Author: Torosian Aram

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS TO SME DNC GROWS BY 25-30% IN 2009

Noyan Tapan
Feb 19, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. 4,700 startups and operating
entities received assistance in 2009 under the state assistance program
implemented by the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development
National Center of Armenia (SME DNC). 1,364 out of these entities
received assistance in several directions. During a talk with NT
correspondent, Executive Director of SME DNC Ishkhan Karapetyan
said that 71.2% of these small and medium enterprises (SME) received
assistance for the first time, and 9,300 applications were granted.

The number of applications to SME DNC grew by 25-30% in 2009 compared
with the previous years.

According to him, over the past 5 years, assistance was provided
to more than 20 thousand startups and operating small and medium
enterprises under the state assistance program being implemented by
SME DNC. Advisory services, information and training-related assistance
were provided to help startups with attracting the necessary financial
resources, etc. It was mentioned that under annual state assistance
programs, allocations of 300 million drams were given in 2005, 350
million drams in 2006, 400 million drams in 2007, 450 million drams
in 2008, and 572.5 million drams in 2009.

I. Karapetyan said that with the use of the relevant mechanisms,
their center co-finances SME both in Yerevan and regions to help them
solve their problems related to accounting, preparation of financial
statements and so on. In 2009 a Center of Accounting Services opened
in Yerevan with the aim of aiding SMEs in their accounting, audit
and internal control, preparation of tax returns and other problems
related to the tax service. Last year such assistance was provided
to over 180 SME.

I. Karapetian considered the establishment of SME Invetsment.

Universal Credit Organization with an authorized capital of 1.15
billion drams as one of the most important achievements of last year.

Its purpose is direct crediting of SME and financing their capital.

SME DNC cooperates with the Accounting Center’s organizations rendering
business services so that SME can submit electronic statements to
the State Revenue Committee.

As regards the activities of the operative staff set up by the
government for supporting small and medium enterpeneurs who face
difficulties in conditions of the global financial and economic crisis,
I. Karapetyan said last year SME DNC took measures to assist with the
implementation of the business plans and projects aprroved by the
operative staff. The government allocated about 30 million dollars
with this aim. Work on 17 out of the 30 projects discussed by the staff
has begun. Assistance of 3.26 billion drams for the implementation of
business plans has already been provided. Among enterprises to have
received assitance are canneries, as well as a number of enterprises
engaged in the textile industry and the IT sector.

It should be mentioned that on 21 January of this year, the 2010
SME state assistance program was approved. It envisages maintaining
the scope of assistance measures and expanding cooperation with
international organizations. 150 million drams (about 395 thousand
USD) has been allocated from the RA state budget for the program’s
implementation.

YOUNG FAMILIES OF ARMENIA MAY ACQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS

ArmInfo
19.02.2010

ArmInfo.The Housing for Young Families UCO will sign its first partner
agreements with the Armenian credit market participants in a week,
Executive Director of Housing for Young Families UCO Mher Yedigaryan
told journalists, Friday.

To recall, the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) registered the Housing for
Young Families UCO on February 16, 2010 on the basis of the draft law
On State Affordable Housing Programme for Young Families approved by
the government on January 29, 2010. The programme is socially-oriented.

M.Yedigaryan pointed out that the State Affordable Housing Programme
for Young Families consists of two components and aims to provide young
families with mortgage loans on reasonable terms. According to him,
the first component of the programme is subsidizing loan rates by the
Armenian Government, and the second component is providing credit
companies with cheap means that will give them an opportunity to
provide loans to young families at preferential interest rates. "In
the given case the goal of the credit company is to provide cheap
means to credit companies by means of refinancing",- he stressed.

He added that under the given programme the loans will be provided
at the interest rate of 10.5%, of them 2% will be subsidized by the
Armenian Government. The property value should not exceed 16 mln drams
with prepayment of 30% of the housing value, which may be revised
in the near future. Credits will be provided with 10-year repayment
period. Only the married couple, the cumulative age of which does not
exceed 60 years, may claim for the credit receipt. At the same time,
the age of every person should not exceed 35 years. Moreover, a single
parent aged under 30, having a child, can apply for participation in
the programme. The monthly income of the young families is to be no
less than 300-350 thsd AMD, moreover, this amount includes not only
the married couple’s income, but also the financial support provided
by their relatives.

For his part, Chairman of the Union of Banks of Armenia Ararat
Ghukasyan said that all the 22 commercial banks in Armenia welcome
the given programme and see in it a real opportunity to provide
young families with affordable housing. "The programme will give
an opportunity to the young families not only to receive affordable
housing, but also to make use of financial and banking services",-
he stressed. He added that 10 commercial banks are already ready to
participate in the given programme.

GENOCIDE RESOLUTION WILL HARM NORMALIZATION WITH ARMENIA, ANKARA WARNS

armradio.am
18.02.2010 18:18

Passage of the Armenian genocide resolution by a U.S. congressional
panel early next month would hinder normalization efforts with Armenia,
Turkey warned Thursday.

