Author: Zaminian Bedik

PRO – LEVON OPPOSITION EXHAUSTS ITS MISSION
LILIT POGHOSYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 05, 2008
Armenia

Director of `Sociometer’ independent sociological research center
Aharon Adibekyan responds to the questions of `Hayots Ashkharh’ daily.

`Ter-Petrosyan announces that he is ready to yield and start
negotiations with the Prime Minister, if the `criminal’ ruling power
agrees to release all the `political prisoners’. In such circumstances
is it possible to speak about a dialogue between the ruling power and
the opposition.’

`The court procedures show that some part of the detainees that didn’t
play an active role in the massive disorder are released and the other
part of the detainees face conditional punishment. But those who
intentionally committed crimes must be punished.

If the conversation is about the `political’ figures it is a really
disputable issue and it would be better if we invite international
experts to give advice to our law enforcers in this respect. If you
insult the policeman, in a very tensed situation, it is a punishable
act and you will definitely be punished, in any other country, no
matter who you are.

And I don’t think it is accepted in the international practice to
employ double standard approach towards the so-called political
figures. It should serve as a lesson for the opposition. They must know
that no one has the right to breach the law and be unpunished. Based on
the logic of 1988, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his supporters must probably
think that if the people have risen then they can do anything. But it
is far not like that, moreover if you come out not in the name of the
whole nation but part of it.

In my view opposition is searching its new mission. No government is
perfect. It has small and big gaps. You can always find reasons to
criticize the government. But it should be in a constructive domain.
Unfortunately the group that considers itself opposition doesn’t have
this perception and analytic abilities, to make a good choice and to
put forward a real alternative.’

`Recently Ter-Petrosyan made a sensational announcement, saying that
after March 1 Armenia’s international rating didn’t fall. Only the
ruling power has been discredited, and Armenia’s democratic rating has
risen abruptly, due to certain `peace-loving citizens’ who are ready to
die for `freedom’. Do you agree with that standpoint?’

`Because of Ter-Petrosyan Armenia’s international rating dropped three
times. First it was in 1996, when suffering defeat during the elections
he remained in power, by Vazgen Sargsyan’s help. At that time all the
programs linked with Armenia were frozen and stopped.

The second was in 1998 when he resigned. It turned out that Armenia was
not ready to ensure democratic development and that resignation was the
only way to change power.

The third was `March 1′ and this is a bit regular, in some sense,
because Ter-Petrosyan has got a deconstructive mentality and his
historic mission was the collapse of the Soviet system, as in case of
Gamsakhurdia and Elchibey.

IMEX GROUP is planning an issue and public placement of corporate bonds
in Armenia

2008-07-04 16:24:00

ArmInfo. IMEX GROUP LLC, the leading regional distributor of
sanitaryware and building materials, is planning an issue and public
placement of corporate bonds in Armenia in September 2008, IMEX GROUP
told ArmInfo. The company is known to Armenian consumers under the
brands "Ideal System", "Thermotech", "Mercury", "Kinhil", etc.
According to the source, the company has thoroughly prepared for the
placement having held a number of structural reforms, received a rating
by the Central Bank of Armenia and held an audit of financial
accountability. To prepare the issue, the company involved Ameriabank
(former Armimpexbank), the affiliated structure of the leading Russian
investment company Troika Dialog. IMEX GROUP concluded an agreement on
underwriting with Ameriabank and is already actively working on the
preparation of the issue. The decision on the bond issue meets the
strategic plan of the company’s development in the increase of openness
and transparency of activity in compliance with the new demands of the
market.

