Month: September 2015

Deloitte and Touche international audit firm has said the power price hike in Armenia was justified.

The company has presented the report on the first stage of consulting services to the Public Services Regulatory Commission.

“We analyzed the situation in Armenia, where the sole energy supplier stands at the verge of default, which is mainly connected with the inconsistency between the predictions of the system’s operator and the load capacity,” Deloitte and Touche said in the report.

“Power generating companies had already felt the influence of the scarcity of financial means of the company [Electric Networks of Armenia], which would threaten the whole energy system of the country in the short-term perspective,” the report reads.

“Under these conditions we consider that the decision of the regulatory body to stabilize the situation in the sphere and ensure reliable energy supply to consumers is justified.”

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, French President Francois Hollande called on the parties to the Karabakh conflict to ensure that there are no incidents at the border.

“France has a role here, because we are a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, which seeks to find a solution to this conflict,” Holland told reporters.

“It conflict led to many victims during the war and after the war. So, we call upon all the parties, all the states to ensure that there are no further incidents on the border,” the French President said, commenting on the recent aggression at the Armenian border.

“We continue our mediating efforts. I went to Armenia and Azerbaijani recently to make the same proposals and to call for a lasting solution,” Frsncois Hollande said.

Tashir Group and Inter RAO have signed an agreement of sale and purchase of electric energy assets in Armenia. The deal was already approved by the Armenian Government and will be closed after the decision of Public Service Regulatory Commission. The parties have agreed that Electric Networks of Armenia and Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant will continue to meet all the liabilities.

Tashir Group takes full responsibility for the management of CJSC “Electric Networks of Armenia”, said the President of Tashir Group, Samvel Karapetyan. “Future development plans include an anti-crisis program to optimize the Company’s financial activities and control its commercial operations, as well as gradual modernization of its distribution network facilities. On a parity basis with the Government of Armenia, the Company will cover part of the electricity costs of the general public and small businesses for the whole of 2015, compensating the difference between tariffs before and after indexation on 1st August 2015. This decision has been taken to support the people of Armenia.

”While the assets were in our ownership, Inter RAO Group implemented international best business practices, invested in the development of the Armenian utilities sector, and ran an optimization and cost control programme, resulting in improved operational efficiency of the assets”, announced Boris Kovalchuk, Chairman of the Management Board of Inter RAO.  ”We agreed with Tashir Group to close the deal on terms that reflect the fair value of the assets. This approach will enable both parties to secure maximum economic benefit”.

The Spanish city of Silla officially recognized the Armenian Genocide on September 29, Press Service of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Ministers reports.

The bill was tabled by Spokesman for the Left Union Valentin Matteo. Speaking at the City Council, he presented the motives behind the first genocide of the 20th century and its consequences, and stressed the need to recognize and condemn it.

The six parties represented in the City Council unanimously voted to adopt the resolution labeling the crime committed by Ottoman Turkey as genocide.

 

Former French international, World Chmpion Yuri Djorkaeff has arrived in Armenia to participate in the Yerevan RunArm 2015 half-marathon.

The event will take place on October 3. It will commence from Yerevan’s central Republic Square. The Yerevan half-marathon will include four races – half-marathon (21,097 km), a half-marathon relay race (2 x 10,550 km), a 5 km running race, and a 2.5 km running race for teenagers.

The will be organized with the support of the Yerevan City Hall, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Armenian Athletic Federation.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, met the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France), and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, in New York today.

Ambassadors informed Dačić about the latest surge in violence and the talks they have held with Armenian and Azerbaijani officials since. He strongly condemned the recent escalation, offering his condolences to the families of the victims, appealing to all to show maximum restraint and work towards de-escalation.

CiO Dačić expressed his full support to the work of the OSCE Minsk Group and Ambassador Kasprzyk, and reiterated their call for advancing negotiations on a lasting settlement for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as for implementing confidence-building measures.

Holding the next presidential summit, as has been discussed, would be a good step in that direction, Dačić said.

President Serzh Sargsyan, who has arrived in the United States of America to take part in the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, participated in the UN Summit on Peacekeeping Operations on 28 September in New York, where he made an address.

Statement by the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the UN Peacekeeping summit

Dear Colleagues,

I thank President Obama for the initiative of this summit, which is of pivotal importance from the international security perspective.

Despite the immense efforts directed by the international community toward prevention of conflicts and their peaceful resolution, peace and security remain fragile and vulnerable.

I am glad to note that despite the present tensions on our borders, Armenia’s engagement in the area of international peacekeeping has gradually expanded both geography-, and quantity-, and quality-wise. Currently Armenia is already an active contributor to the international peace and security, and in the course of the preceding decade it accumulated considerable experience.

Since 2004 Armenian peacekeepers joined the operation in Kosovo, and later the same year – the one in Iraq. Since 2010 we have taken part in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Since 2015 we have partaken in the Resolute Support Mission in that very country, and, as we have declared on numerous other occasions, we will stand there with our international partners until that mission is accomplished.

Last year we expanded our engagement with peacekeeping missions. Now we are also present in the UNIFIL mission that is stationed in Lebanon. Moreover, this July Armenia launched its participation in the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali. And, most recently, we have undertaken new commitments to develop appropriate skills to be provided in the course of our future participation in the UN peacekeeping operations such as a Role II medical hospital and training of associated personnel, as well as training of a company of EOD/C-IED (Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Counter-Improvised Explosive Device) soldiers.

The U.S., Greece, Germany, as well as NATO structures and other member States have played pivotal role in the establishment and development of the Armenian peacekeeping capabilities, and I extend our special gratitude to them upon it.

Preservation of international peace and security is a primary responsibility for all, both great and smaller States, and peacekeeping is a major conduit to achieve that objective. Today we still need to take additional collective measures for its further consolidation. It is obvious that a peaceful and safe world may be secured solely by comprehensive, joint and careful measures to be taken.

I thank you.

On 29 September Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan, Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic President reported.

A number of issues related to army building and cooperation between the two Armenian states in this sphere were discussed during the meeting.

NKR Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan was present at the meeting.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced yesterday that three of its troops were killed in clashes at the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh and claimed there were seven victims on the Armenian side. The NKR Defense Ministry latter dismissed the reports, saying “official Baku is trying to attribute its own losses to the Armenian side.”

As it becomes clear from the data obtained by the Defense Army, the Azerbaijani side incurred six more losses, the Ministry said. The Azeri soldiers were identified as Shahriyar Ali golu Uyadov, Eyub Abdullah oglu Ramazanov, Nijat Mehman oglu Yarayev, Ahmed Jivanshir oglu Eyubov, Elvin Mushru oglu Yusufoc and Samir Sabir oglu Ahmedov.

The rival continued to intensively violate the ceasefire regime last night, firing 1,600 shots from artillery weapons of different caliber, also as 60 and 120 mm mortars and HAN-17 grenades. The adversary also used Turkey-made TR-107 reactive rocket launchers.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army confidently perform their military duty and resort to punitive actions, when necessary.

A new study released today by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, shows that improvements in productivity, output quality, and food safety standards, combined with market and product diversification, can increase the competitiveness of Armenian fish products and lead to greater access to export markets.

Armenia’s aquaculture sector is an important employer, a key food provider, and an engine for export-driven economic growth. It is also one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors. Yet its untapped potential remains significant: At the request of Armenia’s Ministry of Economy, the IFC Armenia Investment Climate Reform Project has produced a sector review to pinpoint market imperfections and offer recommendations.

“The Armenia Aquaculture Sector Review developed at the Ministry’s request by IFC will be a useful tool for policymakers and businesses operating in this sector,” said Sergey Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia. “It will help develop the country’s fish industry and stimulate export performance.”

The report found that improving export and import procedures can help increase the competitiveness of aquaculture products. It also stressed the importance of addressing the challenges and opportunities of exporting to foreign markets, including the benefits of improved food safety practices, a stronger supply chain, and reduced administrative barriers.

“This review aims to help tap the country’s significant potential and thereby contribute to Armenia’s economic development,” said Arsen Nazaryan, the IFC Armenia Investment Climate Reform Project Manager. “We look forward to continued cooperation with our partners to do more to enhance the competitiveness and promote exports of the country’s agriculture products.”

The IFC Armenia Investment Climate Reform Project is implemented by the World Bank Group Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, in partnership with Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance and Hungarian Partnership Funding/Hungary EXIM Bank.