Author: Andres-Papazian

ASATRYAN: INFLATION IN ARMENIA BELIEVED TO BE A LITTLE LOWER THAN 10% THIS YEAR

/ARKA/
December 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, December 24. /ARKA/. Inflation in Armenia is believed to be
a little lower than 10% this year, Bagrat Asatryan, former chairman
of the Central Bank of Armenia, said Thursday answering the question
ARKA News agency correspondent put up to him.

He said that the high inflation would strike hard at low-income people.

According to official statistical reports, the country faced 8.1%
year-on-year inflation in Jan-Nov 2010.

In the 2010 government budget, inflation is projected at 4% (±1.5%).

Asatryan said that a double-digit inflation was recorded also in 1997.

The then inflation was due to many factors, and administrative factor
was among them.

The 1997 inflation was due to the continuing liberalization of prices,
not economic developments, and was structural in nature.

Unlike the then inflation, this year’s price hike is not triggered
by monetary factors – the central bank’s instruments have proven to
be ineffective.

The former chairman said that the regulator started neutralizing
impacts monetary factors on inflation of in the beginning of this year,
but this move produced no results.

He said that the Armenian national currency strengthened 5.5% against
the dollar, 15% against the euro and over 7% against Russian ruble,
compared with December 2009.

It means, he said, that the central bank remains stuck to its policy
and is trying to curb inflation by strengthening Armenian dram.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN, MOSCOW CONTINUE NEGOTIATING GAS PRICE

/ARKA/
December 24, 2010
YEREVAN

Yerevan and Moscow continues negotiations over gas prices, Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Thursday after meeting with his
Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

“Taking into account that gas price will come close to the world price
in accordance with arrangement, we presented Armenian government’s
stance,” Armenian Public Television quoted the premier as saying. “Our
stance on the mater was quite clear.”

Sargsyan told journalists that it has been decided to continue
negotiations after Christmas holidays.

Earlier, high-ranking representatives of Gazprom said that market
prices for gas would come into effect in Armenia on April 2011, in
accordance with agreement between Russian Gazprom OJSC and Armenian
ArmRosgasprom CJSC.

ArmRosgasprom is the sole importer and distributor of Russian natural
gas in Armenia.

Its shareholders are Gazprom and Armenian government.

From: A. Papazian

ENVIRONMENTALISTS WARN OF SEVAN LAKE CONTAMINATION
By Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow
24.12.10

Armenian environmentalists are demanding that the Ministry of Nature
Protection of Armenia ban Gegamet Plus mining company from working
in the Lake Sevan basin.

Two years ago, Gegamet Plus obtained the mine in auction and submitted
a project for crushing and sorting dunite-periodite raw materials from
Shorzha Mine to the ‘Environmental Expertise’ state-run not-for-profit
organization of the Ministry of Nature Protection. The project on
processing was refused, because such activity is banned at Sevan
basin. (Article 10 of the Law ‘On Lake Sevan’ bans location of ore
processing enterprises in Sevan basin.)

Recently the company again submitted the project, and according to
EcoLur, the purpose of the project is the same and the mining company
changed its profile of activity from “processing” into “crushing
and sorting”.

Despite the refusal, the Gegamet Plus’ started exploiting of the mine
illegally. On December 1, public hearings on the realization of the
project were held in Shorzha.

According to a statement released by EcoLur, chromium concentrate
threatens Lake Sevan water basin, because chrome is a highly toxic
element. As a result of the production held there, chromium dust
covers Sevan basin, and is spread by wind onto the surface of the
lake. It is accumulated in the ecosystem elements, breaking the vital
cycles of those elements. The exploitation of the mine destroys the
landscape of Lake Sevan, environmentalists charge.

“We encourage the Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia to recognize
the public hearings null and void and to conduct an urgent examination
of Gegamet Plus Company by the State Environmental Inspection and to
stop the illegal operation in Sevan basin,” the EcoLur statement reads.

“EcoLur” Informational NGO was joined by “Bird Lovers Center” NGO,
“Burg” Environmental Youth NGO, “Armenia women for health and health
environment” NGO, “Ecomos” NGO, “Association for Sustainable Human
development” NGO, “Eco-club “Tapan” NGO, “Ecodar” NGO.

From: A. Papazian

YERKIR: POLICE PULL OVER AND SEARCH VEHICLES OF BODYGUARDS ESCORTING THEIR BOSSES

Tert.am
24.12.10

The paper claims that for two days now, traffic police pull over and
conduct a search all vehicles with bodyguards escorting their bosses.

Only the first vehicle of the convoy – with a government official in
it – is allowed to proceed without a check; the rest are subjected
to a search, the paper says.