IMEX GROUP noted that the decision on the bond issue was preceded by a
detailed analysis of the general macroeconomic situation of Armenia,
financial sector and local securities market, due to which the
parameters of the securities will be based on real market ratios. As of
the moment of placement, the profitability of IMEX GROUP’s bonds is
supposed to range from 11,25% to 11,5%, the circulation period will
make up 2 years with quarterly coupon payments. Specialists think that
quarterly payments will make the bonds more attractive than payments
twice a year, which are more popular in the market. In addition, the
emitter intends to provide investors with option to buy-out securities
in face value 1 year after the issue, which will increase investment
prospects. IMEX GROUP LLC that was founded in 2001 is the promoter of a
network of shops of building materials of ‘Ideal System’ and shops of
heating equipment and conditioningsystems ‘Thermotech’. At present the
company unites over 30 shops in Yerevan, Gyumri, Artashat, Vanadzor,
Armavir and Etchmaidzin. IMEX GROUP is the largest supplier of building
materials and goods for interior and exterior repair and construction
in Armenia. The company is the official representative of some 75
European companies in Armenia and Georgia.

In August 2007, TDA Holdings LTD representing the shareholders of the
leading investment company in Russia Troika Dialog Group, became the
majority shareholder of Ameriabank (the former Armimpexbank).
Development of investment banking together with provision of a full
spectrum of traditional banking services is priority for the bank.

SERZH SARGSYAN LEAVES FOR KAZAKHSTAN

Panorama.am
16:14 04/07/2008

On July 5 the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan leaves
for Kazakhstan, reported the press service of the President’s
Administration. President Serzh Sargsyan will take part in non official
summit of the CIS member countries’ leaders organized in Astana.

The President will also take part in celebration party devoted to
the 10th anniversary of capital Astana foundation.

Note that according to Kazakh sources the presidents of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and the King of Hordanan are
invited to take part in the celebration of Astana’s 10th anniversary.

STATED TASK: GOVERNMENT SHOWS WILL TO MAKE CUSTOMS SERVICE TRANSPARENT BODY
Sara Khojoyan

ArmeniaNow.com
04 July, 2008
Armenia

For the last two months the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Armenia
has been the focus of government efforts to fight corruption. Many
Armenian residents say they have already seen the positive changes in
structure which is believed to be one of the most corrupted in the
country, while others are still skeptical that the lawful manner of
work will continue.

The government that chose reforms of the tax and customs bodies as
the main directions of its activities is paying "centered attention"
to all this.

"Our country has no sources for solving social problems apart from
collections made by tax and customs bodies. So, we have to take the
path of self-purification," Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan emphasized
during his first meeting with SCC.

The SCC, where according to President Serzh Sargsyan, "corruption is
thriving", embarked on the "path of self-purification" immediately. The
changes were so unexpected and swift that the business world and
ordinary people were surprised and at the same time skeptical that
all that was only a temporary measure.

Karapet Alexanyan is one of those who felt for himself the positive
changes made at the custom service. Alexanyan purchased a car from
the United States a few months ago and in early June it reached the
border of the Republic of Armenia.

"Knowing how everything is handled in Armenia, I was worried. I had
heard different prices of customs clearance from different people
and was a little worried. People said that the customs clearance of
the car I had purchased was quite expensive, 1.5 times higher than
I actually paid for it eventually," Alexanyan says.

"Still, I had absolutely no problems with customs clearance. I
had heard that the reason was that everything has been legalized
now. Perhaps that was the reason for low prices. They say now
you pay only the sum that is required from you, without bribes,"
Alexanyan adds.

Unlike Alexanyan, David Allahverdyan was not lucky, as he had imported
his car before the reform:

"In February I imported a Volkswagen model 2000 and cleared it at
the customs for $4,525. And my friend brought a car with the same
parameters in May and paid $2,800 for clearance, i.e. $1,700 less. It
means that I had given $1,700 not to the state."

To feel less deceived Allahverdyan is going to import another
car. "While there is law and order, I’ll go and bring a car at a low
price, otherwise, I don’t know how long this will last," he says.

As part of the reform, the SCC introduced several novelties. Among
them is the posting on the SCC website of a list of fixed prices
for a number of commodity types, an option of filling in customs
declarations by the importer/exporter themselves, etc.

