Author: Kalantarian Kevo

FUEL FURY: ARMENIA PETROL PRICE HIKE SAID TO STEM FROM LOCAL TAX PRESSURES
By Gohar Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
06.04.12 | 11:09

Some Armenian experts suggest the unprecedented surge in petrol
prices in Armenia in the past two months reflects the international
price pattern only partly, while being more the result of domestic
tax pressures.

Petrol stations in capital Yerevan and across the country these days
have been selling petrol for between 500 and 550 drams ($1.25-1.40)
per liter amid concerns among local motorists that fuel prices will
climb further.

(Filling stations sell “Regular”, “Premium” and “Super” types of petrol
at a price of 500, 520 and 550 drams per liter, respectively, while
diesel fuel is for sale at a price of 460 drams ($1.20) per liter.)

This constitutes a general rise in petrol prices by 50-70 drams
(about 12-17 cents) since January.

Armenian fuel importing companies explain this surge by rising
international oil prices. (The current international price of oil
fluctuates between $100-$120 dollars per barrel. The wholesale price
of a ton of petrol in Western Europe is $1,230, which is the highest
price ever, while a retail petrol price in some European countries
reaches 2 euros ($2.60) per liter).

Still, management expert Harutyun Mesropyan believes that the petrol
price hike in Armenia is disproportionate to the existing international
pattern.

“Whenever international prices go up a little, we get a much higher
rise, but when international prices go down, ours stay on the same
level, or at best get lower a little bit, very symbolically. In other
words, the tendencies on the international market and on our domestic
market do not match and, naturally, this mismatch is in favor of our
importers,” Mesropyan told journalists on Thursday.

According to the expert, any such disproportional price rise in
Armenia, as compared to international market trends, results in
pressures on other branches of the economy, and generally “gives a
negative economic effect for the whole of Armenia.”

“If the importers in Armenia followed the surges in international
prices and raised prices in Armenia proportionately, then today’s
price of petrol would be around 4,000 drams (about $10) per 10 liters,
while today it is about 5,000 drams (about $12),” Mesropyan argued.

Domestic Producers’ Union head Vazgen Safaryan thinks that Armenia’s
petrol market needs to be seriously examined, and the tax policy
pertaining to gasoline imports should be reviewed.

According to Safaryan, in 1997-1998, Armenia sold 26,000-27,000 tons
of petrol a year, and now that the number of cars has increased at
least three times, to some 450,000, only 7,000-8,000 tons of petrol
are sold, as some 80-85 percent of motorists prefer to use liquefied
petroleum gas, a much cheaper option, for fuel.

“We deem that taxes in this market need to be reduced, due to which
the volumes will increase, and sales will increase, which will also
result in increased tax revenues,” said the Domestic Producers’
Union chairman, adding that state taxes account for 40 percent of
the petrol price in Armenia.

Some economists also suggest that expectations of the depreciation
of the national currency, the dram, might play a role in the recent
rise of petrol prices in Armenia. They, in particular, link it to
the lower-than-expected flow of tourists from neighboring Iran during
the Nowruz period in March.

Meanwhile, fuel importers and some economists do not see much of a
“social” problem in the rising cost of petrol and downplay its effect
on other branches of the economy, considering that only a smaller part
of motorists in Armenia use petrol for fuel and that these car owners
mostly represent the middle class with higher-than-average incomes.

AMBITIOUS PROJECTS THAT HAVE REAL GROUNDS
Norayr Hovsepian

Friday, 06 April 2012 05:41

During his recent visit to the Hadrut region, President Bako Sahakian
gave corresponding instructions for more efficient use of the
agricultural opportunities in the southern wing of the Republic. In
was followed by a meeting on the same issue convened by the President.

A working group was formed, which was in the Hadrut region just two
days after the President’s visit.

WATER OF LIFE

FROM MOTHER-ARAX

Thousands of hectares of crude land and ragged fields, a significant
part of which is covered with cane. This is the first impression from
the southern part of the Hadrut region. Another part of the bad mood
is “provided” by the long and dusty road. These areas, which seem
unsightly at the first glance, however, have huge unused potential for
development. The results of the first steps on its reveal are already
obvious. Cornerstone Company completely cleaned out an over 30-km-long
canal, for which the required amount was provided by the Government.

