Author: Kajoyan Gevork

BY 2015 VALLEX GROUP TO CONSIDERABLY INCREASE ORE MINING AND PROCESSING

arminfo
Tuesday, June 26, 22:36

Within the next four years Vallex Group, which is engaged in blister
copper production, is going to start ore mining in Armenia and
considerably increase the mining in Nagorno-Karabakh. In the meantime,
the copper-in-concentrate output will exceed 37 thsd tons per annum,
President of Vallex Group Valery Mejlumyan told journalists.

Vallex Group’s program envisages increasing the ore mining and
processing to 8900 thsd tons in 2012. Ore mining will be increased
to 450 thsd tons in 2013, and to 2300 thsd tons in 2014. Mejlumyan
pointed out that the biggest mining output (7000 thsd tons) in 2015
will be ensured by Teghut CJSC established to develop the Teghut
copper-molybdenum deposit. The development of the deposit will be
launched in 2014.

One of the companies of Vallex Group – Base Metals CJSC – will extract
1900 thsd tons in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2015. Mejlumyan connects the
mining growth in Karabakh with the development of the new Kashen
copper-molybdenum deposit in Martakert region of Karabakh near
Tsaghkashen village. In 2014 it is envisaged to build a concentrating
plant near the deposit. The plant will have a capacity of 2 mln tons
of ore per annum. 1.75 mln tons of ore will be annually extracted
and processed. Copper content is 0.6% per ton.

The company says that in 2013 the concentrate production by Vallex
Group will total 14 thsd tons, in 2014 – 39 thsd tons, and in 2015
– 120 thsd tons. In 2015 the share of Teghut CJSC will be 82 thsd
tons of concentrate, the share of Base Metals – 38 thsd tons. In
2012 the production of copper concentrate will be 2.2 thsd tons,
in 2013 – 3 thsd tons, in 2014 – 11.3 thsd tons and in 2015 – 37.2
thsd tons. In the mean time, in 2015 Teghut CJSC will produce 26 thsd
tons of copper-in-concentrate, and Base Metals – 11.2 thsd tons.

He said that a satisfactory raw material base may be created in
Armenia in 3-4 years for the building of the copper plant. The idea
of this project was born in 2000 in the company. He also added
that the project on building of the copper plant in Armenia may be
economically justified only in case of productivity from 80 thsd tons
of cooper per year. “We shall produce about 37 thsd tons of copper in
2015, and if another 30 thsd tons of copper are produced in Armenia,
in that case we shall have such an amount of copper which has never
been produced over the years of independence of Armenia, and this
will be enough for the building of a copper-smelting complex”, –
Mejlumyan said. He is confident that all the needed concentrate for
the copper-smelting plant should be mined in Armenia, as to import
raw material to Armenia and to produce something from it is very much
expensive and economically unprofitable.

He said that Europeans produce 1 mln tons of brass-ware per year and
purchase about 3.5 mln tons of copper concentrate or 850 thsd tons of
copper for their production. At present, “Valex” group of companies
has been producing and exporting blister copper without purification.

The share of pure copper in the blister copper is 99.2%, the rest is
gold and silver. Mejlumyan said that the blister copper exported by
the company is twofold expensive than the refined one because of the
share of gold and silver in it. He also added it is more simply to
sold blister copper than the brass-ware produced from it after deeper
processing, such as: copper wire, plate and cable. However, brass-ware
production creates added value, he said. In the copper plant building
project he did not rule out the possibility of setting up an alliance
with any world copper producer, for instance, the German “Aurubis”
or Zangezur copper and molybdenum plant which has been exploiting
the Kajaran copper and molybdenum deposit.

To note, more than a dozen of companies enter the “Valex” group,
among them: CJSC “ACP”, CJSC “Base Metals”, CJSC “Tekhut”, CJSC
“Lernametalurgiai institute”, “Valex Mining” Ltd and “Valex IT” Ltd.

