Author: Torosian Aram

BAKU COMMITS GROSS VIOLATION OF EUROVISION RULES OF BY HIDING PHONE NUMBER FROM AZERI TO VOTE FOR ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.05.2009 13:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri was deprived the possibility to vote for
Armenia’s song at the Eurovision 2009". In a final tournament all
means have been taken in Azerbaijan to prevent their counterparts from
voting for the song of Anush and Inga Arshakians representing Armenia.

According to a group of Azeri Internet users, during broadcasting of
the Eurovision contest the part of the screen with phone number to call
and vote for Armenian participants, was hidden. As a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter was told in Armenian Public Television (APT), APT had been
already informed about illegal behavior of Azeri side and submitted
a complaint to the organizational committee of the contest.

It’s worth mentioning, that Armenia gave 1 point for the song of
Azeri participants.

According to voting results, Inga and Anush Arshakians, who represented
Armenia at the Eurovision international contest, took the 10th place.

DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT CONSTRUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.05.2009 18:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ International conference on regional security issues
in South Caucasus is being held in Yerevan.

The conference hosted representatives of 32 countries and 4
international organizations including EU, OSCE, SCTO. Conference
participants focused on regional security issues, regional conflict
settlement, struggle against international terrorism, drug-dealing
and trafficking as well as collaboration in energetic projects.

In his statement to conference participants, RA President Serzh
Sargsyan expressed his confidence that the conference will
significantly contribute to strengthening regional security and
promote collaboration between the states.

Security Council Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan, addressing to
conference participants, emphasized that differences in culture,
language and history should not be a source of conflict but a basis
for constructive development between the countries.

Artur Baghdasaryan referred to Armenian-Turkish ties normalization
as an example of tolerance and stressed Armenia’s constructive role
in NKR conflict settlement.

RA Defense Minister, Seyran Ohanyan, in his turn, touched upon the
importance of creating single approaches in security provision issues.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT STANDS READY TO BOOST MANUFACTURING CAPACITIES: PREMIER

ARKA
May 13, 2009

YEREVAN, May 13. /ARKA/. Armenia’s government stands ready to expand
local manufacturing capacities, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said
Tuesday during the opening ceremony of Armenian-Italian manufacturer
of building materials Litocol AM KO.

"The opening of the plant testifies to the fact that Armenia is
capable of expanding business and set up new companies amid the
crisis," Sargsyan was quoted saying.

He urged others to follow the example of the Armenian-Italian venture.

"If the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia take the
initiative of opening new enterprises every month, this will be a
strong protection against the crisis," the prime minister said.

In his turn, Chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
of Armenia (UMBA) Arsen Ghazaryan stressed that in contrast to other
European states that prefer closing down enterprises amid the global
tailspin, Armenia opened a new company.

"This will lead to economic recovery and sustainable development of
the local construction market with the help of domestic companies
and foreign partners," Ghazaryan said.

The Armenian-Italian glue and tile cement manufacturer Litocom AM
KO was established in 2007. Investments in the plant’s construction
amounted to $10mln.

The Italian Litocol S.p.A. and Armenia’s IMEX Group hold 40% of th e
company’s shares each, with an Armenian resident holding 20% of the
plant’s shares.

The company annually outputs up to 32,000 tons of tile cement and
26,000 tons of gesso.

ARMENIA FM, FRENCH CO-CHAIR OF THE MINSK GROUP DISCUSS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

armradio.am
14.05.2009 15:23

On May 14 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, received
the French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Bernard Fassier.

During the meeting reference was made to issues related to the process
of settlement of the Artsakh issue.

The interlocutors exchanged views on a number of regional issues.