These points were envisaged by the legislation still from 2001,
but were not applied in practice.

The changes are evaluated as positive also by representatives of the
business world, who emphasize, however, that there is still much to
be changed.

Kia Motors Armenia CJSC deputy director Ararat Mardoyan says that for
them as for large importers these changes have not proved efficient
yet.

"The reforms in reality solved only technical issues," Mardoyan
says. "For example, you can fill in the papers more quickly and things
like this, but nothing more. This all has helped more individuals."

"They still have to do a lot of work in connection with the formation
of the customs value, many subtleties are not worked out yet, for
example how they decide customs prices, who decides those prices,
etc. We are an official representative of Kia Motors in Armenia,
but even we are not allowed to make an invoice customs clearance,
that is, we and individuals pay the same price in the case when we
buy at a lower price from the plant in case of larger quantities."

Mardoyan considers a high percentage rate of customs clearance a
"nonsense": "They have high percentage rates of import in countries
where there is domestic car production in order to promote the sales
of the domestic producer."

"In this case, it hits the consumer as 30 percent is a very high
percentage. For example, an SUV of a medium category can be purchased
in Armenia for $25-27,000, and in Dubai it can be purchased for
$12-15,000, yet in Dubai residents earn three times as much. As an
importer, we still bring and sell. Eventually, it is consumers who
find themselves on the receiving end, since the higher the percentage
rate is the higher the selling price is," Mardoyan explains.

In the first half of 2008 20,000 cars were imported to Armenia,
by 4,000 more than in the same period of the last year.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS: "KARABAKH WILL JOIN THE NEGOTIATIONS SOONER OR LATER"

Today.Az
June 30 2008
Azerbaijan

President of the unrecognized "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" Baco Saakyan
received OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Saturday.

The co-chairs -Bernard Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza (USA) and
Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) discussed a wide range of issues of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement.

The press service for the "president" of the unrecognized republic
reported that during the meeting Saakyan said it is impossible to
attain the eventual resolution of the conflict without participation of
"Nagorno Karabakh Republic".

He stated that "anti-Armenian propaganda" and "bellicose" statements
of the Azerbaijani side undermine the negotiation process, as well
as peace and stability in the region.

The separatist leader also shifted the blame for the March 4 events
on the front line on Azerbaijan.

He said official Khankendi is for peaceful resolution of the problem
and establishment of a dialogue with Baku.

Saakyan also noted that the Karabakh issue should be resolved in the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and Azerbaijan’s attempts to transfer
it to other instances tense the situation with the conflict settlement.

The co-chairs agreed with his opinion and stressed readiness to
encourage peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. At the
same time the diplomats noted that Karabakh will join negotiations
sooner or later.

The meeting was attended by "Foreign Minister" of the "Nagorno
Karabakh Republic" Georgy Petrosyan and personal representative of
OSCE chairman-in-office Andzhei Kaspshik.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 28 2008

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs negotiate in Armenia

[ 28 Jun 2008 13:10 ]

Yerevan-APA. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors
Bernard Fassier of France, Yury Merzlyakov of Russia, and Matthew
Bryza of the United States and OSCE chairman-in-office’s personal
representative Andrzej Kasprzyk have today met with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Novosti Armenia quoted Edward Nalbandian as briefing about his
country’s approach to Madrid Proposals submitted to the parties in
November, 2007. He added that persistent bellicose rhetoric by some
Azerbaijani officials poses negative influence on the settlement of
the conflict and mutual confidence in negotiations.

The co-chairs informed Armenian minister of talks they held in Baku.
They hailed results of meeting in Azerbaijan as helpful and underlined
the need for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The co-chairs said they would continue their efforts to bring the
parties’ positions closer on the basis of the Madrid Proposals.

The OSCE Minsk group co-chairs will also meet with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and leave Yerevan for Khankendi.

