Month: October 2016

Economies of the Europe and Central Asia region place among the top improvers in the World Bank Group’s ease of doing business report.

A total of 57 business reforms were carried out by the region’s economies in the past year, finds Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All, released today.

This year, Armenia is ranked 38 among 190 economies in Doing Business report 2017 and is 5 points up from last year’s Doing Business 2016 rank 43 (recalculated based on methodology changes and addition of one economy, Somalia). In Doing Business 2017, Armenia also shows 1.47 percentage points’ improvement in distance to frontier score –73.63 compared to the previous year’s 72.16 percentage points.

Armenia made it easier to do business in two areas measured by the report, including Getting Credit and Enforcing Contracts.  Specifically, Armenia strengthened access to credit by adopting a new law on secured transactions that establishes a modern and centralized collateral registry, and improved its credit information system by adopting a new law on personal data protection.

Armenia also made enforcing contracts easier by introducing a consolidated chapter regulating voluntary mediation and by establishing financial incentives for the parties to attempt mediation.

Four of the region’s economies, Kazakhstan (ranked 35^th in DB17), Belarus (ranked 37^th), Serbia (ranked 47^th) and Georgia (ranked 16^th),place among this year’s top 10 improvers, based on reforms undertaken. For a second consecutive year, Kazakhstan, with seven business reforms, led the world in the number of reforms implemented, together with Indonesia. In the region, Georgia and Belarus followed with five and four reforms, respectively. For example, Georgia strengthened minority investor protections by increasing shareholder rights and role in major corporate decisions and by clarifying ownership and control structures.

The top ranked economy in the region is the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, with a global ranking of 10. Thanks to past reforms it now takes an entrepreneur in FYR Macedonia only two days to start a business, which is significantly less than the regional average of 10 days.

About 50 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were reported at the line of contact with the Karabakh forces last night.

The rival used weapons of different calibers as it fired over 900 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The Azeri forces used Instiglal and SVD sniper rifles (83 shots) in the northern, southern and eastern directions of the line of contact.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep full control of the situation at the frontline and confidently continue with their military duty.

Photo: Reuters

 

More than 1,200 police and officials in France have begun an operation to clear the “Jungle” migrant camp in Calais, the BBC reports.

The camp has been housing some 7,000 people in squalid conditions.

Migrants queued peacefully to be processed, and the first of some 60 coaches that will carry them to refugee centres across France, has now left.

There is concern that some migrants will refuse to go because they still want to get to Britain, and there were some clashes over the weekend.

The demolition of the camp is expected to take place on Tuesday.

The UK has begun to accept some of the estimated 1,300 unaccompanied children from the camp.

Young heartthrob Hovig Demirdjian will represent Cyprus at next year’s Eurovision song contest to be held in Kiev, Ukraine on May 9-13, the reports.

State broadcaster CyBC, a member of the EBU network that hosts the annual song contest in the previous year’s winning country, said that it had chosen the young singer “because he is especially talented and much loved by the public.”

It added that the composition of the entry song to represent Cyprus has been commissioned to the popular Swedish musician, Thomas G:Son.

The young Armenian singer made headlines when he reached the final stages of the Greek reality talent show, X-Factor, and from then on saw his musical career surge, as a singer songwriter, performing in Greece, the Middle East and more recently in Russia. He was a finalist among candidates for this year’s entry and had attempted several times in the past as well.

On his facebook page, Hovig posted, “Nai! (that’s Greek for yes), that’s all I said to CyBC when they popped the Eurovision question.”

“This year, I intend to work very hard, day and night, to deliver the best possible performance in Kiev.”

“Cyprus is a diverse (and hot) island. Diversity runs in our ideas, our people, our music. Our small island is an oasis of awesome talented people with amazing Mediterranean temperament.”

He concluded, “Eurovision is happening guys and it’s going to be fun. Let’s do this!”

The Russian authorities have provided information about the identity of the two Armenian nationals found dead in New Moscow district, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

The Russian law-enforcement bodies have also said the suspect is being sought.

The bodies of two citizens of the Republic of Armenia with gunshot wounds were found in a rented house in New Moscow neighborhood, RIA Novosti reported earlier, quoting sources at the law-enforcement bodies.

A criminal case has been launched under Article 105.2 of the Russian Penal Code (murder of two or more people).

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has issued a message on UN Day:

This year’s observance of United Nations Day occurs at a time of transition for the world and for the United Nations.

Humanity has entered the era of sustainability – with a global commitment to fulfil the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  In this, the Organization’s 71st year, we have 17 goals to propel us towards a better future for all on a healthy planet.

The world is also moving at long last beyond the mindset which viewed the burning of fossil fuels as the path to prosperity.  At a time of record heat, Member States have embraced the Paris Agreement on climate change in record time.  This landmark measure will enter into force on
4 November.  Across that historic threshold lies our best chance for greener, cleaner, low-carbon growth.

The United Nations is also in transition, from its eighth Secretary-General to the ninth.  I have been honoured to serve “we the peoples” for the past ten years.  Together, we have put in place some solid foundations for shared progress – which we must build on by working even harder to empower women, engage youth and uphold human rights for all.  But we have also suffered enormous heartbreak — including unresolved conflicts causing immense suffering throughout the troubled Middle East, South Sudan, the Sahel and beyond.  On these and other frontlines of violence and disaster, courageous UN staff continue to rise to the occasion and respond to the plight of the vulnerable.

I thank people across the world for their support — and urge all to give their full backing to Secretary-General-designate Antonio Guterres in continuing our global mission of peace, sustainable development and human rights.

Artistic director and principal conductor of the State Youth Orchestra Sergey Smbatyan led three concert programs at Coliseo Theatre in Buenos Aires on October 21, 22 and 23.