ARMENIAN PM EXPRESSES SATISFACTION OVER COOPERATION OF ARMENIA AND IMF

ARMENPRESS
May 12, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
received today International Monetary Fund Deputy Director Ratna
Sahay, Mark Lewis, IMF Mission Chief for Armenia and IMF Armenian
Representative Ninke Omes.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that expressing
satisfaction over the level of cooperation between Armenia and IMF,
Tigran Sargsyan gave a short outline of the pace of development
of Armenia’s economy, current situation and steps directed towards
overcoming the consequences of the crisis, pointing out that the main
goal of the government is the implementation of the steps directed
towards promotion of the economic growth.

Ms. Ratna Sahay said that IMF highlights cooperation with Armenia
and is ready to support the country in the solution of issues.

ARMENIAN INSURERS AND MEGA-REGULATOR COME TO CONSENSUS ON COMPULSORY THIRD PARTY AUTO LIABILITY INSURANCE

ArmInfo
2009-05-12 20:40:00

ArmInfo. The day when compulsory third party auto liability insurance
will be introduced in Armenia is not far off and it will be a
good financial and social solution, the member of the Board of the
Central Bank of Armenia Grigor Konjeyan said during the debates on
Armenia’s readiness to introduce compulsory third party auto liability
insurance organized at Armenia Marriott Hotel by AmRating (Armenian
representative of Global Rating), USAID FSDP and ArmInfo News Agency.

Konjeyan is sure that compulsory insurance will, first, be
rejected by people as an additional tax burden. Nevertheless, he
believes that socially-oriented risks must be subject to compulsory
insurance. According to the preliminary estimates of the Central Bank,
compulsory third party auto liability insurance will yield almost
10bln AMD in annual premiums, will boost financial flows and will
raise Armenia’s insurance market to a new qualitative level.

USAID FSDP insurance expert Ara Karyan said that, according to the
World Bank’s forecast, the global crisis will put as many as 172,000
Armenians below the poverty line. As a result, the poverty index in
Armenia will grow to 27%.

"Insurance is a solution to social insecurity. Hence, the introduction
of compulsory insurance products in Armenia in the face of crisis and
declining welfare will help to solve social problems and to develop
the insurance market," Karyan said.

Representative of Sil Insurance company Andranik Ohanjanyan believes
that before introducing compulsory third party auto liability
insurance it is necessary to carry out explanatory work among the
population. "We have conducted no polls to show us what our people
think about insurance, in general, and compulsory third party auto
liability insurance, in particular.

One more big problem is the lack of real statistics on road
accidents. That is, we know how much money compulsory third party
auto liability insurance will give us in premiums but we don’t know
how many insurable events we have and how much money we will have
to pay as insurance coverage. This is a serious problem for local
insurance companies."

"Are insurance companies ready for the introduction of compulsory
third party auto liability insurance?" that’s how President of the
Association of Insurance Participants of Armenia Levon Mamikonyan
started his speech. His personal opinion is that they are not.

"Today, there are an average of 300,000 cars in Armenia. Are we
ready to insure so many vehicles having no professional insurance
experts and appraisers and still needing to regulate the work of our
insurance bureau and to revise our insurance laws? We also have to
improve our system of risk recording and insurance coverage and here
we need international experience."

Director of Prime Insurance Brokers Artavazd Yakhshibekyan said:
"I am sure that our companies are ready to undertake the risks of
compulsory third party auto liability insurance but can we be sure
that the risks will be assessed correctly and impartially and that
the companies will not lose because of poor infrastructure?"

The debaters showed unanimity that Armenia needs compulsory insurance
products, first of all, for solving its social problems. For
this purpose, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for
insurance companies, particularly, by providing them with necessary
infrastructures and qualified insurance personnel (experts and
actuaries).

BRITISH-ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP HELD A CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.05.2009 12:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In Remembrance of the 94th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary
Group, under the auspices of the Armenian Embassy in Britain, held a
conference, entitled: "The Armenian Genocide. International Recognition
and Current Challenges " on Thursday 7th May 2009, in Committee Room
3 of the House of Commons, London SW1A OAA, British Parliament.

The invited speakers were Professor Israel Charny from Israel and Mr
Harut Sassounian from USA. Due to illness, Professor Charny did not
attend the event and, instead, sent his article, which was read by
Mr. Peter Barker, a former broadcaster of the BBC Radio 3 Programme.

