Armenian Tax Administration Needs To Be Seriously Reformed: Prime Mi

ARMENIAN TAX ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY REFORMED: PRIME MINISTER

ARKA
Sep 29, 2009

YEREVAN, September 29, /ARKA/. Armenian tax administration system needs
to be seriously reformed, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said today.

Speaking a seminar on the latest World Bank ‘Doing Business
2010′ report, the minister said: "We still have problems in tax
administration, particularly, paying taxes takes lot of time.’ He
added that introduction of electronic payment system is expected to
ease the problem.

"We have started introducing this system and expect technical
assistance from the World Bank, the International Financial Corporation
and USAID. We hope that this system, along with introduction of
risk-based tax administration, will raise significantly Armenia’s
rating in Doing Business next report,’ he said.

The premier admitted that there are serious problems in customs
services as well. He said working group was formed to monitor all
areas which are taken into account in making the Doing Business report.

"We have a clear schedule of measures and people responsible for
improving Armenia’s standing in Doing Business. We have simplified
the process of company registration, eliminated some unnecessary
requirements and as a result Armenia’s rating has moved up,’ he said.

In the Doing Business 2010 Armenia was on 43-rd position among
183 countries. In establishing businesses Armenia has improved its
performance and ranks 21st, in cross-border trade – 102nd place and in
obtaining a construction permission – 72nd, in registering property –
5th.

NKR: The 20th Anniversary Of The Artsakh Diocese Reconstitution Cele

THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARTSAKH DIOCESE RECONSTITUTION CELEBRATED IN NKR

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2009-09-29 16:55
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The 20th anniversary of reconstituting the Artsakh Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church was celebrated in the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic.

Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and leaders of some Dioceses
arrived in Artsakh to participate in the festivities.

The Supreme Patriarch held on September 26 a public liturgy in the
Gandzasar monastery. The Saint Mass and Patriarch’s Thanksgiving
Service were held on September 27 in the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral
in Shushi.

"Thanks to our strong faith, we could stand all the tests. With this
faith, our people created its free and independent life", Garegin II
noted during the festivities.

A closing festive event took place on September 28, with the
participation of the NKR top leadership, public representatives,
and guests.

In his speech, NKR President Bako Sahakian, in particular, noted:
"Faith has always been a reliable guarantee of all the victories
and confidence in the future for the Armenian people. In the crucial
periods, we could also overcome the seemingly insuperable hardships
greatly thanks to our strong belief. So it was at the modern stage of
our struggle – during the Artsakh Movement. The fact that the first
rally took place in Stepanakert on one of the most important20church
holidays – the Presentation of the Lord – is symbolic in itself. The
Armenians of Artsakh got the Supreme Being’s blessing for upholding
their just demand. The Artsakh Diocese’s reconstitution became the
first victory in our nationwide struggle".

Within the festivities, an exhibition – "Church’s Treasures" – was
opened in the Artsakh Museum of History and Local Lore. Books, photos,
and works of art by the Artsakh Diocese, reflecting the Diocese’s
activity, are exhibited in the Stepanakert Culture and Youth Palace.

Secretary General Of Organization Of Islamic Conference Supports Ini

SECRETARY GENERAL OF ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE SUPPORTS INITIATIVES IN ESTABLISHING GOOD- NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

ArmInfo
2009-09-29 18:07:00

ArmInfo. Replying to ArmInfo correspondent’s question at a briefing at
the UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary General of the Organization
of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that being an
ethnic Turk himself, he supports the initiatives in establishing
good-neighborly relations between Armenia and Turkey.

He said that his neighbors in Istanbul are Armenians, therefore he
doesn’t think that this conflict must last too long. Time should solve
this problem, he added. He also stressed that the Organization of the
Islamic Conference supports the initiatives in establishing relations
between Turkey and Armenia.

2010 Budget Discussed

2010 BUDGET DISCUSSED

hos15321.html
15:55:10 – 28/09/2009

Today, an extraordinary governmental session headed by the Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan took place. The government approved
the law draft on 2010 budget which will be introduced before the
parliament.

According to the document, the 2010 budget will sum 701, 1 billion
form the point of income, 884, 7 billion- expenditure, and 183,
0 billion- deficit.

The 2010 budget of the Armenian communities will be 82, 3 billion-
income and expenditure each.