CAUSE FOR VOLGOGRAD CAFE BLAST IS MADE PUBLIC

news.am
June 28, 2012 | 16:26

The Russian Investigation Committee publicized the cause for the
February 14 explosion and ensuing fire at a Volgograd city cafe,
which resulted in injuries among several Armenians as well.

The incident occurred because of the cafe’s natural gas heater,
which was intended for closed spaces.

The cafe’s owner Andrey Koshkdaev was charged with violating the
fire safety rules, which resulted in a serious damage to health,
and, also, with providing services that do not meet the consumers’
life or health requirements, rbc informs.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, a fire had broke at
Volgograd’s Bellagio Cafe on February 14, and as a result 23 people
had sustained different-degree burns.

The injured also included Armenia’s citizen Svetlana Ghazaryan as
well as Russia’s citizens Anna Shahnazyan, Yelena Sahakyan, Hovhannes
Ghazaryan, Artur Abrahamyan, and Arsen Muradyan.

ARMENIA IN THE VICE: PRISONER OF HISTORY

The Economist

June 27 2012

..ARMENIA tends to feature in the news because of its problems
(history, geography, demography and economics to name but a few. But
a new report from the International Crisis Group (ICG) says not all is
doom and gloom. The parliamentary elections in May showed significant
improvement. Media coverage was more balanced, and the authorities
permitted greater freedom of assembly, expression and movement than in
previous years. Like Georgia, Armenia has a class of “30-something”
technocrats, whose western education and global outlook means they
are less rooted in the Soviet mentality than their elders. That bodes
well for the future.

The economy is still recovering from the global financial crisis,
which saw GDP contract by 14.2% in 2009. In the same period, the
construction sector contracted by more than 40%. Remittances from the
diaspora dropped by 30%. That led Forbes magazine to label Armenia
the world’s second worst performing economy in 2011-much to Yerevan’s
irritation. Although official statistics claim 8 percent unemployment,
48% of respondents told a recent survey they were looking for a job.

Over one-third of the country lives below the poverty line. Complaints
of corruption are widespread, and inflation is high.

Low rates of tax collection-19.3% of GDP, compared with a 40% average
in EU countries-limit the government’s reach. Cracking down on tax
evasion could increase government revenue by over $400 million, says
the World Bank. A few, high-profile businessmen dominate the economy.

Their monopolies and oligopolies put a significant brake on business
development. Their influence also weakens political will for the kind
of reforms that the country sorely needs.

Armenia’s democracy also has lots of room for improvement. Abuse
of administrative resources, inflated voter lists, vote-buying and
pressure on voters were just some of the irregularities that took
place in May. Moreover, the flawed 2008 presidential elections, and
subsequent crackdown on protestors (during which ten people died and
450 were injured) mean the government has lots more to do to restore
its credibility. Public trust in the country’s democratic institutions
is low, and cynicism is widespread.

The next big test will be presidential elections in February 2013.

The president, Serzh Sargosyan, has promised “the cleanest elections
in Armenia’s history”. If so, he has a lot to do. “The country needs
a better future than a stunted economy and dead-end conflicts with
its neighbours”, the ICG concludes.

That is putting it mildly. Nagorno-Karabakh, over which Armenia went
to war with Azerbaijan is a “sleeping volcano” according to a 2010
book by Tom de Waal. The main fighting stopped in 1994 but between
April 27th and June 20th this year, at least eight Armenian and seven
Azerbaijani soldiers died. That’s by far the worst death toll of any
conflict anywhere in Europe (even including Russia’s troubled North
Caucasus). If it were happening in the Balkans, say, the world would
be watching worriedly. But it isn’t.

(For a longer report on Armenia, take a look at Tim Judah’s piece in
the New York Review of Books).

ASHOT HOVAKIMYAN: BSEC IS NOT A PLATFORM FOR POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS

armradio.am
27.06.2012 15:55

The summit dedicated to the 20th anniversary of establishment of
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) took place
in Istanbul on June 26. The Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy
Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimyan.