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA DOES NOT INTEND TO JOIN NATO

armradio.am
27.06.2008 16:03

RA President Serzh Sargsyan declared that Armenia does not intend to
join NATO and being a CSTO member is "profitable" for the country.

Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with Russian "Kommersant" daily
that "Rubezh 2008" military exercises to be held in Armenia within
the framework of the Collative Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
are more important for Yerevan than the conduct of the "NATO Week."

The "NATO Week" is an arrangement of familiarization character,
which is being conducted for the first time. NATO Information Centers
operate in both Yerevan and Moscow. And we intend to develop our
relations with the Alliance within the framework of the Individual
Partnership Action Plan. I think it will give necessary experience
to our Armed Forces. But we have always stated that state now that
the issue of joining NATO is not on Armenia’s foreign policy agenda,"
Serzh Sargsyan said.

In response to the question whether the aspiration of Georgia and
Ukraine to join NATO should be viewed as an expression of anti-Russian
policy, RA President said: "It depends on the way of comprehension. I
do not remember a case, when a state joining NATO would say it was
going there to insure itself against Russia. After becoming a member,
they justify their actions, saying they wanted to ensure security. But
I’m speaking from the point of view of Armenian statehood. "If we
are in the CSTO today, and if thee are Russian troops and a Russian
military base located on our territory, then joining NATO would be
viewed as an anti-Russian step, since the military bases of the one
would be replaced by those of the other.

Serious reasons are necessary for that."

Serzh Sargsyan noted that being a member of the CSTO is "profitable
for Armenia. "Today all our armaments are either Soviet or Russian. It
must be preserved, modernized and increased. The CSTO provides that
opportunity.

We have privileged conditions of military-technical cooperation,
and its profitable for us," RA President said.

ARFD BUREAU’S HAY DAT AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICE DIRECTOR: IF DEMOCRATS COME TO POWER, US FOREIGN POLICY IS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SOME CHANGES

ArmInfo
2008-06-24

If Democrats come to power, the US foreign policy is likely to
experience some changes, Kiro Manoyan, ARFD Bureau’s Hay Dat and
Political Affairs Office Director, said at Pastark Debate Club,
Tuesday.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has repeatedly come
out for changing the policy of Washington regarding the Genocide of
Armenians of 1915 in Ottoman Turkey, he said. Moreover, Obama is for
launching a dialogue with Iran and for ‘fair’ settlement of Karabakh
conflict, K. Manoyan said.

‘The history showed that the US presidential candidates are in no
haste to fulfill their promises regarding the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide when coming to the White House. Nevertheless, Obama
has already expressed his opinion on the topic both as presidential
candidate and as senator, which inspires us with hope’, Kiro Manoyan
said. At the same time he underlined that no radical changes should
be expected in the foreign policy of official Washington.

IRAN, ARMENIA INK TWO MOU ON BUILDING ARAS POWER PLANT

Iran-Armenia-Power Plant
June 24
IRNA

Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister and Armenia’s Energy and Natural
Resources Minister signed two Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs)
on construction of a hydro-electric power plant on Aras River.

According to a report by Islamic Republic of Iran’s Embassy in
Armenia on Monday, Rasoul Zargar, Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister in
Water Affairs, discussed the outlook of cooperation between Iran and
Armenia concerning generation of electricity and issues related to
construction of a hydro-electrical power plant on Aras River with
the Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan
and his deputy in Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan.

The principle agreement on construction of Aras hydro-electrical
power plant was signed during President Ahmadinejad’s state visit to
Armenia in the year 2006.

ARAM ANDRIKIAN TAKES SECOND PLACE IN WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 20, 2008

CALI, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. 85kg-weight weightlifters competed in
the World Weightlifting Youth Championship being held in the city of
Cali, Columbia.

Representative of Armenia Aram Andrikian (Sevan) showed a 155 kg result
in the exercise of snatch and took fouth place. He took second place
in the clean and jerk with a 191 kg result and was awarded the second
silver medal with a 341 kg result in the biathlon.