Author: Nalbandian Eduard

ARMENIAN ARARATBANK OFFERS NEW PLASTIC CARD

ARKA
March 25, 2009

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. On the occasion of Motherhood and Beauty
Day, on April 7, the Armenian Araratbank offers its client a new
plastic card, NVER CARD (Present-card).

The bank’s press service reports that the new card affords an
opportunity to type the recipient’s name and any wishes to him or her.

The card holder will be able to see the wishes during the one-year
period the card will be in effect.

No payments for the card, opening and administration of accounts are
to be effected.

The annual card service fee is 1,500 AMD.

"The card is the best way of demonstrating the culture of giving
presents not only on April 7, but also wedding presents, presents on
other significant occasions, which has long been practiced worldwide,"
the report says.

The card has one more advantage – the holder can not only effect
noncash transactions, but also receive cash from any ATMs in Armenia
and in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

The new card can be received at both the Araratbank head office and
all the 25 branches.

Araratbank, legal successor of Armcommunicationsbank, was founded
on February 2, 1991. On October 31, 1996, the bank received Banking
License #4.

Among the bank’s stockholders is the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD). The principal stockholder is the owner of the
Flash Company Barseg h Beglaryan, who holds 74.1% of the Araratbank
stock.

As of December 31, 2008, the bank’s assets amounted to 29.7bln AMD,
liabilities 22.2bln AMD, total capital 7.5bln AMD, credit investments
12.2bln AMD, liabilities to clients 16.4bln AMD and net profit
594.2mln AMD.

On January 30, 2009, Araratbank joined the NASDAQ OMX Armenia stock
exchange.

GAZPROM INCREASES STAKE IN ARMENIAN GAS DISTRIBUTION
es/eav032509.shtml
March 25 2009

Russian natural gas giant Gazprom has taken over Itera International
Energy’s shares in ArmRosGazprom, Armenia’s exclusive gas supplier,
Russian and Armenian news agencies reported March 26.

The Russian-owned Itera International Energy Group, which is involved
in energy-related business throughout the former Soviet Union, sold
its 4.5 percent equity share in the company to Gazprom on March 12,
the A1plus news site reported.

Through the deal, Gazprom increased its share in ArmRosGazprom to 80
percent. The Armenian government holds the remaining 20-percent stake.

Russia is the sole supplier of gas to Armenia. Construction was
recently completed on a new pipeline that will carry gas from Iran to
Armenia, but the Armenian Ministry of Energy has stated that Iranian
gas will in no way take the place of Russian gas, the Panorama.am news
site reported

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CORPORATION (SUBSIDIARY OF ‘INTER RAO UES’) TO INVEST $11 MLN TO ARMENIA IN 2009

ArmInfo
2009-03-25 14:19:00

ArmInfo. On March 25, Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia
(PSRC) approved the investment programme of "International Energy
Corporation" (IEC) (subsidiary of "Inter RAO UES") for 2009-2011
estimated at 10,2 bln drams ($27,6 mln at the current rate).

As Head of the IEC Energy Sale and Agreement Department Karen Margaryan
told ArmInfo, it is scheduled to direct the most of funds (8,376 bln
drams) for upgrading of Yerevan HPP being part of "Sevan-Hrazdan
HPP Cascade" CJSC operated by the Company. He also said IEC is
going to invest 4,05 bln drams ($11 mln), including 3,76 mln drams
in Yerevan HPP in 2009 within the frames of the approved investment
programme. According to K. Margaryan, it is scheduled to attract the
major part of investments for the programme financing at the cost of
the foreign loan. "International Energy Corporation" is negotiating
with CSOB Slovak Bank and the Armenian "Ardshininvestbank" for credit
receipt. K. Margaryan explained they envisage to receive credit from
the Armenian bank at 10% annual rate under guarantee of the Slovak
bank. According to him, Yerevan HPP has exhausted its operational
life and is currently in a state of emergency. This HPP provides
Yerevan center with electric power. K. Margaryan recalled that PSRC
has recently fixed a common selling tariff for electric energy of
"Sevan-Hrazdan HPP Cascade" at the rate of 5,802 drams per 1 kW against
the previous 4,156 drams. The new tariff will take effect started
April 1, 2009. K. Margaryan also added that IEC has invested 560 mln
drams, including 20 mln drams in 2008, in repairing and upgrading
of "Sevan-Hrazdan HPP" since 2006 from its own funds. Upgrading of
Yerevan HPP will make it possible to increase its design capacity
from the current 44 MW to 52 MW, and the electric power output –
by 7,5 mln kWh. The total capacity of "Sevan-Hrazdan HPP Cascade",
which includes 7 HPPs, makes up 561,4 MW.

LAW ON BEE-FARMING ADOPTED IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 20, 2009

YEREVAN, March 20. /ARKA/. At its sitting yesterday the Armenian
Parliament adopted, in its third reading, the bill "On bee-farming".

The authors of the bill, independent parliamentarian Victor Dallakyan
pointed out that the relevant laws in effect in Belgium, Czech
Republic, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus served as a basis for
the bill.

