Author: Andres-Papazian

Nabucco gas pipeline will start commercial transport in 2017

May 6, 2011 – 17:24 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The Nabucco gas pipeline consortium expects construction to start in
2013, with commercial gas transport beginning four years later, a top
Nabucco official said on Friday, May 6.

‘We see construction start-up in 2013 and the start of commercial
transport in 2017,’ Reinhard Mitschek, managing director of Nabucco
Gas Pipeline International GmbH told a conference call.

He also said he did not see any need to reduce the planned pipeline
capacity of the project.

The Nabucco plan intends to bring gas from the Caspian region to an
Austrian hub via Turkey and the Balkans.

Partners in Nabucco include Turkey’s Botas, Austria’s OMV, Germany’s
RWE, Hungarian MOL, Romania’s Transgaz and Bulgarian BEH, Reuters
reported.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian ensemble wins Best Folk Dance award

18:43 – 06.05.11

Karin – Armenian Folk Dance and Song Group has won the Best Fold Dance
award in the XIV World Folkdance Festival 2011.

The group was also awarded for The Best Folk Dance and given a third
nomination for The Best Folk Song and Music, among 27 groups
represented from 21 countries.

The first World Festival of Folklorique Dances was held in Munich,
Germany, in 1985. Since 1987, the event has been held every two years
in Palma de Mallorca – Balearic Islands – Spain bringing together
participants from all over the world to perform their cultures through
music and dance.

The group is due to return to return to Armenia on Sunday noon.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Zangezur Combine tops the list of 1000 largest Armenian corporate
taxpayers in the first quarter of 2011

YEREVAN, May 6. / ARKA /. The Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine
topped the list of 1000 largest corporate taxpayers in the first
quarter of 2011, according to a report, unveiled today by Armenia’s
State Revenue Committee.

The country’s largest industrial enterprise, located in the southern
province of Syunik, paid a total of 7.450 billion Drams in taxes and
other mandatory payments in the first three months of the year,
posting a remarkable growth from 1.216 billion Drams paid in the first
quarter of 2010.

According to the data, 7.108 billion Drams were collected by tax
authorities, 341.8 million Drams by customs bodies. Of the overall
amount some 4. 318 billion Drams were collected as direct taxes
(profit and income taxes), 1.068 billion Drams as indirect taxes
(including VAT and excise taxes) and 2.063 billion Drams as mandatory
payments, dues and other taxes.

The Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine was followed by
Armenian-Russian natural gas distributor ArmRosGazprom (ARG) that paid
7.356 billion Drams of various taxes, up from 5.242 billion Drams paid
for the same time span in 2010. Of that amount 7.237 billion Drams
were collected by tax authorities and about 118.5 million Drams by
customs bodies.
The third position was occupied by Alex Grig company, the largest
importer of foods that paid a total of 4.572 billion Drams, up from
4.480 billion Drams paid for the first quarter of 2010. Alex Grig was
followed by ArmenTel elecommunications company (trading as Beeline),
that paid a total of 3.144 billion Drams, down from 3.463 billion
Drams from a year earlier. Mobile operator K-Teelecom (trading as
VivaCell-MTS) paid 2. 437 billion Drams, up from 2. 209 billion Drams
paid in the first three months of 2010. City Petrol Group and
Electrical Networks of Armenia (ENA) paid 2.125 billion Drams and
2.032 billion Drams respectively.

Overall, 1000 largest corporate taxpayers paid a total of 106.5
billion Drams in various taxes. The figure represents a rise from 97.5
billion Drams paid in the first quarter of 2010. ($1 – 373.16
Drams).-0-

From: A. Papazian

Armenian MP elected as co-chair of Euronest committee for social,
cultural issues

May 6, 2011 – 14:40 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The members of the Armenian delegation to Euronest Parliamentary
Assembly were appointed to different positions at Euronest committee.

As the Armenian delegation secretary Karine Shimshiryan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Armenian parliamentarian Naira Zohrabyan was
elected as the deputy co-chair of the political committee, MP Stepan
Safaryan was appointed as a deputy co-chair of energy security
committee.

`MP Artak Zakaryan was elected as the co-chair of the committee for
social and cultural issues,’ Ms. Shimshiryan said.

The head of the Armenian delegation, Vahan Hovhannisyan was
automatically appointed a deputy chairman of Euronest.