Speaking to reporters following a joint press conference with Burkina
Faso Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation Bedouma
Alain Yoda, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the issue
was taken up in detail during Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun
Sinirlioglu’s meetings in Washington this week.

"We are exerting efforts for a comprehensive peace in the Caucasus,"
said Davutoglu, referring to the normalization of ties with Armenia.

He warned, however, that attempts such as passing a genocide resolution
would harm this objective and called for such initiatives to come to
a halt, within reasonable limits.

The issue was also discussed during Davutoglu’s telephone conversation
with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to diplomatic
sources who said Washington was informed of the resolution’s potential
to harm bilateral relations with the United States, Hurriyet Daily
News reports.

WHO WILL RATIFY FIRST TURKISH-ARMENIAN COOPERATION PROTOCOLS?

The Messenger
Feb 18 2010
Georgia

The ruling Republican Party in Armenia has announced that Armenia
should make the first move in ratifying the Turkey-Armenia protocols.

Vice Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament Samvel Nikoian has said that
ratification cannot be simultaneous, and if Armenia waits for
Turkey to take the first steps it could be waiting a long time. He
also highlighted that normalisation of the relations between the two
countries will create a positive atmosphere in the entire region which
could result in the positive resolution of the Karabakh conflict to
the benefit of Armenia.

Committees of the Armenian Parliament will begin discussing this
issue. Initially Armenia insisted that it would start ratifying the
protocols only after Turkey did, and if Turkey prolonged the process
so would Armenia. Yerevan also threatened to renounce the signature
of the Armenian PM on the protocols, which were signed on November 10,
2009 in Zurich, if this happened.

It looks like Armenia desperately wants to ratify the protocols and
open its borders with Turkey and will therefore do its best to make
this happen. Turkey could take advantage to this desire by trying to
force Armenia to leave the Azeri territories it is occupying. Whether
this happens will depend on how deep Turkey’s commitment to Azerbaijan
is.

TWO JOURNALISTS AT COURT FOR PURSUING DINK MURDER

xpression/120102-two-journalists-at-court-for-purs uing-dink-murder
BIA Net
Feb 17 2010
Turkey

The case against Vatan newspaper journalist Kemal Goktas on the
grounds of his book "The Hrant Dink Muder: Media, Judiciary, State"
has started. The prosecutor requested time to review whether the case
was opened within the prescription period of four months.

Erol ONDEROLU [email protected] Istanbul – BIA News Center17 February
2010, Wednesday Vatan newspaper journalist Kemal Goktsa is facing
a five years prison sentence at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of
First Instance by reason of his book entitled "The Hrant Dink Murder:
Media, Judiciary, State". The book reveals background information on
the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in 2007.

Goktas was supported in yesterday’s hearing (16 February) at the
Istanbul Sultanahmet Courthouse by Milliyet newspaper journalist
Nedim Å~^ener. Å~^ener himself is facing 32.5 years imprisonment for
his book which also deals with the Dink murder.

Å~^ener told bianet, "I am not here to support the political power
but to support the invariable victims. It will be my duty to defend
Akyurek’s rights if he is in fact a victim or treated unjust".

Lawyer Aydın: Case should be dropped by prescription Journalist
Goktas was furthermore supported by human rights activists Ozlem
Dalkıran and Fusun Celikel and by Ani Aba and TakuÅ~_ Kalk from the
"Group of Hrant’s Friends".

Lawyer Filiz Aydın requested to drop the case by prescription,
referring to the statute of limitation of the case initially filed
by Intelligence Office President Ramazan Akyurek and the Police
General Directorate:

"The case should be rejected because it is time-barred. The case was
opened on 30 September 2009. Yet, the prescription period of four
months ran out on 24 August 2009. We will forward further requests
later on".

The case was postponed to 11 May to hear prosecutor Atilla Ayvacı’s
evaluation of the statute of limitation of the file in the next
session. Goktas is put on trial on the grounds of publishing an
F4 document in his book which was sent from the Trabzon Police
Directorate to the Istanbul Intelligence Branch Directorate, concerned
with Yasin Hayal being up to "an influential action" related to Hrant
Dink. (EO/VK)

ARMENIA TO KEEP ON PURSUING INITIATIVE POLICY: NIKOYAN

news.am
Feb 16 2010
Armenia

Armenia should keep on pursuing its initiative policy on Armenia-Turkey
normalization process, RA NA Vice-Speaker and Republican Party member
Samvel Nikoyan told journalists on Feb. 16.

Saying initiative, Nikoyan meant that Armenia should not wait for
Turkey’s steps in this stage of normalization and should introduce
the Protocols to RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations for
discussion.

Nikoyan also sees two other scenarios of the documents’ ratification.

Under the first one, Armenia should wait for Turkey to ratify
the Protocols first, whereas the second implies the documents’
simultaneous ratification by both Parliaments. However, the second
scenario is unlikely, as the procedures in two Parliaments differ,
Nikoyan informed.