The law draft proposes to approve the RA 2010 budget as 676, 6
billion-income, 859, 6 billion-expenditure, and 183 billion-deficit.

http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/economy-lra

Heritage Appealed To Universities

HERITAGE APPEALED TO UNIVERSITIES

lrahos15314.html
13:06:59 – 28/09/2009

The Head of the Heritage faction Styopa Safaryan on behalf of the
party and the faction made an appeal to the heads of 17 state and
interstate universities of Yerevan in connection with the Armenian and
Turkish protocols. With the letter addressed to the university heads,
the Heritage party asks them to organize meetings with the students
of the universities until October 10 to present their opinions and
to discuss the Armenian-Turkish protocols.

http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/society-

ArmRosgazprom Extends "No Prepayment Action" Till March 1, 2010

ARMROSGAZPROM EXTENDS "NO PREPAYMENT ACTION" TILL MARCH 1, 2010

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.09.2009 19:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In accordance with multiple requests made by
citizens, ArmRosgazprom CJSC extends "No prepayment action" till
March 1, 2010, company’s press service reported.

By paying 80% of contract-stipulated sum, those who applied for gas
supply till March 1, 2010, will be exempted from AMD 40 000 prepayment.

Edward Nalbandyan Conducts A Number Of Meetings With His Counterpart

EDWARD NALBANDYAN CONDUCTS A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan, who is in New York on a working visit, participated
September 26 in the gathering of the foreign ministers of the CSTO.

Armenian Foreign Ministry Media and Information Department told
Armenpress that the CSTO ministers discussed a number of issues of the
agenda, particularly combination of the foreign political activity in
UN and other international establishments, European and International
security issues as well as UN GA agenda issues.

On the same day Edward Nalbandyan met with the foreign ministers of
Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada
and Iran.

During the meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov the
sides discussed a number of bilateral, regional and international
issues. Nalbandyan presented to Lavrov the steps carried out toward
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

At the meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Yeremic, the two sides
expressed delight toward the recent activation in bilateral cooperation
in different spheres which became more notable after the visit of
the Serbian president to Yerevan. Edward Nalbandyan presented to his
Serbian counterpart the normalization process of Armenian-Turkish
relations and recent developments over Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Vuk
Yeremic, expressing gratitude for the Armenia’s balanced position in
Kosovo issue, presented the process of discussion of the Kosovo issue
in the International Justice Court and the expectations of the Serbian
side. He reconfirmed invitation to Nalbandyan to visit Belgrade.

During the meeting with newly appointed Kazakh foreign minister Kanat
Saudabayev, the Armenian minister congratulated him on the appointment
and expressed Armenia’s readiness to support Kazakhstan in its next
year’s chairmanship in OSCE. The two ministers discussed in details
the ways of development of cooperation, issues on OSCE activity.

At the mee ter Spindel Eger the sides discussed ways of expanding
bilateral cooperation, Armenia-EU relations and opportunities of
partnership within its framework.

With the request of Austrian minister, Nalbandyan presented the
process and prospects of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

An interesting discussion has also been elaborated during the meeting
of the Armenian and Australian ministers. They exchanged thoughts
over a number of international issues. Stefen Smith underscored the
contribution of the Australian Armenian community in different spheres
of the country, noting that it may be a peculiar bridge for expansion
of cooperation between Armenia and Australia. For continuing the
started dialogue, Edward Nalbandyan invited his Australian counterpart
to visit Yerevan.

At the meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Lorence Cannon,
the two ministers discussed issues on cooperation between the two
countries in international organizations. The sides also referred to
the Armenian-Turkish relations.

On the same day Edward Nalbandyan met with Iranian Foreign Minister
Manuchehr Mottaki. The two ministers discussed agenda issues of
bilateral relations and regional developments. With the request
of Iranian foreign minister Nalbandyan presented the current
process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. The Iranian
foreign minister informed his Armenian counterpart about the recent
developments connected with Iran’s nuclear program.

During the meeting with the head of the Swiss Foreign Affairs Federal
Department Micheline Calmy-Ray the Armenian foreign minister referred
to the issues on expansion of cooperation between the two countries,
noting that the newly opened office of Swiss representation in
Yerevan may have a serious role in it. The Armenian minister also
expressed gratitude for supporting in normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations.

Speaker of Turkish Parliament on relations with Armenia

News.com

Speaker of Turkish Parliament on relations with Armenia
01:50 / 09/26/2009

The Armenian-Turkish relations are only a component of the problems to
be resolved in the South Caucasus. In this respect, Turkey views the
issue as a whole seeking the resolution of the problems in the region,
Mehmet Ali Å?ahin, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, told
reporters in Baku, Azerbaijan.

According to him, the Turkish President, Premier and Minister of
Foreign Affairs daily inform Azerbaijani officials headed by President
Ilham Aliyev of the process. Turkey will never take any steps tat
would run counter to Azerbaijan’s interests, Mehmet Ali Å?ahin
said. He assured the Azerbaijani people of Turkey’s friendly attitude
to them, reported APA.

Turkish and Russian Businessmen Sign Cooperation Deal

Tert.am

Turkish and Russian Businessmen Sign Cooperation Deal

14:32 ¢ 26.09.09

Turkey’s Federation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) and the
Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSSP) signed a
cooperation deal Friday to enhance business relations, report Turkish
media.

RSSP Chair Alexander Shokhin expressed his hope that the deal would
bring momentum to relations, at a press conference held before the
signature ceremony.

Shokhin said that around 20 agreements were signed during his last
visit to Turkey in August.

"In these circumstances, our duty, as businessmen is to carry our
relations a step further. Reaching a trade volume of 100 billion USD
is an attainable goal even in the current circumstances," said
Shokhin.

Shokhin pointed out that economies dependent on exports production had
declined both in Russia and Turkey, due to shrinking global demand.

Good Morning, Oscar: September 25

TheWrap

Good Morning, Oscar: September 25
By Steve Pond

Published: September 25, 2009

In today’s roundup of Oscar news `n’ notes from around the web,
Charles Darwin survives, Mr. Fox gets a fantastic slot and the
foreign-film race gets crowded.

Variety’s roundup of the foreign-language race gets one title wrong
(Armenia’s entry is sometimes called `A Magician’s Autumn’ and
sometimes `Autumn of the Magician,’ but it’s definitely not `A
Magician’s Nephew’), misses the fact that Serbia has changed its mind,
and includes capsule descriptions of only 15 of the 40 choices
announced so far. In Contention has a bigger list. So do indieWIRE
and The Film Experience.

More festival awards to give a nudge to more Oscar campaigns: at the
Gotham Independent Film Awards, November 30 in New York City, the
career achievement honorees will be Kathryn Bigelow (in the thick of
the race after directing `The Hurt Locker’), Natalie Portman (a dark
horse candidate in director Jim Sheridan’s `Brothers’), Stanley Tucci
(certainly a supporting-actor contender for `Julie and Julia,’ with
`The Lovely Bones’ on the way) and producers Tim Bevan and Eric
Fellner (with likely best-picture nominee `A Serious Man’). (Tucci
photo: Gotham Independent Film Awards)

`The Fantastic Mr. Fox,’ director Wes Anderson’s first foray into
animation, will open the AFI Fest in Hollywood on October 30. With the
animated-feature category likely limited to three nominees, it could
face quite a battle with the likes of `Up,’ `Ponyo’ and `Coraline’
already in the mix. (indieWIRE)

Newmarket Films rescues `Creation’ from awards-season limbo by
acquiring the rights to the Charles Darwin picture that opened Toronto
to mixed reviews. They’ll likely have an uphill battle getting it into
the race. (Variety)

Gerard Kennedy does an early preview of the Oscar craft categories,
figures that frontrunners `Up in the Air’ and `Precious’ are not
liable to be big contenders in those categories
`Inglourious Basterds,’ `District 9,’ `Nine’ and a few others, and
concludes that it’s too early to know much. (In Contention)

Better late than never: Nancy Kriparos’ Toronto faves are `Up in the
Air,’ `Bright Star,’ `Dogtooth,’ `Mother and Child,’ `Precious,’ `The
Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus,’ Michael Sheen in `The Damned United,’
Paul Bettany in `Creation,’ Amanda Seyfried in `Chloe,’Matt Damon in
`The Informant!’ and Robin Wright Penn in `The Private Lives of Pippa
Lee.’ (Awards Daily)