"The law regulates all the relations pertaining to bee-farming
management," Dallakyan said.

He said that the bill sets the order of installing bee-gardens
in Armenia.

Dallakyan said that the bill thus provides safety guarantees.

"The law defines ecological bee-gardens inspected by the relevant
authorities," he said.

Dallakyan also pointed out that the bill sets the order of sale,
transportation and export of beehives.

Schiff, Radanovich Introduce Genocide Resolution
Published: Tuesday March 17, 2009
Source:Asbarez.com

WASHINGTON–Legislation calling on the U.S. President to properly
recognize the Armenian Genocide was introduced today in the U.S. House
of Representatives on Tuesday, two weeks before President’s Obama’s
April 5th trip to Turkey and roughly a month before the White House’s
annual April 24th commemoration of this crime against humanity,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The measure, H.Res. 252, is spearheaded by lead sponsors, Adam Schiff
(D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), and cosponsored
by over 70 House colleagues. The resolution is identical to the one
introduced in both the House and Senate in the 110th Congress, which
was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, over intense
pressure from the Turkish Government and Bush Administration, and
publicly endorsed by then-candidate for President Barack Obama, his
Vice President Joe Biden, and current Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton.

`Armenians in the U.S. and around the world thank Adam Schiff, George
Radanovich, Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk for leading Congressional
efforts toward U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,’ said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. `The election of Barack
Obama, who has spoken repeatedly, forcefully, and with great clarity
about the need for American recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
marked a truly welcome break from the flawed policies of the past on
this score. We look, in the coming days and weeks, for the President
to honor his pledge, to fully support this legislation, and to raise
the discourse in Washington, DC on the Armenian Genocide from level of
Turkey’s threats and denials up to the level of the core moral and
humanitarian values of the America people.’

In the days leading up to the introduction of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, Representatives Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone and Kirk sent
a letter to President Obama urging him to end the complicity of past
Administrations in Turkey’s genocide denial by properly characterizing
the Armenian Genocide. That sentiment was reiterated by the
International Association of Genocide Scholars, in a March 7th letter
sent to President Obama.

The resolution comes six-weeks prior to April 24th, the worldwide
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. U.S. Presidents have marked
the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 by the
Ottoman Turkish government every year since 1994, though have
refrained from the proper characterization of this crime under threats
and pressure from the Turkish government.

`There is going to be heavy focus on encouraging President Obama to
make a strong statement of recognition on April 24, because it will be
important in setting the tone of the discussions on the Armenian
Genocide Resolution in Congress,’ Rep. Schiff told Armenian Weekly
Editor Khatchig Mouradian earlier today. `The Turkish lobby will be
spending millions ? like they did in past years. They will also argue
that the recognition of the genocide will cut off reconciliation
between Armenia and Turkey, and that this is not the right time. The
truth is, after 94 years, if this is not the right time, I don’t know
when that right time can be.’

Rep. Radanovich concurred, noting, `President Obama made a clear
promise to the Armenian community during his campaign and to do
anything short of properly recognizing the Armenian genocide as such
would be a direct slap in the face to Armenians around the world.’ In
a statement issued earlier today, he went on to note that `The
Armenian constituents in my district have been staunch advocates of
the truth and to them I promise not to give up this fight.’

As Members of Congress prepared to introduce the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, thousands of Armenian American activists contacted their
legislators through phone, mail and the ANCA WebFax system urging them
to become early cosponsors of the legislation.
The Armenian Genocide legislation is expected to be referred to the
House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

VANADZOR’S "CHIMPROM" TO START WORKING TAT FULL CAPACITY BY 2010
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
18.03.2009 17:09

The delegation headed by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan paid a working
visit to Vanadzor. The Prime Minister visited "Chimprom" factory,
where only 480 out of 830 employees are working today. This was the
main complaint of the residents of Vanadzor. They said Vanadzor was
the first to feel the financial-economic crisis. Director of the plant
informed the Prime Minister that at this point the factory needs $4
mln to function normally and produce fertilizers.

Answers to this and other questions were given during a closed-door
consultation. Later PM Tigran Sargsyan walked about the production
units of the factory. He told reporters that during the consultation
reference was made to issues of increasing the producing capacity of
the plant and the volume of production of fertilizers.

The Prime Minister informed that the plant will start producing
fertilizers from today on, and will start working at full capacity by
2010, as a result of which Armenia will not have to import fertilizers.

BELARUSIAN, ARMENIAN SECURITY SUPREMOS DISCUSS COOPERATION

Belarusian television Channel 1
March 17 2009
Minsk

[Presenter] National security agencies of Belarus and Armenia are
going to expand their cooperation. Talks between State Secretary of the
Security Council of Belarus Yuryy Zhadobin and his Armenian counterpart
[Artur Bagdasaryan] were held first tete-a-tete and then in extended
format in Minsk today. Belarus and Armenia discussed cooperation
between uniformed and law enforcement agencies in countering terrorism,
cross-border crime, drug trafficking, illegal migration and human
trafficking. Armenia is currently presiding in the CSTO [Collective
Security Treaty Organization], hence the development of integration
within the framework of deeper military and political cooperation
was discussed as well. The heads of the national security agencies
signed a cooperation memorandum today.

[Artur Bagdasaryan] We have had very fruitful talks and tackled
around 10 issues to be jointly handled. We have very good experience
in cooperation and during today’s talks we have chalked out several
other specific programmes regarding uniformed agencies, cooperation
within the framework of the CSTO and implementation of joint projects.

[Yuryy Zhadobin] We have very much in common with Armenia. First and
foremost, our countries are members of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, we share approaches and visions of this organization. We
would like the organization to strengthen its influence in the
post-Soviet countries and on the international arena too. We are
interested in developing and updating our cooperation in military,
technical and law enforcement areas. We would like our cooperation
to meet modern challenges and deal with threats. But our relations
with Armenia have traditionally been friendly.

POLITICAL PRISONERS BELIEVE IN "HERITAGE"

A1+
05:41 pm | March 17, 2009 | Politics

Political prisoners applaud the decision of the political parties
and organizations of the Armenian National Congress to take part in
the elections for mayor and council of elders of Yerevan under the
leadership of Levon Ter-Petrosyan. According to the prisoners, "the
decision is not a race for mayor or member of the council of elders."

"This is the most effective way to restore constitutional order in
Armenia and secure the ongoing process of returning power to the
people. It will help the people meet the challenges easily and with
the determination to take matters into our own hands," as stated in the
statement of the political prisoners. "We believe that the "Heritage"
party will approach this issue from that angle in the case of which
participation in the elections through a joint list with the opposition
parties of the Armenian National Congress will be inevitable."

TO IMPROVE DEMOGRAPHIC IMAGE

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
March 13, 2009

Yesterday, the first meeting of Standing Supreme Council on Drafting
and Implementation of the NKR Sate Dmographic Policy conducted by
the Chairman of the Council, the Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan,
took place.

Speaking on emergency of Artsakh demographic situation improvement,
the Head of the NKR Government mentioned some facts indicating that a
number of important points, fixed in the NKR President’s pre-election
programme already are made a reality. Though state programmes
being under realization are not still enough for providing radical
changes. The Prime Minister noted that Artsakh remains a country
with a rare population density, in case when the territory is enough
favourable for vital activities. There is a need of up-to-date policy
in that sphere, the Prime Minister stated. He had attached special
importance to anew regulation of the migration process issue. It
is necessary to use existing spare housing stocks of the rural
areas properly, and to realize resettlement in villages of Artsakh
the greater part of which is in need of such "replenishment". The
Prime Minister informed that now, by his instructions, inventory
of all spare housing stocks of the Republic is being carried out,
which with corresponding solutions will serve to those people being
in need of dwelling.

The Deputy Chairman of the Council, the NKR Minister of Welfare
Narine Azatyan has announced separate indices of the present
demographic situation of the NKR. In particular, it was noted that
due to purposeful steps now, in the Republic, tendency of demographic
increase is recorded. According to the data of 2008, more than 140
thousand people were living in Artsakh, which is a record number
beginning from 1995. Though state programmes are aimed not only at a
perspective of having large quantity of population, the state is also
intended to have healthy, educated and advanced generation’s existence
for which parallel social, as well as educational complex measures
must be implemented. These approaches are reflected in the project
of demographic policy, which was drafted by the interdepartmental
working group.

The Prime Minister A.Haroutyunyan had assigned a task to the members
of the council to detailed study of the project and to submit their
mediations and proposals to the working group. They will be taken
into consideration while bringing the project to final state. The
project of the state demographic policy will be adopted at the next
meeting of the council.

Interfax, Russia
March 13 2009

Baku-Moscow ties develop positively – Azeri official

BAKU March 13

The accelerating pace of contacts between senior Azeri and Russian
officials confirms the stable and positive nature of bilateral
relations, Fuad Akhundov, director of the Azeri presidential
administration’s department, told Interfax.

"Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s working trip to Baku and an
earlier visit of Russian presidential chief-of-staff Sergei Naryshkin
to the Azeri capital have made an important contribution to the
strengthening of today’s atmosphere of openness, confidential dialogue
and partnership in bilateral relations," Akhundov said.

"The most important task today is to maintain and bolster the positive
effect of the Moscow declaration in order to hold a successful and
productive meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

A proposal has been put forth to hold it during the Eastern
Partnership summit in Prague. Russia can and should play a key role in
this process," the official said.

Lavrov’s March 11-12 visit to Baku included an exchange of views on a
new topic – the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative proposed for six
CIS member-states, he said. "I am pleased that Moscow respects
Azerbaijan’s aspirations related to integration with Europe and its
position on participation in this project," he said.

"As far as the Eastern Partnership project is concerned, Azerbaijan
views this initiative as a convenient opportunity to boost its
cooperation with the EU and its participants in three areas, including
politics and security, the economy and energy, as well as humanitarian
contacts and cooperation," the official said.