Author: Andres-Papazian

SERGE SARGSYAN WAS LEFT ALONE AT THE RACES

Lragir.am
01/06/10

On June 1, in Rostov-on-Don horse race championship of the president
of Russia took place in connection with which an informal CIS summit
was to take place. The summit did not take place because none of
the presidents of CIS countries except Serge Sargsyan arrived in
Rostov-on-Don. But the most interesting thing is that, according to
Gazeta.ru, at horse races, Serge Sargsyan was accompanied by the
presidents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The president of Russia
missed the races.

It turns out that Russia invited Serge Sargsyan to the races, and left
him alone with the presidents of the two unrecognized republics. In
fact, it can be considered a diplomatic slap in the face of Armenia.

By the way, a horse named Khorezm owned by the Chechen President
Ramzan Kadyrov won the races.

From: A. Papazian

IN JAN-MAR 2010 ARMENIA’S GROSS INTERNATIONAL RESERVES DECREASED BY 4.6%

ArmInfo
01.06.2010

ArmInfo. In Jan-Mar 2010 Armenia’s gross international reserves
decreased by 4.6% to $1.911bln.

The press service of the Central Bank of Armenia reports that in
Q1 2010 the share of international reserves in the structure of the
gross foreign assets dropped from $2.003bln to $1.911bln. The amount
of SDR at IMF decreased from $124.7mln (79.5mln SDR) to $118.3mln
(77.9mln SDR), the net foreign assets – by 7.8% to $1.256bln.

The share of bank gold in the gross international reserves was zeroed
in Dec 2003.

From: A. Papazian

PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA: REAL SECTOR OF ARMENIAN ECONOMY IS NOT ENOUGH OPEN AND TRANSPARENT FOR INVESTMENTS ATTRACTION

ArmInfo
01.06.2010

ArmInfo. The real sector of Armenian economy is not enough open and
transparent for attraction of investments, Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sarkisyan said today at the meeting with students of Armenia.

He also added that many big Armenian companies hide their real incomes
although they should work open and publish the audit conclusions so
that to be interesting to investors. ‘The problem that bond market
is not well developed arose because we have few companies that work
transparently’, – he said and added that a competitive business-field
has not been formed either. This also hinders development of securities
market, he said. For this reason the government is trying on the one
hand, to make tax administration more severe, and on the other hand,
to create more favorable conditions for development of securities
market, Tigran Sarkisyan said.

From: A. Papazian

PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA: IN 2010 ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANK TO BE FORCED TO MAKE THE MONETARY POLICY MORE SEVERE SO THAT TO CRACK DOWN ON INFLATION

ArmInfo
01.06.2010

ArmInfo. down on inflation, Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sarkisyan
said today when meeting Armenian students.

He also added that cracking down on inflation is the most important
task this year. In 2010 the Armenian economy is expected to grow fast
after sharp falling last year. This will cause additional inflation
pressure, he said. Tigran Sarkisyan said after falling of GDP by 14,2%
in 2009, it grew by 7,2% in Jan-April 2010. The inflation in the 1Q was
about 9% versus the same period of 2009, he said and added that 8-9%
inflation for Armenia, which did not exceed 3% before the crisis,
is a very big indicator. ‘Today we have changed the monetary policy
and it is more moderate. The expert assessments prove that inflation
pressure will drop till the end of the year’, – Tigran Sarkisyan said.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN MAYOR’S BROTHER ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING AND BEATING UP PEOPLE

ArmInfo
2010-06-01 14:11:00

ArmInfo. Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan’s brother, Yuri Beglaryan, is
accused of kidnapping and beating up people. Lragir.am reported that
Tuesday, approximately at 11.10am, Yura Beglaryan, arrived at Astech
office (engaged in security systems) situated in Mashtots Street 16
with his bodyguard and kidnapped the director of the office Ashot
Sargsyan and a staff member Michael Saryan. Ashot Sargsyan’s relatives
told the source that the reason is that a phone disappeared from the
opposite side of the street.

Short after, Ashot Sargsyan and Michael Saryan, who had been severely
beaten up, were brought back to the office. Ashot Sargsyan’s relatives
are going appeal to the head of the National Security Service Gorik
Hakobyan. Astech Company refused to provide any details of the incident
to ArmInfo, but confirmed the fact of kidnapping. The press-service
of the National Security Service does not respond to phone calls. As
for the Police, they have no information on the given incident.

From: A. Papazian

‘TIGRANAKERT IS OUR MOTHERLAND LIKE VAN, MUSH, KARS AND ARDAHAN’: HEAD OF DEPARTMENT FOR TOURISM AT NAGORNY KARABAKH REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT

ArmInfo
2010-06-01 12:30:00

ArmInfo. A museum of Tigranakert ancient Armenian town founded by
King Tigran II The Great in the 1st century B.C. is now open for
visitors in the Nagorny Karabakh Republic. Tigranakert existed till
the 14th century.

Quoting Sergey Shahverdyan, Head of the NKR Government Department
for Tourism, ArmInfo correspondent to Stepanakert reported that
“historical truth was once again affirmed with creation of the museum:
Tigranakert is our motherland like Van, Mush, Kars and Ardahan.” S.

Shahverdyan is sure that Tigranakert will become one of the largest
tourist centers in the NKR. The museum exhibits are of big historical
value. All the finds meet the criteria of Armenian identity, scientists
say. Hamlet Petrosyan, Head of the Artsakh Archaeological Expedition,
Institute of Ethnography and Archaeology at the Armenian NAS, Head of
Yerevan State University Department for Cultural Studies, Doctor of
Science, History, says a book telling about the materials exhibited
in the museum will be published.

Archaeological digs in Tigranakert were launched in 2005-2006 by
Yerkir Union of Public Organizations. The NKR Government had funded
the digs over the last years. Tigranakert is the largest and the most
famous settlement of the pre-Christian era. It is one of the four
towns founded by Tigran The Great in various parts of the Armenian
highland and named after him.

From: A. Papazian

MUSEUM OF CROSS-STONE CARVER MOMIK TO BE OPENED IN NORAVANK

ArmInfo
2010-06-01 20:30:00

ArmInfo. The Committee on the 750th Birthday of Armenian architect
and khachkar (cross-stone) carver Momik and the 150th Birthday of
painter Vardges Surenyants held a meeting today.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan.

The press service of the Government of Armenia reports that the
celebrations of the 750th birthday of Momik will be organized in
Vayots Dzor region, the native land of the architect. The program
of events includes the opening of a museum of Momik in Noravank,
an exhibition of Medieval works in Yeghegnadzor and an exhibition of
works by young painters and sculptors.

The program of the events marking the 150th birthday of Surenyants
includes an exhibition at National Picture Gallery, the publication
of a catalogue of Surenyants’ works, the issue of a jubilee stamp
and the production of “Vardges Surenyants 150” multimedia disc.

From: A. Papazian

BROADBAND INTERNET AND IP-TELEVISION PENETRATE INTO YEREVAN SKIRTS

ArmInfo
2010-06-01 13:23:00

ArmInfo. Ucom Internet Provider Company has opened a service office
in Davidashen community in Yerevan (Tigran Petrosyan Street 25/5).

Hayk Yesayan, Ucom Director General, says the company is currently
working to connect Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun communities to the Ucom
subscriber net.

“We want to launch activity in various districts of the city in order
potential subscribers have an opportunity to get familiar with our
telecommunication services: Broadband Internet and IP-Television,”
Yesayan says.

Ucom provides broadband Internet, digital television and fixed-line
telephony. In summer months subscribers connected to Internet will
be provided with IP-television free of charge for a period of month
and the vice versa.

“We wanted to make a present to our subscribers and introduce our
new solutions, specifically the digital television service. We
demonstrate users the possibilities of digital communication on
TV-sets and explain how to use them. This service is a surprise
for many people who traditionally perceive TV-broadcasting as a
non-reversible linear motion. Now TV-viewers will get an opportunity
to manage the broadcasting, for instance, to reverse it,” Yesayan says.

The company also plans to enhance the fixed-line telephony network.

Ucom serves nearly 2.5 thousand subscribers at present.Olaf
Parasiewicz, regional manager of Ericsson Company, which is the
technical partner of Ucom, says certain trends of Internet market
development are currently observed in Armenia. “We are working
with operators who develop the local market and ready to offer them
up-to-date equipment,” he says.

From: A. Papazian

REORGANIZATION OF RAILWAY TRAINING CENTRE AT SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY

ArmInfo
2010-06-01 12:28:00

ArmInfo. The Railway Training Centre [RTC] at CJSC South Caucasus
Railway will be reorganized for the timely and high quality
implementation of the tasks for development of the railway on the basis
of raising the quality and effectiveness of organization of technical
training and the professional level of employees. As a result of this
reorganization the RTC will become an independent structure.

As press-service of the company reported, the main task of the Centre
is raising of professional knowledge of the railway workers on the
basis of technical training. The railcar-training stimulator, equipped
with technical means of training and teaching aids, will be located
at the territory of the railroad car shed. Besides the basic training
complex, a technical room and training polygon have been already
created at Masis station, a technical room at the railroad car shed of
Yerevan, the training classes at all the line stations and structural
departments of South Caucasus Railway. The technical libraries will be
also created at Yerevan and Gyumri stations for effective organization
of technical training of specialists and students.

South Caucasian Railway CJSC is the subsidiary (100%) of the Russian
Railways CJSC. The contract of concession of the Armenian Railroad
CJSC for 30 years with a 10-year renewable period was signed in
Yerevan on February 13 2008.

From: A. Papazian

MERCER 2010 QUALITY OF LIVING SURVEY: YEREVAN IS AT POSITION 174

ArmInfo
2010-06-01 07:38:00

ArmInfo. According to the Mercer 2010 Quality of Living Survey, the
capital of Armenia, Yerevan, is at 174th position by quality of living.

As BBC reported, such indicators as the level of crime, political
stability, quality of hospitals and medical aid, comfort of the
transport system, availability of cafes and restaurants, resting
places, climatic conditions, level of individual freedom and other
factors – total of 39 criteria.

It is interesting that Yerevan in the rating is followed by Alma-Ata
(175th position), Minsk (185th position) and Baku (196th position).

The remaining CIS capitals positioned beyond 200: Tashkent (200),
Ashkhabad (201), Bishkek (209), Dushanbe (210) and Tbilisi (217).

Among the former USSR countries, only the capitals of the Baltic
republics which joined EU – Vilnius (79), Tallin (89) and Riga
(91), entered the first hundred. They are followed by Kiev by a
long shot (161). Authors of the report considered just Moscow and
Saint Petersburg, among the Russian cities, worthy of international
investors’ attention. These cities took the 166th and 170th positions,
respectively.

The capital of Austria, Vienna, retains the top spot as the city with
the world’s best quality of living. Zurich and Geneva follow in second
and third position, respectively. Seven places in the first ten are
held by the European cities. Dusseldorf is in the 6th place in the
rating, the 7th and 8th places are held by Frankfurt and Munich,
and the 9th place – by Bern.

London has become the only British city which entered the first fifty.

It ranks at 39. Aberdeen (53), Birmingham (55) and Glasgow (57) fall
a little bit behind. Among the American cities, Honolulu (31) is the
city in the US with the highest quality of living (31), followed by
San Francisco (32).

In Asia, Singapore remains the highest-ranking Asian city at 28,
followed by Japanese city Tokyo (40). Baghdad has been recognized the
most disadvantaged city (221), which completes the list first of all
because of lack of security and stability.

To note, Mercer has been publishing the list of the most liveable
places since 2007. New York is considered the starting point and is
given the living level of 100 points. However, New York takes just
the 49th place in the list.

According to the rating authors, it should help the management of big
international companies to evaluate the working conditions of their
employees, correctly choose a staff and their salary level.

From: A. Papazian