Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

10.3% ECONOMIC GROWTH RECORDED IN ARMENIA IN H1 2008

ARKA
Aug 6, 2008

YEREVAN, August 6. /ARKA/. A 10.3% economic growth was recorded in
Armenia in the first half of this year against the same period of 2007.

The RA National Statistical Service reports that the volume of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) was 1,322,732.6mln Drams (in market prices)
in the period under review.

GDP deflator index was 108% in the period as compared with January-June
2007.

According to the statistical data, 7.7% growth of gross added value
provided a 6.9 pct increase in the actual volume of GDP (9.2pct in
January-June 2007). 29.9% growth of taxes, the subsidies exclusive,
provided 3.4pct of the actual growth of GDP (2.4pct in January-June
2007).

In the period, 16.8% construction growth raised the GDP by 3.4pct
(against 3.8pct in the first half of 2007). Industry (including energy
sector) provided 0.1pct of economic growth (0.5pct in January-June
2007).

8.3% growth of agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing provided
0.9pct of the economic growth in the period.

22.8% growth recorded in financial sector and real estate transactions
provided 1.8% of the GDP growth (2pct in January-June 2007).

The share of added value was 86.5% in the GDP structure against 88.6%
in the first half of 2007.

The share of industrial production was 39.6% against 39.8% in January-
June 2007. The share of agriculture was 9.4% and that of construction
was 22.7% in the period. Trade, public catering, transport and
communication provided 18.6%, the services sector – 12%.

Taxes, the subsidies exclusive, constituted 13.5% of the GDP.

GDP per capita was 410,353Drams or $1,334 (871 Euros) at the end of
June this year.

11.6% economic growth was recorded in the first half of 2007.

Under the state budget, 10% growth of GDP is expected in Armenia
in 2008. ($1=301.03Drams).

COMMISSION ON REGULATION OF PUBLIC SERVICES ALLOWS ARMROSGAZPROM TO INCREASE GAZPROM’S STAKE IN ITS AUTHORIZED CAPITAL BY $413.8MLN

arminfo
2008-08-06 16:51:00

ArmInfo. The Commission on Regulation of Public Services of Armenia
has allowed ArmRosgazprom CJSC to increase its authorized capital
by 124.154bln AMD ($413.8) to 402.195bln AMD ($1.341bln) by issuing
additional shares.

Gazprom has been allowed to buy 24,700,000 ordinary nominal shares
at 5,026 AMD each. The money received from the sale of the shares
will be spent on ArmRosgazprom’s energy projects in Armenia.

For the moment, the authorized capital of ArmRosgazprom totals
278,040,807,288 AMD ($927mln). Gazprom has 72.16% stake in the
authorized capital of ArmRosgazprom, the government holds – 22.78%,
ITERA Group – 5.06%. ArmRosgazprom was set up in Dec 1997 and is the
exclusive importer of natural gas into Armenia.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO SRI LANKA PARTICIPATES IN THE 15TH SUMMIT OF SOUTH ASIAN REGIONAL COOPERATION ASSOCIATION IN SRI LANKA

ARMENPRESS
Aug 4, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS: The 15th summit of the South Asian
Regional Cooperation Association took place August 2-3 in the capital
of Sri Lanka Colombo.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that countries
having status of observers – USA, EU countries, Iran, China, Japan,
South Korea as well as foreign ambassadors accredited in Sri Lanka
participated in it. Armenia was represented by Armenian ambassador
to Sri Lanka Ashot Kocharian.

Heads of the member-countries of the association (India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Butane) and the
heads of their governments delivered speeches calling on uniting
efforts and closely cooperating against all the manifestations of
terrorism. In the speeches they also referred to the cooperation in
transport, environment and food security, agriculture, reduction of
poverty, education and science, technology, water resources spheres.

The Summit approved the Declaration of Colombo, besides, its
participants signed documents on creation of a fund of development
of South Asian Regional Cooperation Association and on cooperation
in a number of issues.

Within the framework of the visit to Colombo Armenian ambassador had
a number of meetings and private conversations with officials of Sri
Lanka ministries and businessmen. During the meeting they particularly
discussed a number of issues on development of Armenia-Sri Lanka
trade-economic cooperation, opportunities on organizing mutual
high-level visits.