“Initially, the canal was in a poor state. Remaining unused
for many years, it was covered with bushes and reed-filled mud”,
said Director of Water Project Ltd. Harutyun Hakobian. “We started
the canal-cleaning late last year, removed the sediment, building
materials, and vegetation. We can confidently say that to date,
the Arax-fed main channel is fully ready for operation”, noted the
company’s chief of staff Armen Vardanian.

WITHOUT ANY CONCERN

The revived canal drives at best up to 8 cubic meters and as of today –
about 5 cubic meters of water per second from the Arax River to the
interior of the Hadrut region. The builders and experts consider
inappropriate the concern that the water coming from the river to
the canal can reduce in summer. “This canal is fed from Arax, which,
unlike most of the rivers in Artsakh, preserves a sufficient flow
rate the summer months”, assures Harutyun Hakobian.

“The water level may decrease, and as a result, the capacity of the
canal may reach, for example, 3 cubic meters per second, which can
irrigate the lands under the canal”, Armen Vardanian doesn’t either
exclude the worst option.

THE FIRST STAGE

The canal building can mean accomplishment of the first-stage works.

But, much efforts are still needed to bring the water to the arable
lands. “It is mainly the secondary canals. But, we must not forget that
just their good condition ensures the robust irrigation for sowing”,
said Water Project Company’s Director. Prospective are the works on
not only driving the water to the lands, but also on removing the
excess of moisture from the sowing areas. As a result of stagnation,
huge areas were covered with cane. One of the first steps in this
direction will be regulation of the drainage system. The works will
be carried out step by step. According to the Water Project Director,
the first year program will require about 100 million Armenian Drams.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

The expectations are great. Initially, it is planned to develop about
3 thousand hectares of land. In general, the agricultural programs
for the southern part of the Hadrut region are much more comprehensive.

“For the nearest future, it is about 5 thousand hectares, where it is
possible to provide a gravity-flow irrigation method. And when it is
possible to replenish the irrigation system with pumping stations, the
areas can reach 8-9 thousand hectares”, said Minister of Agriculture
Andranik Khachatrian.

AGRICULTURE

AND NOT ONLY IT

The potential for realizing such ambitious plans will be available in
place. Those responsible for the spheres, first, note the importance
of ensuring the technical equipment. The Minister of Agriculture and
Minister of Industrial Infrastructures spoke about the programs on
building machine-tractor stations and establishing a branch of the
water industry here. These structures will be located in one place.

The working group, which visited Hadrut, comprised also the Minister
of Urban Development. Karen Shahramanian had to choose the place
of locating the structures. The site in the canal’s neighborhood
was chosen. According to the Minister of Urban Development, in the
choice of the area a significant role was played by the availability
of corresponding infrastructures, first of all, roads, drinking water,
and electricity. The issue of drinking water can be resolved easily.

But the Minister of Industrial Infrastructures considered it
inexpedient to join the electric cords in the surroundings. This way of
the issue’s solution will be cheap, but not stable. The alternative is
to provide a new cord from one of the nearby settlements. The options
will be discussed yet. In any case, long-term and not temporary plans
are elaborated for these areas. These lands should be upgraded just by
their residents. Initially, corresponding dwelling conditions should
be created for the personnel of the technical park service.

COMPUTER FROM MR. EURNEKYAN, INTERNET FROM GOVERNMENT

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
03.04.2012

3.500 computers presented by Argentine entrepreneur Armenian by birth
Eduardo Eurnekyan are being distributed to the pupils of elementary
classes and their teachers in the schools of Stepanakert, Shoushi
and Karin Tak.

On the first day, on April 2 the ceremony of presentation was
participated by the NKR Prime minister Ara Haroutunyan, the NKR
minister of education and science Vladik Khachatryan, president of
the Armenian General Benevolent Union’s (AGBU) representation in
Armenia Ashot Ghazaryan, coordinator of AGBU’s programs in Artsakh
Sasun Baghdassarian, head of “NUR” program Sebastian Arias Duval.

“NUR” program (“new educational strategy”) is Eurnekyan’s innovation.