Speaking at the summit, the Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized
the achievements and progress registered over the past 20 years,
particularly the adoption of the BSEC economic agenda. He referred
to the role of the organization on the international arena and the
necessity of its compliance with the modern demands of international
cooperation.

In response to the groundless accusation of the Azerbaijani President
against Armenians, Ashot Hovakimyan said: “According to the basic
documents of BSEC, the organization should stay in the limits of its
economic mandate and cannot become a platform for political discussions
and accusations. The BSEC summit is not a proper place to discuss the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group is the only agreed
format for the negotiations on the Karabakh issue.”

GOVERNMENT TO APPROPRIATE 63 HECTARES IN NORAGAVIT FOR GREENHOUSE PROJECT

hetq
14:29, June 27, 2012

The combination of Armenian climate conditions and Dutch
state-of-the-art technologies create excellent preconditions
for developing greenhouses and entering a foreign market. These
preconditions have laid the ground for the launch of an investment
program on the establishment of massive greenhouses in Armenia. For
this purpose, undeveloped lands will be allocated in various regions
of the Republic with a total area of 2 000 hectares.

The Armenian Harvest Promotion Centre (AHPC) CJSC has initiated the
program, according to the estimations of which, approximately 300 000
– 350 000 tons of vegetable can be grown annually in 500 ha heated
greenhouses, and 75 000 tons ~V in 1500 ha unheated polycarbonate
greenhouses mainly for the purpose of supplying vegetable to Russian
trade networks all year round.

In the beginning of May, the RA Government has approved the proposal
of the Yerevan Municipality to seize 63 ha land in the vicinity
of Noragavit district. The highly profitable program will soon be
implemented in this area during the upcoming months. Foreign advanced
technologies will allow the crops~R average productivity to reach
60-70 kg / m2 here.

The AHPC conducts negotiations with the investors who have expressed
interest in buying land areas for the purpose of constructing
greenhouses. The program initiators will provide the investors with
infrastructures supplying thermal and electric energy, gas and water,
as well as will assist in receiving loans.

~SThis is an unprecedented large-scale program which will promote
the development of the infrastructures, transportation channels, as
well as the establishment of powerful cool storage facilities. After
the program on the construction of greenhouses in the vicinity of
Noragavit district, 8-10 greenhouse zones will be established in
different regions of the Republic with a total area of 500 hectares,
and, in the meantime, unheated polyethylene greenhouses will be
constructed in 1500 ha land area,~T said Aleksan Arakelyan, the
Investment Director at the Armenian Harvest Promotion Centre CJSC.

According to his estimations, the first crop will be harvested in 2013.

The Armenian Harvest Promotion Centre CJSC was established in
2011. It is a public-private partnership where 49% of the shares
are held by Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National
Center established by the RA Government, and the rest 51% is owned
by private sector.

RUSSIA TO START S-400 DELIVERIES TO CHINA IN 2017

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 27, 2012 – 13:36 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russia will start exports of the S-400 Triumph air
defense missile systems to China no earlier than 2017.

“An export version of the S-400 Triumph air defense missile will have
been developed by 2017 with the Chinese to be the first clients,”
a source in the defense industry told RIA Novosti on condition of
anonymity.

Russia currently has four S-400 regiments – two in the Moscow region,
one in the Baltic Fleet and one in the Eastern Military District.

By 2020, Russia is expected to have 28 S-400 regiments, each comprised
of two battalions, mainly in maritime and border areas.

In early June, Russian Defense Ministry said there were no plans
to export the S-400, which will be produced only for the Russian
Armed Forces.

The S-400 Triumph, which succeeds the Soviet-era S-300, is a medium- to
long-range surface-to-air missile system that can effectively engage
any aerial target, including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles,
and cruise and ballistic missiles at up to 400 kilometers and an
altitude of up to 30 kilometers.

WELL-KNOWN AMERICAN FILMMAKER NORA EPHRON DIES

ARMENPRESS
27 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS: The Oscar nominated screenwriter Nora
Ephron, known for romantic comedies including “When Harry met Sally”
and ” Sleepless in Seattle” has died at the age of 72, reports
Armenpress citing Euronews.