Another concert titled “An evening with John Malkovich” will take place in Mendoza, Argentina,

World famous actor John Malkovich presented works by Ernesto Sabato and Pablo Neruda to the accompaniment of Alfred Schnittke’s Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra and compositions by John Tavener.

This is not the first time Sergey Smbatyan cooperates with John Malkovich. They first performed together in Seoul in 2015.

Photo: Reuters

 

Five people have died after their plane crashed at Malta International Airport, the BBC reports.

The small aircraft, a twin-prop Metroliner, crashed around 07:30 (05:30 GMT), shortly after taking off from Luqa airport on a flight to Libya.

The victims’ nationalities have not been released.

Early reports that they were officials from the EU’s border agency have been denied. Frontex said the plane was “not deployed by” them and said “none of their staff were involved”.

Malta International Airport officials released a statement confirming the deaths. The airport is closed “until further notice”.

At the invitation of President Serzh Sargsyan, at Saturday night the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing arrived to the Republic of Armenia on a state visit.

The official welcoming ceremony for the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing and his delegation took place at the Presidential Palace. Later,  the President of Armenia and the Grand Master held a meeting with the participation of the official delegations.

“Your Most Eminent Highness, it gives me a special pleasure to greet you in Armenia. I am greatly honored to welcome you and your delegation. The visit of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Armenia is a very important event in the history of our diplomatic relations and it, I am sure, will allow us to invigorate our cooperation.

Ties between the first Christian nation and the oldest Christian Order had formed back in times of the crusades and were based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. We share the same Christian values, and they constitute the base which allows us today to form active interstate relations. I am aware that the agenda of your visit to our country is pretty full. I hope that in the process you will have the opportunity to familiarize with our people, our Christian culture which in a way is similar to the common Christian culture but is also unique, special. Welcome to Armenia,” said the President of Armenia in his welcoming remarks.

The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing thanked the President of Armenia for the warm welcome and hospitality and stressed the importance of his state visit to Armenia from the viewpoint of further strengthening of the bilateral relations. “I was really delighted for the opportunity to meet with you at the Saint Peter’s Cathedral where you had arrived to participate at the holy mass dedicated to the memory of the saint martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. I believe that it is critical that the Christian nations and representatives of the Christian organizations establish very close relations, considering prevailing in these times secular morals. It is particularly important in the light of the extraordinary problems which we face nowadays, particularly, the flow of migrants, problems of refugees and their movements. I believe in that context it is crucial for us to maintain a constant contact, exchanging views and coordinating our approaches. That is why these relations are so important,” said His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta Fra Matthew Festing at the meeting with the President of Armenia.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, H.E. Piotr Antoni Świtalski and the RA First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments, Garegin Melkonyan announced today the launch of the EU4Business Week in Armenia during the opening of the Eastern Partnership 8^th Business Development Panel in Yerevan. 

Running from 24 to 28 October 2016, the EU4Business Week will highlight the EU support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through series of events and include other activities facilitating private-public dialogue for the benefit of businesses both in the Eastern partner countries and in Armenia.

H.E. Piotr Antoni Świtalski, Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Armenia said  ‘EU4Business Week starting today for the entire week, makes Armenia the centre of various events and activities that highlight EU’s role in supporting economic development, innovation and businesses in the entire Eastern Partnership. It is very symbolic to launch the week by the Business Development Panel. SMEs provide the vast majority of the job opportunities, therefore the economic opportunities linked to SMEs should also be significant. This initiative launched is a strong signal for the EU commitment to support businesses, for the direct benefit of real economy and increasing the country’s and the region’s competitiveness’.

First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments Garegin Melkonyan said: “On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, Ministry of Economic Development and Investments and on my behalf, I welcome the launch of the EU4Business Week in Yerevan and extend my gratitude to our European partners for this outstanding initiative. Armenia attaches great importance to the EU assistance provided to partner countries within the framework of the Eastern Partnership for the implementation of the economic reforms with a special focus on ensuring and deepening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The competitive and effective small and medium-sized enterprises are one of the most important preconditions for the economic development in our country. Today’s conference is also important in terms of the implementation of the “EU4Business” initiative, given the fact that it will be succeeded by a series of other events aimed at the development and strengthening of economic enterprises and especially SMEs. They will include bilateral and regional programmes aimed at the development of private sector and SMEs. These events reaffirm our mutual interest and common objective to foster successful implementation of the joint programme and move forward with enlarging and deepening our cooperation.”

The 8^th Business Development Panel opened today focuses on innovation as an essential tool for boosting competitiveness both on regional and national level. The panel will also officially launch the pilot version of the EU4Business aiming at making EU support to Businesses more accessible and visible. Country specific EU4Business webpages in local languages will follow shortly.

Implemented by EBRD, the workshop on SME finance on 26 October focuses on instruments of creating value for small businesses, as well as providing insights into cashflow analysis, private equity, debt and credit risk analysis as essential tools to mitigate financial risks, attract investment and achieve greater success in SME development. The East Invest 2 Annual Partner Conference on 27 October will highlight public-private dialogue as a vehicle for business reforms. The EU4Business week concludes with an official launch of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development in Armenia (SMEDA) on 28 October. All events will be attended by Armenia’s development partners, international organisations and representatives of the EU-funded projects.

In addition, during this week on October 26-27, for the first time in Armenia, a high level international conference “Fostering Sustainable Development in Eastern Partnership countries” also takes place. Representatives of central, regional and local authorities will gather in Yerevan to discuss new EU initiatives and instruments for sustainable urban development and best practices for successful modernisation of urban infrastructure in the Eastern Partnership countries. The conference will feature a signing ceremony with 25 Mayors of new signatory cities from EaP countries to join the new Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy including 4 from Armenia.