February 15, RA National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan introduced
Armenia-Turkey Protocols on the normalization of relations to the
RA Parliament.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH PRESIDENT SLAMS TURKEY FOR LINKING NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA WITH NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

ARKA
Feb 16, 2010

YEREVAN, February 16, /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh president Bako Sahakian
slammed today Turkey for linking normalization of its relations
with Armenia with progress in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with OSCE chairman-in-office,
Kazakh foreign minister Kanat Saudavayev in Yerevan, Bako Sahakian
said both issues are different and solution of one has nothing to do
with the other. He said this viewpoint is shared and supported also
by other countries mediating Armenian-Turkish reconciliation. He said
Armenia’s position and strive to establish an unconditioned lasting
peace and stability in the region deserves praise.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in 1988 after the
predominantly Armenian-populated enclave declared about secession
from Azerbaijan As Azerbaijan declared its independence from the
Soviet Union and removed the powers held by the enclave’s government,
the Armenian majority voted in 1991, December 10, to secede from
Azerbaijan and in the process proclaimed the enclave the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Full-scale fighting, initiated by Azerbaijan, erupted in the late
winter of 1992. International mediation by several groups including
Europe’s OSCE’s failed to bring an end resolution that both sides
could work with. In the spring of 1993, Armenian forces captured
regions outside the enclave itself. By the end of the war in 1994,
the Armenians were in full control of most of the enclave and also
held and currently control seven regions beyond the administrative
borders of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Almost 1 million people on both sides have been displaced as a result
of the conflict. A Russian- -brokered ceasefire was signed in May
1994 and peace talks, mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group, have been
held ever since by Armenia and Azerbaijan.

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF SOUTH RUSSIA

armradio.am
15.02.2010 10:49

On 14 February President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met
in the city of Pyatigorsk representatives of the Armenian communities
of the South of Russia, Central Information Department of the Office
of the NKR President reported.

During the meeting the Head of the State introduced the current
situation in Artsakh, socioeconomic development of the republic as
well as the current stage and prospects of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh
conflict settlement. Special attention was paid to issues related
to the development of the Motherland-Diaspora relations. Deepening
these ties, as Bako Sahakyan underlined, would have a positive effect
both on strengthening the independent Armenian statehood and on the
consolidation of the Diaspora and preserving its national identity.

Within this context the President noted the importance of the widening
cooperation with Armenian communities of the North Caucasus Federal
Region of the Russian Federation, particularly those of the Stavropol
Region, qualifying them as promising.

ARMENIA LACKS LEGISLATIVE DEFINITION OF FORCED LABOR

ArmInfo
2010-02-12 13:15:00

ArmInfo. Armenia lacks legislative definition of forced labor, says
Nver Sargsyan, International Labor Organization, National Project
Coordinator in Armenia.

He said a relevant legislative initiative is necessary for effective
investigation and qualification of labor exploitation. "There have been
cases in the judicial practice when a crime falls under another article
for lack of the given definition," he told media. He highlighted
a number of amendments to the Criminal Code of Armenia adopted in
November 2009 to combat trafficking in persons. Amendments to Article
132 (trading in persons) stipulate 5-10 years of imprisonment for human
exploitation and 7-12 years in case of aggravating circumstances. "We
are glad that the government pays attention to this problem. For
instance, the state budget for 2009 approved certain funds to fight
trafficking," N. Sargsyan said. The state budget for 2009 envisaged
433 million drams for that purpose as part of 9 programs. As regards
the number of trafficking victims, he brought the data by "Hope
and Help" NGO that revealed 11 victims of trafficking in Armenia in
2009. At present he said ILO and the National Statistical Service of
Armenia are finishing a joint survey on trafficking. The survey will
be published within a month.

He said that the International Labor Organization implemented a
number of programs with Armenian partners also to provide security
of Armenian labor migrants. "Much depends on transparent activity of
private employment agencies that need regulation also via licensing,
especially the agencies engaged in employment of the citizens in
abroad. In cooperation with the Union of Employers of Armenia a branch
association of human resources agencies has been established at the
Union of Employers of Armenia. Code of Ethics is currently drafted for
them," he said. The branch association will have a website containing
also the "black list" of the unreliable agencies.

FRANCE IS UNDOUBTEDLY SUPPORTING TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Feb 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Gabriel Keller Azerbaijan and France have very good and deep
cooperation, said French ambassador to Azerbaijan Gabriel Keller.

The ambassador said there was good cooperation between the Azerbaijani
and French universities too.

"This is a part of cooperation between the two countries and it is
in a high level".

Answering the question about the French companies operating in Nagorno
Karabakh, the ambassador said: "I can speak only on behalf of the
French government. The government of France is undoubtedly supporting
and recognizing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We are working
for the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. France is one of the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. But we are living in a society where the
government can not control the travels of society members.

This is not an official position".

The diplomat said date of the French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s
visit to Azerbaijan was not specified yet.

"President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev invited his French counterpart
to Azerbaijan on December 9, 2009 during his visit to Paris. Sarkozy
accepted the invitation. As you, I am also waiting for this visit
and I hope it will be realized".