Author: Emil Lazarian

RA WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION TO HOLD A SUPER TOURNAMENT IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
27.12.2006 14:57

The Weightlifting Federation of Armenia has submitted an application
to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on holding the
European Youth Championship 2009 in Yerevan. It has already been
accepted by the IWF.

President of the Armenian Weightlifting Federation Samvel Khachatryan
told " Armenpress" that in 2007 in Yerevan the Federation will hold
an international super tournament, featuring only Olympic and World
Champions. The tournament will have a corresponding financial fund and
will be held under the auspice of the Armenian Olympic Committee. The
IWF welcomes the idea of holding the super tournament.

IWF President, Hungarian Tamás Aján highly appreciated the fact
that Armenian weightlifters wish to have active participation in the
international weightlifting "life," noting that "Armenia is a classical
country of weightlifting and has rich traditions in this sports.

–Boundary_(ID_hYlK8lg95nx7qZWzeWcqHw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAZPROM CLAIMS OF POSSIBLE RETENTION OF GAS PRICE FOR ARMENIA IN EXCHANGE FOR PARTICIPATION IN IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE PROJECT

Moscow, December 27. ArmInfo. The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is included
in the list of assets, during transfer of shares of which the Gazprom
is ready to retain the gas price for Armenia at the level of $110 per
1 thsd cub m till 2009, the deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Governing
Board, Alexander Medvedev, said at the press-conference in Moscow.

To remind, the Gazprom had spread a pres-release on April 6, 2006,
about a strategic agreement, signed with RA Government, for 25 years.

On of the clause of the Agreement included the RA Government’s
commitment to sell the 40- km section of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
besides the fifth power unit of Hrazdan HPP, to "ArmRosgazprom" CJSC.

However, further the Gazprom removed all the mentions about the
pipeline from the official information. Moreover, the RA Prime
Minister, Andranik Margaryan, has also denied the information about
the transfer of the gas pipeline’s section to Russia, while the RA
Energy Minister, Armen Movsissyan, said the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
will remain the RA Government’s property. However, the Gazprom had
informed at the end of April, 2006, that the Holding jointly with
the RA Government, resolved to create a working group to implement
the bilateral Agreement. The deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Governing
Board, Alexander Ryazanov, has confirmed the Holding’s intention to
acquire the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline’s section.

The project of Iran-Armenia gas pipelines’ construction (extension
of 141 km, the pipe diameter of 700 mm ) in the Armenian territory
is estimated of $120 mln . The financing is carried out by Iran, in
exchange for which Armenia will supply electric energy to Iran. The
construction of the first Armenian section of Meghri-Kajaran gas
pipeline had vbeen started on November 30, 2004. The second section
of Kajaran-Sisian-Jermuk-Ararat pipeline will be built by the Iranian
"Sanir" Company. It is envisaged to put the gas pipeline into operation
in 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SNOWFALL IN ARMENIA WILL LAST TILL DEC 28 AND WILL BE FOLLOWED BY FROST

Yerevan, December 27. ArmInfo. The current snowfall in Armenia will
last till Dec 28 night.

The Meteorological Service of Armenia reports that in Yerevan the depth
of snow cover is 23 cm, in some regions 36 cm. Dec 28 the temperature
will drop to -15-19 in Ararat valley, -20-25 in the highlands, Dec
29 -20-22 in Ararat valley and -23-27 in the highlands.

The lowest temperature in Dec was registered in 2002: -28 in Yerevan.

AS OF TODAY, 32 CASES OF DEATHS ARE FIXED IN ARMED FORCES IN 2006

Yerevan, December 27. ArmInfo. As of today’s data, 32 cases of deaths
are fixed in RA Armed Forces in 2006, the Secretary of the National
Security under RA President, the Defense Minister, Serzh Sargsyan,
said in a interview to the Public TV of Armenia.

According to the Minister, this number includes the killed, suicides,
those died from the enemy’s bullet or as a result of an accident.

However, S. Sargsyan said, these data indicate the increase of
discipline in the Army – 48 case of deaths have been fixed in RA AF in
2005. "Though it is about three times less but every digit is a man’s
fortune and a family’s tragedy. Therefore, I present my apologies
to all the relatives of those guys whom we could not preserve",
the Defense Minister said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANTHONY GODFREY: IN 2007 ARMENIA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY ITS COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY

Noyan Tapan
Dec 26 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. "The coming year will be
especially important and exciting since Armenia has the opportunity
to display its commitment to democracy by holding free anf fair
parliamentary elections." This is said in the New Year’s massage of
U.S. Charge d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey. A. Godfrey noted that "through
U.S. assistance programs, which have totaled over 1.6 billion dollars
since 1992, the United States is working to strengthen democratic
institutions, provide for a more stable and secure South Caucasus,
and build the economies of all three countries of the region." He
expressed a hope "that Armenia and the United States can work together
to create a brighter future for the people of Armenia." A. Godfrey
said in his message that his government "is committed to supporting
Armenia as it works to establish itself as a thriving democracy and
a country where the benefits of economic growth are shared broadly."

PROJECTS OF 182 PROGRAMS RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF ARMENIA-EU ACTION PLAN PRESENTED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 26 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Projects of 182 programs for the
implementation of priorities, goals and actions envisaged by Armenia-EU
Action Plan have been presented by ministries and departments. The
RA Minister of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmaritian
stated this at the December 26 press conference. "The programs
include all these spheres which will ensure the bringing of the
economy’s legislative and economic activity systems into line with
EU standards," the minister noted. To recap, the sides approved the
Armenia-EU Action Plan on November 14, 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THERE ARE NO CLOSED ROADS IN THE REPUBLIC, THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT SAYS

ArmRadio.am
27.12.2006 17:22

"Despite heavy snow, there are no closed roads in the republic. Only
Selim pass is closed, Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik
Manukyan told the journalists today. In his words, a board is operating
in the Ministry, which registers the data about the state of roads.

"If some road closes, we shall immediately inform the corresponding
bodies about suspending the transportation in this direction," the
Minister noted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

APPEAL COURT LEAVES UNCHANGED PREVENTIVE PUNISHMENT TOWARDS ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN

Noyan Tapan
Dec 27 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 27, RA Appeal Court
on Criminal and Military Cases rejected the claim of changing the
preventive punishment of Zhirayr Sefilian, Coordinator of Defence of
Liberated Territories public initiative. Noyan Tapan correspondent
was informed about it by Armen Yeghian, member of organization’s
Political Board. He said that this decision will be appealed at the
Cassation Court. To recap, Z.Sefilian was arrested on accusation of
making appeals for carrying out power shift by force in the country.

First instance court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities
had made a decision to use 2 months’ imprisonment as a preventive
punishment towards Zhirayr Sefilian. In A.Yeghian’s words, he has
reliable information that Armenian authorities have not yet decided
what to do with Z.Sefilian, whether to deport him, to release or to
sentence to imprisonment. In A.Yeghian’s words, all three variants
are fraught with unpredictable consequences.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN 2007 GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE EXPERIMENTAL SUBSIDIES TO 11 FARMS IN GEGHARKUNIK AND ARAGATSOTN MARZES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 27 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2007, the Armenian government
will provide experimental subsidies to farmers of 11 villages in
Gegharkinik and Aragatsotn marzes: 35 thousand drams (about 90 USD)
will be provided for a hectare. The RA Minister of Agriculture Davit
Lokian said on December 27 at the press conference to summarize this
year’s results that starting from 2008, this order of subsidizing
will function in other marzes as well. According to D.

Lokian, the draft law on state assistance to the agricultural
sphere has been developed by the ministry and submitted to the
government. According to the draft law, the subsidizing of agriculture
by the government should have a constant character, and a policy
of regulating agricultural foodstuff prices should be conducted. The
minister noted that from 2009, farms will not pay VAT if their turnover
does not exceed 10 million drams. Thus, the majority of farms – 85%
will be exempt from VAT. D. Lokian added that even big land owners, who
will pay VAT, will not have any problems: for example, a 10% tax will
be collected from them instead of the current 20% tax for a 50-ha land.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN 2007 WORLD BANK TO ALLOCATE CREDIT RESOURCES OF 80 MILLION DOLLARS FOR ARMENIA’S SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Dec 27 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, Armenian farms received
credits of a total of 4 million USD with the assistance of the World
Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The
credits are provided for a period of up to 5 years and have an annual
interest rate of 9.8-10%. The RA Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokian
stated at the December 27 press conference that the credits were
given for creation of 291 small and medium enterprises in mountainous
areas and on foothills of Vayots Dzor, Syunika and Tavush marzes. Out
of these enterprises, 96 are meat, milk and fruit processing ones ,
there are also small slaughter-houses which have already been put into
operation. According to the minister, in 2007 the World Bank will
again provide credit resources of 80 million USD for development of
small and medium entrepreneurship in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress