undergone a powerful cyberattack.

EEU WAS ESTABLISHED “ON FRIENDSHIP”, ARMENIAN PM CLAIMS

February 6, 2015 17:51

Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan

Photo: Photolure

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said
in Moscow today that the Eurasian Economic Union was established on
the basis of mutual understanding and friendship and was meant for
ensuring prosperity of the member states.

He said this during the first session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental
Council.

“Armenia has always advocated development of integration processes
aimed at strengthening friendly ties and development of mutually
beneficial cooperation in the bilateral format as well as within
international and regional structures”, said Hovik Abrahamyan.

He assured that Armenia’s representatives will continue closely
cooperating with the EEU member states and their partners in the
Eurasian Economic Commission “to ensure fulfillment of all the
agreements within the EEU and provisions of the EEU agreement”.

The Armenian PM expressed the confidence that Kyrgyzstan membership
to the EEU will contribute to the enhancement of the latter’s economic
potential.

He also proposed to hold one of the upcoming sessions of the Eurasian
Intergovernmental Council in Armenia.

Armenia has joined the EEU since January 1, 2015.

IDEA AND WWF ARMENIA TO ESTABLISH “TATEV” NATIONAL PARK

February 6, 2015 13:11

Tatev Monastery

Photo: IDeA

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Today Initiatives for Development of Armenia
(IDeA) Foundation and World Wildlife Fund in Armenia (WWF Armenia)
signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperating in the sectors
of nature conservation and development of ecotourism.

IDeA Foundation and WWF Armenia will carry out joint works to enhance
the management of “Devil’s Bridge” natural monument and will initiate
works aimed at the establishment of the specially protected new
natural area – “Tatev” National Park.

Armen Gevorgyan and Karen Manvelyan Photo: IDeA

The abovementioned initiatives aim to preserve the area’s special
ecosystem and biodiversity and to promote ecotourism.

“Our cooperation is aimed at environmental protection and tourism
development in Tatev region. One of the main goals of “Tatev
Revival” project carried out by IDeA Foundation is to make the region
attractive in terms of tourism, which in its turn, will promote the
social-economic development of the adjacent communities. We have
all necessary prerequisites for it – medieval monastic complex,
aerial tramway, rich nature and unique ecosystem the conservation
of which is also important in terms of ecotourism development. I am
convinced our joint efforts will help us realize all projects aimed
at the development of this region”, said Head of IDeA Foundation
Armen Gevorgyan.

“We attach great importance to our cooperation with IDeA Foundation
as the unique ecosystem and biodiversity of Tatev will be preserved,
and adjacent communities will have broader opportunities to improve
their livelihood”, said WWF Armenia Director Karen Manvelyan.

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS ARMENIA HAS ALL CHANCES TO WIN CONSIDERABLE PORTION OF EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION’S MARKETS

YEREVAN, February 6. / ARKA /. In a televised interview with Armenia’s
Public TV Russian ambassador to Yerevan Ivan Volynkin said Armenia
has all the chances to win a significant portion of the Eurasian
Economic Union’s markets.

“Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) opens
new perspectives for its agriculture. Today EEU’s overall imports
of food products are estimated at $43 billion. Armenia has all the
chances to ‘claim’ a significant portion of this market. We expect a
considerable increase in exports of Armenian fruits and vegetables,
both fresh and processed, fish, meat, dairy products, wine and
brandy,”- said Volynkin.

According to official data, agriculture accounts for 18% of Armenia’s
GDP and nearly half (44%) of total employment. About 70% of Armenian
exports go to EEU member states.

“Russians evaluate highly the quality of Armenian goods, which do
not need special advertising,’ said the ambassador.

He said according to various estimates, the removal of customs
barriers may double and even triple (under favorable circumstances)
the exports of Armenian agricultural goods.

“Of course, there are a number of difficulties that may prevent
these prospects from materializing. I mean the weakening Russian
ruble, logistical problems, such as the low capacity of the customs
checkpoint Upper Lars on Georgia’s border with Russia, absence of
storage facilities in Armenia and so on. Some manufacturers will have
to work on the quality of their products and reduce production costs,”
said Volynkin.