In January 2011 an agreement was signed with the NKR Government
according to which program “NUR” will grant XO portable computers
to the pupils from first to fourth forms and their teachers. The
NKR Government in its turn undertakes to provide the schools with
high-speed internet, which is one of the program’s key aspects.

“NUR” program is realized jointly with the AGBU, which is the biggest
organization in the world not pursuing commercial advantage and
rendersing aid on-site to ensure program’s success.

After providing the schools with internet the fund will continue to
granting XO computers to the schools of other communities of Artsakh
as well: in the total in few years all the pupils of the Republic’s
elementary schools will have personal portable computers. They are
granted to them as a property.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT MEETS PROTEST ACTION IN PRAGUE

April 06, 2012 | 11:59

The first day of Azerbaijani president’s visit to Prague was marked
by a protest action organized by the Armenian community of the Czech
Republic.

Despite a heavy rain several dozens of Armenians held a protest action
near the building where Ilham Aliyev is residing. They carried the
posters with inscriptions “Aliyev – despot”, “Democracy is more
expansive than oil” and “Anti-Armenian hatred – Azerbaijan’s policy”.

The action was widely covered by the local media.

IL Y A 12 000 ANS, LES ARMENIENS FABRIQUAIENT-ILS DU VIN ?
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
jeudi 5 avril 2012

Il y a peu, dans une caverne d’Areni en Armenie, les archeologues
decouvraient la plus ancienne fabrique de vin au monde datant de 6100
ans. Mercredi lors d’une conference de presse a Erevan, un chercheur
armenien, Sergueï Madatian auteur de 28 ouvrages, a affirme que 10 000
ans avant J.-C., les Armeniens avaient entrepose du vin dans des cuves
a Garmir Blour (la Colline rouge) sur les hauteurs d’Erevan. Ainsi, il
y a 12 000 ans, les Armeniens fabriquaient du vin. ” Ce sont des faits
prouves connus des scientifiques a l’etranger. Mais malheureusement la
majeure partie de ces cuves a vin est aujourd’hui detruite ou remplies
de gravats ” dit Sergueï Madatian qui a appele le gouvernement a se
pencher sur la question de la preservation du patrimoine archeologique
de l’Armenie.

S. Madatian a egalement accuse la Georgie qui se proclame la patrie
du vin. ” Si on se base seulement sur la Bible, nous remarquons que
le patriarche Noe a plante après le deluge la première vigne sur les
pentes de l’Ararat. Rappelons qu’on a decouvert en Armenie la plus
ancienne fabrique de vin au monde ” dit l’historien et ethnologue
Roupen Nahadaguian. Ce dernier, repondant aux Georgiens qui ont
decouvert sur le site de Borjomi des anciennes traces de vigne a
repondu que ” cela ne signifie pas qu’elles etaient le fait des
Georgiens car dans ces regions habitaient jadis les armenoïdes,
les ancetres des Armeniens “. Les Armeniens -ou armenoïdes, peuples
apparentes aux Armeniens- existaient-il y a 12 000 ans ? Une question a
laquelle repondent par l’affirmatif nombre de scientifiques d’Armenie
mais qui est en contradiction avec l’origine des Armeniens a travers
l’arrivee des peuples des Mers -venus des Balkans- dans ces regions
d’Anatolie et du Plateau armenien. A suivre.

KUWAITI SHEIKHA TO SUE MP OVER ARMENIAN CHURCH CONSTRUCTION CLAIMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 4, 2012 – 17:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The sister of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, the Emir of
the State of Kuwait, President of the Kuwait Association for The Ideal
Family Sheikha Freiha Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has decided to sue MP Waleed
Al-Tabtabaei for the recent statement he made wherein he accused her
of supporting Armenian community in Kuwait to ensure that government
allows them to construct a church, Arab Times reported.

In a press statement, the counsel to Sheikha Freiha Ali Al-Ali said
his client will sue the lawmaker for defamation of character and
vicious attack as she was only attempting to promote the country’s
image regionally and internationally.

He explained that Armenian community in Kuwait wrote two letters to
the Amir and the Prime Minister requesting permission to convert a
building belonging to the community into a church.

He added that the community invited Sheikha Freiha for dinner during
which she declared that all communities residing in Kuwait have rights
and responsibilities according to the Constitution.