Ephron leaves behind a legacy of more than a dozen films, often
featuring strong female characters, that she either wrote or directed.

She was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Nora Ephron was born on May 19, 1941. She is best known for her
romantic comedies and was a triple nominee for the Academy Award for
Writing Original Screenplay for 3 films. Her last film was Julie &
Julia. She also co-authored the Drama Desk award-winning theatrical
production, Love, Loss and What I wore.

SERZH SARGSYAN: BLOCKADES AND CLOSED BORDERS ARE UNACCEPTABLE DIVIDING LINES ON THE POLITICAL MAP

armradio.am
27.06.2012 14:34

President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent an address
to the participants of the Istanbul summit dedicated to the 20th
anniversary of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. The
message reads:

“I cordially congratulate us all on the 20th anniversary of the
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). Through
the years, the organization has managed to withstand the test of time
and overcome multiple global and regional challenges, establishing
itself as a reputable structure which promotes multilateral regional
economic cooperation.

The projected and ongoing economic initiatives in the framework of
the organization considerably promote the economic development of
the region, enhancing at the same time a peaceful and harmonious
coexistence of the nations living in the region. I am confident that
it is essential to undertake continuous joint efforts and manifest
political will to accomplish this mission.

At this fateful moment, we are talking about a new, comprehensive
and long-term economic agenda of the BSEC which is aimed at the
enhancement of the organization’s international standing and repute,
economic cooperation in the region and further advancement of the
social and economic development in the member states.

I would like to reiterate that Armenia continues to adhere to the
principles and goals enshrined in the charter of the organization, and
always faithfully implements all decisions adopted by the organization
as well as agreements and memorandums signed by the member states. I
am confident that in the face of the thorny problems existing in the
region, further enhancement of the multilateral economic cooperation in
the framework of the BSEC will inevitably result in the facilitation
of the political dialogue between the member states and establishment
of regional stability.

There can be no implementation of the economic programs in the
multilateral or bilateral format under closed borders. Unimpeded
contact and open borders, free movement of resources and equal
conditions for competition remain the main prerequisites for the
development of contemporary economic relations. Blockades and
closed borders are not only artificial obstacles for bilateral and
multilateral cooperation, but also unacceptable dividing lines on the
political map of the 20th century. The Organization of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation has adopted all these provisions, and we have
to ensure their successful implementation.

I once again convey my congratulations on the occasion of the
organization’s jubilee, and I would like to call upon the member states
to spare no effort to advance economic cooperation and to fully use
the potential of the BSEC to further the prosperity of the region.”

YERKIR: VARDAN GHUKASYAN DISTRESSED AT NEWS THAT SAMVEL BALASANYAN RUNS FOR MAYOR OF GYUMRI

Panorama.am
27/06/2012

Gyumri mayoral election promises to be hot and interesting, Yerkir
reports.

“With PAP saying that it is still uncertain about its candidate for
mayor, we keep asserting that PAP thinks MP Martun Grigoryan is the
most convenient candidate. PAP considers that Grigoryan is a stronger
rival than Samvel Balasanyan,” the paper says.

Gyumri mayor Vardan Ghukasyan was distressed at the news that Samvel
Balasanyan runs for mayor. Ghukasyan said he wonders how Balasanyan
could run against him, because he had bought Gyumri Brewery from him
for dirt cheap, the paper says.

YERKIR: HEALTHCARE WORKERS HOLD BANQUET IN HARSNAKAR

Panorama.am
27/06/2012

According to Yerkir, healthcare workers marked their professional
holiday on June 21. It is reported that they attended a banquet in
Harsnakar after a festive concert at Philharmonic Hall.

The paper reminds that 3 military doctors were cruelly beaten in
Harsnakar on June 17. Minister of Health Derenik Dumanyan reportedly
was not aware of the banquet and got angry on hearing this news,
the paper says.