RETIRED BLACKBURN COUPLE’S ARMENIAN ADVENTURE
By Catherine Pye

Lancashire Telegraph
s/3568707.Retired_Blackburn_couple_s_Armenian_adve nture/
Aug 4 2008
UK

A RETIRED couple are about to go on a trip of a lifetime to Armenia
to help underprivileged children.

David and Sue Andrew of Whitehall Road, Blackburn, are travelling to
Yerevan and Stepanavan for a week tomorrow (Wednesday), visiting the
Area Development Programme run by the charity World Vision.

They will be helping out at a summer school for children, and working
with local communities to improve food security and access to clean
water.

Sue, 64, a former home tutor and hospital teacher, said: "We’ve never
done anything like this before and never thought we would because my
husband has had two major heart operations in the last couple of years.

"It’s marvellous we can go and I’m very excited and nervous."

David, 69, a former lecturer at Blackburn College, said: "When
Communism fell and the Russians left in 1991, they took the industry
away with them.

"There is now about 50 per cent unemployment and electricity is
prohibitively expensive.

"There was a bad earthquake in 1988 and many of the buildings are
still in their collapsed state because there are no resources."

They are representing Leamington Road Baptist Church in Blackburn,
which they have attended since 1973.

The church has supported the project for the last three years, together
with 20 other churches across the country in a project called Churches
in Partnership (CHIP).

Five others who are going on the trip are from the North East,
Birmingham and High Wycombe.

They hope to learn about the needs in the country, and take their
experiences back to their churches where fundraising can take place.

Sue and David also hope to meet the seven-year-old boy they sponsor,
called Armen.

They will be taking him a Blackburn Rovers shirt, a cap and a football.

Sue added: "Everytime I go shopping I end up coming back with things
for Armenia.

"The children at our church have also been drawing pictures for us
to take to other children their age."

AZERBAIJANI BANKS DISCUSS FURTHER PRESSURE UPON WESTERN UNION AND MONEYGRAM AFTER BAN FOR OPERATIONS WITH THEM

Azerbaijan Business Center
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Association of Banks of Azerbaijan is
conducting consultations with its member banks’ heads on the subject
of further steps in respect to international payment systems Western
Union and Moneygram, carrying out money transfers to Azerbaijan’s
territories occupied by Armenia.

ABA president Eldar Ismaylov said that domestic banks are debating
further moves towards the above-listed systems that violated
international law and international banking legislation.

"Earlier the taken measures led to the fact that Russia’s Vneshtorgbank
(VTB) closed a branch of its subsidiary VTB Armenia in Khankendi. The
same measures should be taken in respect to Western Union and
Moneygram," Islmaylov said.

VTB links the situation with the fact that by the moment of acquisition
of Savings Bank of Armenia the latter already had a Khankendi-based
branch that has been closed recently.

At the same time it is not important who raised earlier the issue
of illegal activity of payment systems – the National Bank (NB) of
Azerbaijan or banking community. It is our civil duty to suspend
operations with organizations failing to observe legal rights of
Azerbaijan," Ismaylov said.

On July 29 Rufat Aslanli, deputy chairman of board of the NB, sent
out a letter to banks in which it prescribes to stop immediately
since July 30 co-operation with money transfer systems Western Union
and Moneygram. He explained such prescription with the fact that
the NB set a demand to these systems and bodies controlling them on
compulsory stoppage of any money transfers to occupied territories
of Azerbaijan. Otherwise, it obliged to ban use of these systems
to all commercial banks of the country. All the domestic bans were
informed of that on June 20, 2008, but despite all the Azerbaijan’s
requirements, Western Union and Moneygram continued money transfers
to occupied territory of Azerbaijan.

ARMENIA: VOLUME OF WINE GRAPE INCREASES

Esmerk
Express.am
July 31, 2008 Thursday

According to the Armenian Association of Winemakers, the country
produced 144,000 tons of wine grape in 2007 compared to 106,000 in
2006. Yerevan Brandy Factory (YBF) accounted for 20.1% of all grapes
(26.4% in 2006), Yerevan Ararat Brandy, Wine, Vodka Factory for 14.5%
(14.2%). Proshyansk Brandy Plant, Artashat VinKon and Vagarshapat
wine and brandy producer accounted for 6-8% of the total volume
each. 85% of Armenian grapes is used for brandy production, 15%
for wine production. 90% of Armenian wines are semi-sweet and sweet
wines. Vedi Alco and Proshyansk Brandy Plant produce 3mn bottles a
year each, Maran company 30-40,000 bottles a year.