The paper comments that this is likely due to a recent speech by
Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, who said that bodyguards and
escorts can be used only when stipulated by the law.

When contacted by the paper, Ashot Aharonyan, the head of the Police
press service, said he was not aware of such searches.

Citing its own unnamed sources, the paper further claims that it is
the chief of Yerevan Police, Nerses Nazaryan, who, at a recent meeting,
had instructed the traffic police to do so.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN AGRICULTURE DECLINES IN 2010 – MINISTER SUMS UP THE YEAR

Tert.am
24.12.10

All sectors of Armenia’s agriculture recorded a decline in 2010,
Armenian Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan has said.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, he said the decline in
agriculture makes 14.5%, with the major losses being observed in
plant growing.

According to Alaverdyan, irrigated lands in the country have been
reduced by 16 hectares , causing a major harm especially to grain
and potato production. Potato harvest, he said, has been 490.00 tons,
against last year’s 590.000.

Alaverdyan also said Armenia has started the implementation of the
2010-14 seed-growing program aimed at extending the arable lands and
increasing grain production.

Under the government funding, high-quality grain seeds were imported
from Russia and distributed among villagers in Armenia and the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, he added.

Fruit production has decreased three-fold, making 125 tons, while
vegetable production decreased from 800.000 to 690.000 tons, the
minister said, adding that only vine production has increased to
200.000 tons against last year’s 215.000.

Speaking of cattle breeding, Alaverdyan said this sector this year
decreased by 1%, but given the increased volumes of meat consumption,
it is expected to grow by 1.1% by late December.

The minister also said that the program envisages the construction
of anti-hail stations whose number will reach 250 by 2012.

He also spoke of the working team’s high professionalism, adding that
it had very little or no fault for this year’s decline.

From: A. Papazian

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: OMBUDSMAN AFFIRMS HE HAS NEW JOB

Tert.am
24.12.10

The paper says it has conducted an interview with Armenian Ombudsman
Armen Harutyunyan who confirmed the recent reports on his plans to
assume the duties of the Special Representative of UN High Commissioner
for Central Asia.

Without giving further details on his new appointment, Harutyunyan
refrained from answering more questions, says the paper.

“I’ll speak about it as soon as I find it appropriate, no need to
ask me questions,” he told the paper.

After being characterized by ex-president Robert Kocharyan as his
most unsuccessful appointee in 2008, Harutunyan gave a confidential
interview to the paper, where he said he could no longer serve the
Armenian authorities and wanted to find some job in the United Nations,
the paper says.

From: A. Papazian

MASIS MAILYAN: DESTINY OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS WAS IMPORTANT TOPIC IN 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 24, 2010 – 09:29 AMT 05:29 GMT

Chairman of the NKR Public Council on Foreign Policy and Security
Masis Mailyan said that the destiny of the Armenian-Turkish protocols
was the most heatedly debated topic during the first months of 2010.

“The international interest towards the protocols ratification by the
Armenian and Turkish parliaments overshadowed the Karabakh conflict
settlement, despite the efforts of Baku and Ankara,” Mailyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

He recalled that the Armenian President suspended ratification of
the protocols by the Armenian parliament on the eve of the Armenian
Genocide commemoration day. And the Karabakh conflict settlement has
again become the focus of interest of the three conflicting parties’
public and political forces.

“The NKR recognition became topical in 2010 on the background of
meetings between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents and foreign
ministers. In the second half of 2010, Hay Dat structures took certain
actions for the NKR’s international recognition. Specifically, a
fact-finding trip of members of the European Parliament to Karabakh
was organized in October 2010. Heritage parliamentary group conducted
works in the Armenian parliament for Artsakh’s recognition by Armenia.

Unfortunately, Armenia’s parliamentary forces have not managed to reach
a consensus on such an important matter for Armenians, as recognition
of Nagorno Karabakh. Legislatively fixed stance of Armenia on NKR’s
stance would not leave false hopes for Azerbaijan and its protectors,”
the expert said.

From: A. Papazian

MASIS MAILYAN: INITIATIVE ON ARMENIA’S RECOGNITION OF ARTSAKH INDEPENDENCE PLAYED POSITIVE ROLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 24, 2010 – 09:30 AMT 05:30 GMT

The initiative on Armenia’s recognition of Artsakh independence played
a positive role, despite the failure of Heritage to achieve its goal,
the chairman of the NKR Public Council on Foreign Policy and Security
Masis Mailyan said.