The conference was chaired by the Baroness Cox of Queensbury, Chairman
of the BAAPPG and the Vote of Thanks was given by His Excellency
Ambassador Gabrielyan.

Based on the contents of the two Speakers speeches ,the
British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group will issue a Statement ,
lobbying the Governments of Britain , USA and Turkey to recognize the
Armenian Genocide , committed by the Ottoman Government of 1915, Odette
Bazil, Co-Founder and Executive Secretary of The British-Armenian
All-Party Parliamentary Group reported to PanARMENIAN.Net.

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP SHOULD FUNCTION FOR GOOD CAUSE

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.05.2009 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sarsgyan said May 7 is a
significant date for all countries included in the Eastern Partnership
initiative.

"We all have a long way to cover. Armenia will be consistent in
fulfilling the commitments it undertook within European Neighborhood
Program," he said in his address to the first ever Eastern Partnership
summit that opened in Prague yesterday.

He said he has already signed a decree on the Action Plan regulating
the Armenia-EU cooperation for the next three years.

"Joining the European Neighborhood Program, Armenia signed 80 per cent
of documents on the Union’s foreign policy, what proves commonness
of approaches, views and positions," he said.

"The word Europe has become a synonym for tolerance, constructive
approach and peaceful solutions. Eastern Partnership should function
for a good cause. And we hope it will be a success," President
Sargsyan said.

FRUITFULL ARMENIA HOLDS CONTEST ON AGRICULTURE WITH 15MLN DRAMS BONUS FUND

ARKA
May 8, 2009

YEREVAN, May 8. /ARKA/. Fruitfull Armenia company announced a contest
on best innovative proposals on agriculture, trade, finance and
infrastructure with bonus fund of 15mln Drams, Chief Executive Director
of Fruitfull Armenia Anna Cristina Shirinyan told journalists Thursday.

Innovative proposals are welcomed under four categories – agriculture
and rural production, trade and marketing, finance, infrastructures.

The proposals should suggest opportunities for reducing production
or market cost, development of traditional technologies, improvement
of quality of products, cooperation with environment, practical
approaches, as well as provide particular suggestions on development
of one of the four sectors.

Young 18-30-year-old Armenians from any country can participate in
the contest, Shirinyan said.

She pointed out that the main purpose of the contest is to find
talented young people able to prepare realistic projects for
Armenia. The best projects may be applied, she said.

A total of 21 prizes are to be awarded with Fruitfull Armenia golden
prize being the most important nomination – the winner of this prize
will get 3mln Drams and a notebook, the head of the company reported.

The awards for the first three places are as follows: 750,000 Drams
and a notebook for the first place, 300,000 Drams and a notebook for
the second and a notebook f or the third place. Promotional prizes
are also to be awarded.

All winners will have an opportunity to participate in Fruitfull
Armenia annual forum to be held in Yerevan in October-November 2009.

"We will also provide assistance in publishing the best works,
which is a good opportunity for the youth to present their ideas,"
Shirinyan said.

Executive Director of Conversebank Ararat Ghukasyan, in his turn,
said that agriculture is a promising economic field.

The bank is ready to discuss idea implementation opportunities with
authors of the best ideas, Ghukasyan said.

Applicants should register themselves on by August
31 and submit their proposals by September 5. The jury is to select
the best works.

The results of the contest will be summarized nu October 15.

The contest is organized by Fruitfull Armenia assisted by Conversebank
cjsc, Tieras de Armenia cjsc, Armenia – International Airports cjsc,
ADF Shops cjsc.

ARMEN RUSTAMYAN LEAVES NATI ONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-05-07 12:23:00

ArmInfo. Chairman of Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs,
representative of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party Armen Rustamyan applied to
the Armenian president Wednesday refusing from membership of National
Security Council.

The presidential press-service reported that President Serzh Sargsyan
signed a relevant decree.