He pointed out that consistent defamation of ruling family members,
who are involved in voluntary activities, has become a strange
phenomenon in the country.

He agreed that the lawmakers have the constitutional right to monitor
activities in the country, but acceptable criticism is different
from defamation, which is what the transparent Kuwaiti judiciary will
look into.

SONYA ORFALIAN A SCAFATI (SALERNO)

Real Polverificio Borbonico, Centro per la Cultura e le Arti – Via P.

Vitiello, 93 – Scafati (Salerno)

VENERDI’ 13 APRILE 2012 – h. 18.30

In occasione della XIV Settimana della Cultura 2012, Sonya Orfalian
partecipa con alcune sue opere alla Mostra Internazionale d’Arte
Contemporanea organizzata dal Comune di Scafati e dall’Associazione
degli Artisti Armeni. La mostra – che vanta il patrocinio del Ministero
per i Beni e le Attivita Culturali e dell’Ambasciata della Repubblica
d’Armenia presso lo Stato Italiano – sara aperta al pubblico dal 13
aprile al 31 maggio 2012, e verra ospitata presso i prestigiosi spazi
espositivi del Real Polverificio Borbonico.

4 ARMENIAN POLITICAL FORCES TO ESTABLISH ELECTION OVERSIGHT HEADQUARTERS

NEWS.AM
April 04, 2012 | 14:28

YEREVAN. – The opposition bloc Armenian National Congress, the
ruling coalition’s Prosperous Armenia Party, and the opposition ARF
Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage party’s on Wednesday signed an agreement on
establishing a joint headquarters to oversee the forthcoming National
Assembly elections.

The agreement is open for all political forces that will run in
the elections.

But the ruling coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia representative
Galust Sahakyan did not sign under the agreement. “I will refrain,
because such documents must be examined by the coalition,” he noted.

The agreement will be forwarded to Armenia’s Police Chief, Justice
Minister, Central Election Commission Chairman, foreign ambassadors,
and others.

Also, the initiative members asked the relevant agencies to submit
to them the list of persons who are in the voters’ lists, but are
not in Armenia.

BAKU ALWAYS BLACKMAILS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:44:36 – 04/04/2012

At the press conference with the foreign minister of Finland Erkki
Tuomioja, Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan, in answer to
a reporter’s question that the Azerbaijani leadership tries to seize
statements on the Karabakh issue settlement from all the European
officials arriving in their country with a stress on the territorial
integrity, said that unfortunately, Baku always tries to blackmail
the delegations visiting Azerbaijan seizing unilateral statements on
the Nagorno Karabakh issue settlement.

He said sure that such an approach can’t be effective for the Karabakh
issue settlement.

But one thing is sure that the international right, the right
to self-determination is one of the most important aims of the
international community which is proposed by the co-chairs. Nalbandyan
said that in all the statements and decisions adopted within the
OSCE mediation, the principle on the right to self-determination is
clearly set.

Azerbaijan’s tries don’t aim to promote the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh issue but to deceive the international community,
said Nalbandyan.

We hope the negotiations will go one with the support of the
international community and the co-chairs and will find the necessary
solution based on the principles that are proposed by the co-chairs
– non-use of force and threat to force, right to self-determination
and territorial integrity.

YEREVAN MAYOR, KUWAITI AMBASSADOR DISCUSS INVESTMENT PROJECTS

Tert.am
04.04.12

A meeting between Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and Kuwaiti Ambassador
Bassam Muhammad Alqabandi earlier today focused on possibilities of
exchanging experience and broadening investment frameworks in the
municipal services sector.

Congratulating the newly-appointed diplomat, the mayor expressed
belief his tenure in Armenia would impart a new quality to bilateral
partnership.

The ambassador thanked for the warm reception, promising to contribute
to the development and broadening of relations.

Margaryan briefed the guest on interesting investment projects for
the capital city.

“The City Hall is always open for cooperation and ready to discuss
any proposal on developing partnership between the cities and towns
of our countries,” he said.

The ambassador promised to submit the package of investment proposals
to his country’s government bodies and investment companies.

According to the Municipality’s press service, the sides also discussed
other issues of mutual interest.