Author: Nalbandian Albert

INFLATION RATE WILL NOT EXCEED 3% IN RA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Inflation rate will not exceed 3% in RA, World
Bank Armenia country Manager Aristomene Varoudakis told a news
conference. "Inflation will not pose any threats to world economy in
financial crisis circumstances," he said.

Next year’s inflation rate will depend on various factors, including
oil prices. "We believe, RA’s economy will be restoring slowly next
year, which will hold inflation rate at the same level," Aristomene
Varoudakis added.

He also noted that RA economy has showed some signs of stabilization,
with GDP index lower than in first half-year. "WB forecasts of 9-11%
GDP index in 2009 haven’t changed, still we expect the index to
decrease in second half year," he said.

According to RA National Statistical Service -provided data, in
January -June 2009 in Armenia inflation rate is fixed 2,7% level,
GDP index at 16.3%.

OSCE TO HOLD PLANNED MONITORING ON AUGUST 4

armradio.am
30.07.2009 12:57

The Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office appealed to the NKR authorities for their support in
holding the scheduled-for-August 4 monitoring of the NKR and AR armed
forces’ contact-line near Talish settlement of Martakert region, NKR.

>From the NKR Defense Army positions, the monitoring will be held by
Coordinator of the OSCE Office, Lieutenant-Colonel Imre Palatinus
(Hungary) and Field Assistant of the Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Vladimir Chuntulov (Bulgaria).

>From the opposite side, the monitoring group will be headed by Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

>From the Karabagh party, the monitoring mission will be accompanied
by representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry
of Defense.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: FAVORABLE BUSINESS CONDITIONS WILL BOOST INVESTMENTS AND POST-CRISIS RESTORATION OF ECONOMY

ArmInfo
2009-07-29 11:48:00

ArmInfo. Philosophy of short-term reforms is creating favourable
environment for [small and medium-sized enterprises], which will
increase their capacity for confronting the crisis, said Prime
Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan in an interview with bne
magazine (Business New Europe). As for long-term reforms, among
the priorities of the government is to become a business excellence
centre, which means that Armenia will be one of the most simplified
places to do business, according to the criteria of the World Bank’s
"Doing Business" report. To recall, Armenia took the 44th position
out of 181 states versus the 41st position. "If in our economy the
operation of the business in our country is simple and the necessary
system of incentives is implemented, this will make our economy more
competitive and attractive. Tax and customs reforms are the highest
priorities of the reforms, including introduction of e-taxing. The
experience of countries shows that for countries like Armenia, where
the scale effect from investments is limited as compared to large
economies, the business environment acts as an attractive incentive
for investments. Therefore, the aggressive reforms directed to the
improvement of the business environment will lead to the increase
in investment inflows and rapid restoration of the economy," the
premier said.

There is a lot of talk of a possible "second wave" in the crisis,
which is linked to the behaviour of non-performing loans of the
banking system.

However, I think in our case there is a small chance that it will
take place. This is due to the fact that the banks constitute the
major part of our financial system and their financial indicators
are strong enough, the premier said.

AVET ADONTS HANDS OVER HIS CREDENTIALS TO CHAIRMAN OF EU COUNCIL

ARMENPRESS
July 28, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 28, ARMENPRESS: Head of the Armenian representation
in EU, ambassador Avet Adonts handed over his credentials July 27 to
the Foreign Affairs State Secretary of Sweden (EU chairing country)
Frank Belfrazh.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press services told Armenpress that
congratulating A. Adonts on his appointment, chairman of the EU
Council said he is pleased with the present tendencies of deepening of
Armenian-EU relations. The interlocutors referred to the opportunities
of cooperation within the "Eastern Partnership" program, pointing
out the importance of multilateral format of partnership.

Ambassador Avet Adonts presented the recent developments over the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation issue and present situation on
the Armenian-Turkish relations.

The Swedish state secretary reconfirmed EU’s support to the peaceful
process going on with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group.

CROSS TO BE INAUGURATED ON THE ARMENIAN CHURCH ON AKHTAMAR

armradio.am
27.07.2009 16:41

Turkey’s Chief EU Negotiator, Egemen Bagis said the reconstruction
of the Armenian Church on Akhtamar Island will be accomplished before
Serzh Sargsyan’s arrival in Turkey.

"We will finish the reconstruction before the Armenian President’s
arrival and inaugurate a cross on the Church," Bagis said. "All
religions are respected. If Europe puts no bans on opening mosques,
so why should we do so? Besides, this church will attract Armenians
here, what will help develop tourism."

Bagis said closed borders are the vestige of communism.

"We say Greeks are bad, Kurds are bad too. How long will we be at
loggerheads? We should put an end to animosity." he said, Hurriyet
reported.

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

23 July, 2009

Berdashen’s water crisis is a thing of the past

Yerevan, July 22, 2009 – The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has completed
construction of a water-supply system in Berdashen, a village in
Nagorno Karabakh’s Martuni Region. Comprising 16 kilometers of both
gravitational and pressurized water mains as well as an inner network,
the new system has already begun supplying the 1,582 residents of
Berdashen with fresh, healthful water, derived from a number of
mountain springs.