ARMENIAN INTERNET-PROVIDERS: WE NEED ‘THE LAST MILE’ TO INSTALL DEVICES

ArmInfo
2008-07-29 15:40:00

Armenian Internet-providers demand access to the ‘last mile’
of ArmenTel telecommunications infrastructure i.e. direct wire
linking telephones of subscribers and operators. Providers say
they will install the necessary devices. Ucom provider company
representative told ArmInfo no large- scale investments are necessary
for it. Providers just need a possiblity to provide Internet-services
like Hi Line of ArmenTel Company.

Thus, the very part of the wire for Internet channel is in question,
due to which clients will get an opportunity to choose their
Internet-provider like in abroad, he explained. Ucom representative
said the network will not be overloaded since a home client will
choose only one provider. In order to fix a reasonable price and to
understand how much we should pay to Armentel we should know much
the company spends on the use of the network and its maintenance.

The spokesperson of ArmenTel (Beeline brand) Anush Begloyan says that
Armentel does not refuse to provide direct lines. Simply, providers
should apply for them beforehand as the company cannot provide lines
on demand.

To remind, as the operator of the telephone network of Armenia,
Armentel has the right of ownership to it and is responsible for its
normal operation and maintenance.

RA PRESIDENT TO MEET UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART IN CRIMEA

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.07.2008 14:48 GMT+04:00

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II departed for Crimea on July 28 to participate in events
dedicated to 650th anniversary of the Holy Cross monastery, the RA
leader’s press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The Armenian delegation includes Ministers of Foreign Affairs and
Culture, chairman of the committee on ties with Diaspora and other
officials.

The Armenian President is scheduled to meet with his Ukrainian
counterpart Viktor Yushchenko.

An agreement on cooperation will be signed between Ministers of
Culture of Armenia and Ukraine.

LEVON TER-PETROSSIAN WAS THE FIRST

A1+
28 July, 2008

"Most families of Armenia’s political prisoners hardly afford their
bare necessities. They have appeared in abject despair after the
detention of their husbands, brothers and fathers. As our chances
are confined we do our best to assist the most vulnerable ones.

The political prisoners survive thanks to their families. They can
hardly do anything with the money allotted by the state," Coordinator
of the Committee for the Protection of the RoA Political Prisoners,"
Vardan Harutiunian said to A1+.

Vardan Harutiunian says that people having a high social status
usually do not engage in politics. They are mainly concerned about
insurance issues.

The Committee raises money to support the families under
question. "They reflect the hopeless state of our society." As of
now 60000 drams have been earmarked to five families.

Everyone is welcomed to make a voluntary donation. The list is
headed by Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrossian who has
donated 150 000 drams. The list involves representatives of Armenian
Intelligentsia, Diaspora and even an ARFD member who has given 30000
drams. All of them agree that citizens’ rights are violated in Armenia.

Below are the bank accounts,

Hrazdan branch of "Ardshininvest" bank

Arshavir Bozinian’s bank account 2476400372450010

Note, there are political prisoners in Armenia.

ArmInfo news agency (in Russian), Armenia
July 25 2008

Armenian opposition say authorities fear big rallies

Yerevan, 25 July: The authorities of the country are engaged in small
tricks via the Yerevan mayor’s office by refusing the All-National
Movement permission to stage an authorized rally, Arman Musinyan,
press secretary of the leader of the Armenian Pan-National Movement
and Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, told to a news
conference held at the Tesaket [Point of view] discussion club today.

He said that if the Yerevan mayor’s office sanctions the rally, the
authorities will lose the opportunity to cordon off motorways leading
to Yerevan, and to forbid sticking flyers and notify citizens of the
forthcoming rally. Thus many people would come to the rally, and the
"current regime" is afraid of this.

However, Musinyan pointed out that the rally will be staged at the
scheduled date – on the square outside the Matenadaran institute of
ancient manuscripts [in the centre of Yerevan] at 1900 [1400 gmt ] on
1 August. "I do not think that the authorities will take a senseless
step and try to initiate forcible actions. Experience shows that if
[the authorities] do not provoke us, our rallies and demonstrations
are conducted peacefully and without incidents," Musinyan said.

[translated]