From: A. Papazian

CoE, EU launch 4mln cooperation projects for post-soviet states

May 6, 2011 – 16:27 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On May 6, the Council of Europe and the European Union have officially
started work on a series of projects, worth 4 million over 30 months,
to promote democracy, good governance and stability in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

The aim of the cooperation projects, which will be run by the Council
of Europe as part of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative, is to
provide support to reform processes in the six countries involved and
to help them move closer towards Council of Europe and EU standards in
areas such as electoral standards and judicial reform, as well as
fighting cybercrime and corruption.

The agreement will also provide a multilateral framework for
addressing issues raised by the Council of Europe’s different
monitoring and advisory bodies, including the European Court of Human
Rights, and for enabling the participating countries to exchange
information and best practices, the Council of Europe said on its
official website.

The Council of Europe’s Director of Political Advice and Cooperation,
Claudia Luciani, said: `This joint endeavor in key areas of our
expertise is a further demonstration of the excellent cooperation
between the Council of Europe and the EU in promoting common European
values across the whole continent.’

From: A. Papazian

Armenian President in Artsakh to attend Victory Day celebrations

May 6, 2011 – 15:49 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On May 6, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan arrived in Stepanakert to
attend the celebratory events organized on the occasion of the Victory
Day, NKR Defense Army Day and Shushi Liberation.

The Armenian President was welcomed by Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan
and other high-ranking officials.

The two Presidents visited the Stepanakert airport complex to watch
the construction works in process, the Central Information Department
at Artsakh President’s Office reported.

From: A. Papazian

Rev. Fr. Abel Manoukian receives suspension

armradio.am
06.05.2011 17:40

By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, as of May 10, 2011, Rev. Fr. Abel
Manoukian will be suspended from his clerical activities. The order
states that Father Abel is being suspended due to failure to;
acknowledge the canonical Diocese of Switzerland, recognize the
authority of the appointed Locum Tenens and pastor of the Church of
St. Jacob in Geneva, and not comply with the Pontifical order to
return to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Rev. Fr. Abel has been ordered to return to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin within a week to meet with the Clergy Council. During the
period of suspension, the clergyman is prohibited from conducting
sacraments and services, as those will not be recognized as valid.

From: A. Papazian

Presidents of Armenia, NKR visit Stepanakert airport

armradio.am
06.05.2011 16:40

On 6 May President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan arrived
in Stepanakert to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the Day
of Victory in the great Patriotic War, the Day of the Artsakh Republic
Defense Army and the liberation of Shoushi.

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan and other
officials met the Armenian President at the airport.

The Presidents visited the airport complex and familiarized with the
works carried out there, Central Information Department of the Office
of the NKR President reported.

From: A. Papazian

Luc Besson finished shooting his film with words `Viva independent Armenia!’

May 6, 2011 – 13:35 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Jacky Nercessian, starring as Professor Esperandieu, visited Armenia
as part of Luc Besson’s The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele
Blanc-Sec film screening in Armenia.

`This is the first film, in which I star as a French, but not
Armenian, Turk or Jew. After completion of the film, Besson forced me
to close my eyes, broached a bottle of champagne and cried: `Viva
Independent Armenia,’ Nercessian told journalists in Yerevan.

He noted that he divides his career into two stages – before and after
Luc Besson. `He is independent and well aware of professional details
of cinema,’ said Nercessian.

The Armenian audience has the opportunity to watch The Extraordinary
Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec film prior to its screening in other
countries.

`Armenia will host the film’s premiere screening. Besson provided the
right to screen the film in the country for free of charge,’ said
French Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud.

From: A. Papazian

Armenia to become general sponsor of Book Festival 2012

Aysor.am
Friday,May 06

Under the High Patronage of the Armenian President, this year for the
first time Armenia participated in the annual Los Angeles Times
Festival of Books on the sidelines of the activities marking the 500th
anniversary of the Armenian book-printing, MFA press office reported.

Armenia presented its cultural heritage at the festival – from
Narekatsi to works by modern authors.

The Armenian pavilion had a unique design and was ranked among the best ones.

It was announced that UNESCO has proclaimed Yerevan the 2012 World Book Capital.

Armenia’s Consul General Grigor Hovhannisyan noted that at the
suggestion of the Armenian Ministry of Culture Armenia will become the
general sponsor of the festival in 2012.

From: A. Papazian