The vitally important project was made possible through the
sponsorship of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s Argentinean affiliate,
with contributions from benefactors Alicia Vosgerichian de Magarian,
Varujan Panossian, and Hovsep Magarian – in memory of Takvor Magarian
and Nvart Terzian Magarian.

"The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s Argentinean affiliate has
implemented a wide range of projects in Artsakh, and the construction
of the Berdashen water-supply system is yet another testament to our
overseas compatriots’ wonderful dedication to their homeland," said
Ara Vardanyan, the fund’s executive director.

Past initiatives financed by the Argentinean affiliate include the
Martuni Region’s Kaghartsin-Spitakashen water pipeline, which was
completed in October 2008.

Berdashen’s old water-supply system, built in 1960, had long fallen
into disrepair, making daily life extremely difficult for the
residents. Currently, with the new system ready for utilization,
engineers are helping the villagers install water meters and hook up
to the inner distribution network.

Commenting on the new water-supply system, Berdashen mayor Ernik
Gevorgyan said this much-anticipated milestone will not only
significantly improve the lives of the residents, but boost prospects
for continued community development and prosperity.

Hayastan All Armenian Fund

"I WISH I HAD SOLDIERS LIKE THE ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS UNDER MY COMMAND", – SAID THE US GENERAL

p;p=0&id=924&y=2009&m=07&d=22
22.0 7.09

The Government of Armenia announced about its participation in the
international security in 2000, following the principle that in the
international sphere our country shouldn’t just be a security consumer,
but it should have its stabile input in the process of international
security. And in July, 2001, in the UN headquarters, New York,
a memorandum about Armenia’s joining the system of peacekeeping
activities was signed, and in the same year in our armed forces
12 peacekeeping battalions, which consisted of 3 platoons, were
formed. From shift to shift, both in Kosovo and in Iraq, the Armenian
peacekeepers developed their knowledge, skills and capabilities,
enriched their experience showing their fighting capacities and
volitional features, at the same time acquiring a reputation of a
reliable partner.

And it is not surprising that for showing humanity and high readiness
during their practice they have many times earned the US, Polish
and Greek, as well as the RA MoD command’s encouragement and high
appraisals.

The recurrent rewarding ceremony of the peacekeepers took place on
the 22nd of July in the peacekeeping brigade. Among the participants
of this event were the Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan, Commander
of the Kansas Natio nal Guard, Major-General Tod M. Bunting, the US
ambassador in Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, the ambassador of Poland in
Armenia Tomash Knothen, high rank servicemen and others.

Greeting and congratulating the staff of the brigade, Seyran
Ohanyan stated, that the awards given by the Armenian, US and Polish
governments prove that our militants have accomplished their issues
with high responsibility and diligently while realizing international
missions. "The Armenian peacekeepers are unique in doing their duties,
they demonstrate devotion and professionalism", – this is how Tod
Bunting described our team in his speech. While talking to journalists,
Seyran Ohanyan told that when he was in Kosovo a representative of
the US command told that he wished he had soldiers like the Armenian
peacekeepers under his command.

OPERATIVE GROUP SET UP ON ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S ORDER

ARKA
July 16, 2009

YEREVAN, July 15. /ARKA/. Artem Movsisyan, chief of General Department
of Armenian Civil Aviation, told ARKA News Agency that an operative
group was being set up on Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s
instruction for collecting information about the Tu-154 crush and
deciding steps.

"The air crash occurred outside of our country. That is why we can
offer nothing to Iran but assistance in investigation", Movsisyan
said adding that he would offer comprehensive help to his Iranian
counterpart.

According to the information received from Armenian Civil Aviation,
Caspian Airlines’ Tu-154 aircraft with 153 passengers and a 15-member
crew on board crashed en route from Tehran to Yerevan. All 168 aboard
were killed.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA TO PAY TWO-DAY WORKING VISIT TO MOSCOW ON JULY 17

Noyan Tapan
July 16, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. President of Armenia Serdz Sargsyan
will pay two-day working visit to Moscow on July 17. The negotiations
of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement will take place on the same day.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office, the
three-sided meeting of the Presidents of Armenia, Russian Federation
and Azerbaijan is scheduled for July 18.

RAZMIK DAVOYAN: GIVING LANDS WOULD BE UNREASONABLE
Marianna Gyurjyan

"Radiolur"
15.07.2009 17:58

Writer Razmik Davoyan told a press conference today that the
forthcoming meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in
Moscow will be restricted to oral conversations.

Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev will not sign any document. According
to Razmik Davoyan, Azerbaijan’s loud statements present a good
opportunity to boast before his own people. The Writer hopes Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan will give a worthy response.

"I prioritize the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh, then
the security guarantees and the discussion of other issues. I
think that the narrow Lachin corridor is too little for the
security of Karabakh. Kelbajar is of strategic importance from this
perspective. Our young people have shed blood for every meter of
land. Just signing papers and giving lands would be unreasonable,"
Razmik Davoyan said.

"The security of Nagorno Karabakh can be ensured only in case we keep
the regions surrounding Nagorno Karabakh," the writer considers.