“Thanks to the process initiated, international community was kept
aware of the issue, continuing to receive signals from Armenia,”
Mailyan told PanARMENIAN.Net

Public Council Chairman forecasted activation of NKR recognition
process in 2011, emphasizing the importance of acknowledgement of
Artsakh independence in prevention of a possible military aggression.

He noted the non-violation of ceasefire, establishment of military
balance and decrease of regional tension to be among the priority
tasks of 2011.

From: A. Papazian

NO STABILITY IN CAUCASUS UNLESS KARABAKH CONFLICT IS SETTLED – GUL

Tert.am
24.12.10

Establishing stability in the Caucasus will not be possible unless the
Karabakh conflict is settled, Turkish president Abdullah Gul has said.

Speaking at the Economic Cooperation Summit in Istanbul, the
Turkish leader said his country attaches a major importance to the
normalization of ties with Armenia, the Turkish news agency Cihan
reported.

“We attach much importance to the normalization of ties with Armenia.

To that end, we have undertaken certain steps. We are hopeful such
complicated issues will be resolved, and we will finally be able to
consider the possibility of establishing peace in the Caucasus. And
to achieve that, it is necessary to cease the occupation of the
Azerbaijani areas. There are one million refugees. This is a fact
that has to be considered,” Gul said.

From: A. Papazian

ST. APKAR NAMED ARIZONA ‘BEST WORSHIP BUILDING FOR 2010’ BY SOUTHWEST CONTRACTOR MAGAZINE
By Victoria Manoogian

Tert.am
24.12.10

Southwest Contractor Magazine, a publication of McGraw-Hill Companies,
has named the Armenian Apostolic Church of Arizona [consecrated “St.
Apkar”] Arizona “Best Worship Building for 2010” in its December
2010 issue.

The awards were distributed at a breakfast awards ceremony at Sheraton
Downtown Phoenix Hotel on Tuesday morning, December 7th, 2010.

Accepting awards for St. Apkar were Artin Knadjian of Langdon Wilson
International, the Architect of the project, Moline Construction, the
General Contractor; and the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, as Owner, which was represented by its Parish Priest Rev. Fr.

Zacharia Saribekyan, the Parish Council Chairman Dn. Berj Manoogian,
Interiors Committee Member Dn. Dr. Stepan Ovanessoff, and Parish
Council Vice-Chairman Rafi Hagopian. Mr. Hagopian’s company, HRH
Contractors, was a Subcontractor for the construction of the Church
and shared in the recognition as such at the awards ceremony.

St. Apkar, as an award recipient, was among the company of some
very extraordinary structures and building projects completed
between September 2009 and August 2010. The winning projects were
graded by a distinguished panel of judges in each state on Overcoming
Challenges/Teamwork, Safety, Innovation/Contribution to the Industry,
Construction Quality/Craftsmanship and the Function and Aesthetic
Quality of the Design. The design teams and construction companies in
their acceptance speeches described technical difficulties they solved
on the job, time constraints they overcame, budget limitations they
surmounted, and in almost every case, the cooperation and willingness
to put aside personal agendas that team members showed to achieve
success with their projects.

The Arizona jury was Tyler Bohlender, Mortenson Construction; Linnea
Brudenell, A. AIA, LEED AP, Green Ideas; William R. Ferris, Jr., PE,
Stantec; Steve M. Grauer, Hensel Phelps Construction Co.; Kristen
Howard, Rider Levett Bucknall; Cy Keener, ASUL; Vince Leskosky, AIA,
IIDA, Westlake Reed Leskosky; Scott Macpherson, Rider Levett Bucknall;
and Adam Sprenger, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP; DWL Architects + Planners.

Among the other winners this year were: the Prescott Valley Library,
the Val Vista Water Main Rehabilitation CMAR, the Musical Instrument
Museum (MIM), the Indian Bend Road Improvements, the Schuff Perini
Climber at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the Rio Salado Audubon
Center, the City of Phoenix Arizona State University College of
Nursing & Health Innovation, the White Cliffs Middle School (Kingman
USD), the City of Phoenix’s CityScape Phase I, the Sagewood Phase
I Continuing Care/Retirement Community, the Wild Horse Pass Hotel &
Casino, the Banner Ironwood Medical Center, the Tucson Fire Central,
the Paseo Vista Recreation Area (Chandler), the Maricopa County
Security Building Re-Roof, the Blackboard Transact, the El Chorro
Lodge, the University of Arizona Student Recreation Center Expansion,
Scottsdale’s Fashion Square, the Flagstaff Family YMCA, the Boys &
Girls Clubs of the East Valley – Compadre Branch, the Tres Rios
Wetlands Restoration, the Chandler CARE Center, and the Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Arizona Townley Campus.

From: A. Papazian