However, according to the ambassador, all these problems can be
solved. For example, the process of customs clearance of goods was
facilitated. Armenian companies will have to fill in only customs
declaration to ship their goods to EEU countries through the territory
of Georgia.

He said the resumption of the Abkhazian section of the railway would
contribute to reduction of prices of Armenian goods and lower logistics
costs. He said a delegation of Federal Service for Veterinary and
Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) is now in Armenia to
inspect the quality of local products of animal origin before they
are exported to EEU member countries.

“There is no doubt that in spite of temporary difficulties, Armenian
agriculture will significantly benefit from joining the common Eurasian
market”, said Volynkin.-0-

From: Baghdasarian

IPM RESEARCH STUDY FINDS VTB BANK (ARMENIA) AS MOST RECOGNIZABLE IN COUNTRY

YEREVAN, February 6. / ARKA /. A study conducted by the IPM Research
in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan and four major cities found
the Russia-owned VTB Bank (Armenia) to be the most recognizable bank
across the country, the bank said in a press release today.

Some 1,200 people were surveyed. The respondents were asked questions
regarding the so-called Top of Mind awareness, a brand or specific
product coming first in customers’ minds when thinking of a particular
industry. The study also included other questions allowing to reveal
the overall situation regarding the image of Armenian banks, the
level of customer confidence in them, etc.

The results of the survey show that Top of Mind awareness indicator
of VTB Bank (Armenia) is higher than of other Armenia-based banks’
indicators. The study says that VTB Bank (Armenia) was indicated by
the majority of respondents as the most reliable bank in the country.

The bank was found also the leader in terms of the Marketing Asset
Index (MA index). The bank is generally described as reliable and
steady bank with high quality services and competent personnel.

The satisfaction rate is higher than any other bank in Armenia may
boast of.

The bank’s assets ) amounted to 379.6 billion drams as of the
end of 2014 (25.6% increase); its liabilities were 334.8bln drams
(26.3% growth), total capital – 44.7 bln drams (20.2% growth), loan
investments stood at about 244.3bln drams (11.6% increase). The 2014
profit of the bank amounted to 777.14 mln drams, as compared to 5.6bln
drams in 2013.

VTB Bank Armenia is owned fully by Russian VTB Group. ($1 – 476.51
drams). –

LEGAL FIELD THE MOST FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA TO RAISE GENOCIDE ISSUE AND DEMAND TERRITORIES – ARA PAPYAN

15:30 / 06.02.2015

In 20-40s the Armenians chose the path of demanding their lands,
property but during the years of Cold War voicing the issue of
territorial right in the West was being perceived as pro-soviet
agitation that is why the fight of the Armenian people entered less
dangerous path – recognition of the Armenian Genocide, head of Modus
Vivendi think tank, political analyst Ara Papyan told the reporters
on Friday. According to him, this path was beneficial for all –
the Soviet Union, Turkey, the West.

“It was a step that stemmed from the situation and it was important
for us to keep the idea and spread it. But since late 90s we should
have made changes in the main path as the recognition of genocide does
not mean compensation,” Papyan stressed, adding that nevertheless,
the recognition of Genocide by Turkey will facilitate the activity
of the court as there will not be a political ban.

Papyan said the most important thing for him is the issue of
territories. “Sometimes the issue of whether Armenia has territorial
demand or not is being raised and an impression is being created
that Armenia demands lands belonging to Turkey. There is a border
registered by international legal act which recognizes the current
Republic of Turkey while that time certain territory of the Ottoman
Empire belonged to Armenia. It is de jure Armenian territory occupied
by Republic of Turkey,” he said.

“I have many times spoken about regulating the issue in the legal
field. I am not so naïve to see the issue in political, economic or
military field. I consider it sensible to move the issue to the legal
field which is the only field where we have more favorable position
than Turkey,” he said.

Papyan also stressed that today we does not have good specialists of
international law as the employer of such specialists is the state.

“Till now Armenia has not tried to solve the issue in the international
platform not creating demand for such specialists. We must choose
few young people and send them to study with the condition to
return. Besides there are many specialists in the world including
Armenians,” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress