Author: Frangulian Shushan

NEGOTIATIONS BEING CONDUCTED WITH RUSSIA OVER ISSUE OF LEAVING GAS TARIFFS UNCHANGED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 22, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The new nuclear power plant under
construction in Armenia is a commercial project and it will be an open
joint stock company whose 100% package will be put up for sale. RA
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisian said at the
December 22 press conference that many companies and countries have
already showed a serious interest in the project.

According to the minister, the state’s stake in the nuclear power
unit to be constructed has not been determined yet: it will make
15-25%, while the remaining share can be acquired by both juridical
and natural persons.

Speaking about the expected rise in gas tariffs next year, A.

Movsisian said that negotiations are being conducted with Russia over
the issue of leaving the current tariffs of Russian gas unchanged.

NKR BAKO SAHAKYAN RECEIVES DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN TAVOUSH REGION

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 21, 2009
STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS: President of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan received today a delegation of Tavoush region
of the Republic of Armenia headed by governor Armen Ghoilaryan.

Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR President
told Armenpress that issues related to enlarging cooperation between
the Tavoush region and regions of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic were
discussed at the meeting.

The president considered important continuous deepening of cooperation
with regions of the Republic of Armenia considering it one of the
key elements of strengthening inter-Armenian ties.

NKR premier Ara Haroutyunyan partook at the meeting.

RETAIL TRADE TURNOVER IN ARMENIA GROWS TO AMD 897.9 BILLION IN JAN-NOV 2009

/ARKA/
December 21, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, December 21. /ARKA/. Retail trade turnover in Armenia grew
0.5% in Jan-Nov 2009, compared with the same period a year before,
and reached AMD 897.9 billion, National Statistical Service of
Armenia reports.

In November, compared with October, retail trade turnover reduced 0.4%.

According to the statistical report, paid services totaled AMD
669.2 billion after reducing 2.5% over the period between January and
November 2009 and shrank 3.7% in November, compared with October. ($1 =
AMD 375.14).

KIRK KERKORIAN HAS 37% STAKE IN NEW CITYCENTER COMPLEX IN LSS VEGAS

NOYAN TAPAN
December 21, 2009
YEREVAN

LOS ANGELES, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
Armenian-American billionaire Kirk Kerkorian has a 37% stake in the
new CityCenter casino, hotel and shopping complex in Las Vegas.

Groonk reported that Kerkorian, MGM Mirage’s founder, is an active
member of CityCenter’s board of directors and had an influential role
in getting the complex off the ground more than five years ago.

"Having been involved in the development of several great hotels
in Las Vegas, I’m very proud to be associated with CityCenter and
I am truly excited about this amazing new aspect of Las Vegas,"
Kerkorian said through a spokeswoman. "Of all the wonderful Las Vegas
properties with which I’ve been associated, CityCenter is simply the
most amazing. I’m extremely excited to see the public’s reaction and
look forward to seeing how it changes Las Vegas," he said.

Tractors of American John Deere company to be used in Armenian agriculture
19.12.2009 15:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ American tractors will be used in Armenian
agriculture in Armenia, Gagik Sardaryan, director of Card AgroCredit
UCO at the Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development told a press
conference in Yerevan. According to him, to date, organization’s loan
portfolio exceeded AMD 900 million, and in 2010 Card AgroCredit UCO
projects to increase it by 35-40 per cent.

"We are working with a subsidiary of Card agricultural service, which
represents the largest American company producing agricultural and
forestry equipment John Deere . Negotiations are underway to import
American tractors to Armenia, " Gagik Sardaryan said.

ATHLETES AND COACHES ENTITLED ARMENIA’S MASTERS OF SPORTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2009 21:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Award-giving ceremony of athletes and coaches
was held on December 18 in the Sports-Concert Complex after Karen
Demirchyan in Yerevan. By decision of RA Ministry of Sports and Youth
Affairs, the title of master of sports was awarded to Rafik Safaryan,
Stepa Arzumanyan, Spartak Tsarukyan, Levon Samvelyan, Yuri Grigoryan
and Daniel Palyan.

The title of Honored Masters of Sports was awarded to Nazik Avdalyan,
Gevorg Davtyan, Tigran G. Martirosyan, Tigran V. Martirosyan,
Roman Amoyan, Vaghinak Galstyan, Aram Margaryan, Hrachik Javakhyan,
Hovhannes Davtyan, Vladimir Hakobyan, Gabriel Sargsyan, Smbat Lputyan
and Tigran Petrosian.

RA National Olympic Committee President Gagik Tsarukyan awarded the
President of Armenian Weightlifting Federation Samvel Khachatryan
and President of Boxing Federation Arman Muradyan Orders of Armenian
National Olympic Committee.

Another 9 employees of the ministry, as well as coaches have been
awarded "Hrant Shahinian", "Trdat 3 Arshakuni" and "Varazdat Arshakuni"
Medals of the Armenian Olympic Committee.

ARMENIA TO INTRODUCE A NEW SYSTEM OF TAX CHECK-UPS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.12.2009 20:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In an away session conducted in Armavir region,
Armenian Government approved the procedures of tax agencies’ selection
of tax-payers. The new system will be launched depending on the
implementation of the 2008-11 Tax Administration Strategy. The system
is aimed at introducing a new tax checkup policy, ensuring impartial
selection of potential taxpayers and minimizing possibility of direct
contacts between tax agencies and tax payers.

The decision will enter into force on October 1, 2010 and will not
have retroactive effect.

ARMENIA AND FRANCE TO SIGN INTERSTATE AGREEMENT ON JOINT FILMMAKING

ArmInfo.
2009-12-16 22:14:00

ArmInfo. Armenia and France will sign an interstate agreement in
2010 on joint filmmaking, Director of National Film Center of Armenia
Gevork Gevorkyan said at a press-conference today.

According to him, the French National Cinematography Center (CNC)
came out with a corresponding initiative. "We have been working over
the documentation during several months, and we have already sent the
final version to Armenia’s FM and France. We hope that this agreement
will be signed in 1-2 months", Gevorkyan said. He emphasized that
signing of the document will positively affect the Armenian film
propaganda abroad. "The Armenian party will be assisted in shootings
and distribution of films. Moreover, the films will be purchased
by French TV channels", Gevorkyan said. Moreover, the Armenian film
crew’s earned income will be fixed by the European standards.

MACEDONIAN COACH STEVICA KUZMANOVSKI TO TRAIN BANANTS SPORTSMEN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.12.2009 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Under a two-year contract signed on December
15 between Banants football club President Sargis Israyelyan and
Macedonian coach Stevica Kuzmanovski, the Macedonian specialist
will train Armenia’s team in 2010, the football club’s press service
reported. Ashot Barseghyan will assist the new coach. Radoe Smilyanich
of Serbia has been appointed as physical training coach. Goal keepers
will be trained by Bulgaria’s Nikolay Damaev. Kuzmansky will re-assume
his duties starting from January 11. Before that, Banants will conduct
trainings under the supervision of Ashot Barseghyan.

The club’s former coach Armen Gyulbudaghyants has been appointed
as technical director. Kuzmanovsky, 47, formerly played for Teteks
(Tetovo). Partisan (Belgrade), OFK (Belgrade), Rad (Belgrade),
Kodjaelispor (Turkey) and Galatasaray (Turkey) teams.

SWAN LAKE SKATING RINK IN CENTRAL YEREVAN TO OPEN ON DECEMBER 16

Tert.am
15.12.09

The official opening ceremony of the skating rink in central Yerevan,
with the participation of Yerevan city mayor Gagik Beglaryan, will
take place at 5 pm on December 16. The rink itself is on Swan Lake,
which can be found at the intersection of Tumanyan and Teryan streets.

As informed by Yerevan City Hall cultural department chair Lusine
Martirosyan, there will be a 20-25 minute cultural presentation during
the opening ceremony.

The skating rink has been in operation in Yerevan since 2005.