MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMY: EU BIGGEST INVESTOR IN ARMENIA
Panorama.am
14:43 31/10/06
European Union countries – Germany, Greece, France, are the biggest
investors in Armenia, Karen Tchshmarityan, minister of finance and
economy, said speaking about the regular 7th meeting of the Committee
on Cooperation between Armenia and European Union.
In his words, EU countries account for 36.9% of trade turnover of our
countries. The average indicator of the trade turnover from the total
turnover made up 37.3% in export, 32.3% – in import in 2001-2005. As
of January-August, 2006 50.8% of the Armenian export and 30.6% of
import accounts on EU countries, the minister said.

TRANSPORT ISSUES STYMIE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
01/11/2006
“Economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia is developing but
this process is being stymied because of the issues in the sphere of
transportation,” Armenian president stated during the meeting with
Russian prime minister. Yet, investment projects in the spheres
of raw materials processing, construction and electricity offset
transport issues.
Prime minister Fradkov said that he will discuss cooperation issues
between the two states with his Armenian counterpart in Moscow on
December 1. The next day first deputy prime minister of Russia Dmitri
Medvedev will take part in the closing ceremony of Armenia’s Year in
Russia in St. Petersburg.
Igor Levitin, co-chair of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental
commission and transport minister of Russia, also took part in the
get-together of the Armenian president and Russian PM.
President Kocharian, Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov and Russia’s first
lady Lyudmila Putina took part in the unveiling ceremony of the bronze
statue of world-famous composer Aram Khachaturian yesterday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO INFORMATION ON DONOR-COUNTRIES FOR CLOSURE OF ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Panorama.am
14:45 31/10/06
There is no information on the donor-countries who will provide
financial support for taking up safety measures at the nuclear power
plant of Armenia and its closure, Karen Tchshmarityan, minister of
finance and economy, told a press conference today.
In his words, EU aims to hold a conference of donor-countries to
realize these goals. Tchshmarityan said the ministry is watchful to
the developments and soon information will be released.
Reminder: Armenian nuclear power plant, made of two power units with
the capacity of 815Mvatt, was closed in 1988. The second power unit
resumed in 1995. EU strongly suggests closing the Armenian nuclear
power plant whereas the Armenian government says it can do so only
after alternative energy sources are found.
Armenia estimated the full closure of the power plant in the amount
of $1 billion whereas the European countries are only ready to pay
100 million euro.
Armenia intends to spend $20 million from the total cost and expects
the remaining part to be paid by donor-countries.

ARMENIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER TO VOTE AGAINST ELECTION CODE DESPITE OF “POSITIVE ELEMENTS”
Panorama.am
14:46 31/10/06
Shavarsh Kocharyan, leader of Armenian Democratic Party and a deputy
of National Assembly, said the Election Code is a necessary but not
sufficient condition for free and fair elections. He said in 1991
we had the fairest elections under the conditions of the worst
election code. He also said the present Election Code “has many
positive elements,” but he is going to vote “against” because of
its shortcomings.
Kocharyan believes that by keeping to majoritarian vote we render our
support to authoritarian system. He said countries like Azerbaijan
prefer majoritarian systems. The deputy also sees problems in formation
of committees. Kocharyan supports 50/50 rate, i.e., if the chairman
is pro-government representative, the secretary and the deputy must
be from opposition.
Kocharyan thinks using envelopes is a good idea but he says the law
does not provide all the details of its use. He said the law does not
require not to make notes on the envelopes, so the voters can make
notes and the envelope will not be considered invalid.

GAS SUPPLIER COMPANY PROPOSES NEW TARIFFS
Panorama.am
15:11 31/10/06
Hayrusgazard closed joint stock company has applied to the public
services regulatory committee with a request to reconsider the gas
tariffs, Karen Karapetyan, company director, told reporters today
saying Hayrusgazard is not satisfied with the current tariffs.
He said tariffs must be raised so that people, who have no gas yet,
will also have the chance to have it.
He said we will never develop if the price of gas, electricity,
vodka and trousers do not go up.
Karapetyan refused to announce what rate they have proposed
to the committee but said that tariffs will not be raised for
resident-customers.

GAS SUPPLIER TO MAKE LITTLE LESS THAN $4 MILLION IN PROFIT
Panorama.am
15:53 31/10/06
Karen Karapetyan, general director of Hayrusgazard closed joint stock
company, supplier of gas in Armenia, said 84 % of area is supplied
with gas as against 22.2% in 2001. Karapetyan said the population
saves $160-180 million by using gas instead of electricity whereas
the users of gas instead of petroleum save $100 million.
Karapetyan said the company owns $283 million capital and has
made $83 million investment in the course of last 5 years. By the
end of this year, the company will have $ 3 million 750,000 in
profit.

SITTING OF BSEC COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 10:21
The 15th sitting of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation Organization (BSECO) member states will be held
in Moscow today.
Armenia will be represented by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. The
meeting will be chaired by RF Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey
Lavrov. Participants of the sitting will sum up the results of Russia’s
presidency over BSECO, particularly the results of meetings of the
Ministers of Emergency, Energy, Transport, Information Technologies
and Communications.
The Foreign Ministers will be presented information about the activity
of BSEC structures – BSEC Parliamentary Assembly, BSEC Council of
Foreign Ministers, Black Sea Bank for Trade and Development, the
International Center for Black Sea Research.
Georgia and Russia have agreed to arrange the meeting of the Foreign
Ministers of the two countries.

MONUMENT TO ARAM KHACHATRYAN OPENED IN MOSCOW
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 10:53
A monument to world famous composer Aram Khachaturian was opened
in the center of Moscow, not far from the House of Composers. The
festive ceremony was attended by RA President Robert Kocharyan, the
Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov, and the First Lady of Russia Lyudmila
Putina. The bronze statue was installed not far from the house,
where the composer lived and worked. Sculptor Georgy Frangulyan
and architect Igor Voskresenski pictured the maestro surrounded with
musical instruments. “It is very symbolic that the monument was placed
in this area, not far from the House of Composers,” Lyudmila Putina
said during the opening ceremony.

EU READY TO EASE SHENGEN VISA PROCEDURES
Panorama.am
16:03 31/10/06
“Recently citizens of Armenia, particularly the business community,
have problems with the permission to cross the border of Shengen
countries,” Karen Tchshmarityan, minister of finance and economy,
told a press conference today.
In his words, the Armenian side pinpointed to this problem at the
7th gathering of Armenia -European Union Cooperation Committee which
was held on October 25 in Brussels. The delegation of the European
side assured that the issue will be discussed with the respective
department of the international unit.
Tchshmarityan noted that Broader Europe: New Neighborhood project
promises lighter visa procedures in Shengen countries but the current
situation does not comply with that policy.

ANDRE TO PERFORM LIVE DURING TELETHON 2006
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 14:43
One of the most popular Armenian singers, Andre, will be performing
at its 9th Annual International Telethon to be aired worldwide on
Thanksgiving Day, November 23, Armenia Fund informs.
In May of this year Andre won 8th place in Greece for representing
Armenia at Eurovision song contest competing against contenders from
23 other nations.
Armenia was competing at the Eurovision song content for the first
time in 2006.
As part of the Rebirth of Artsakh project, proceeds from the live
12-hour program will benefit the regional development of Hadrut,
Nagorno Karabakh. The funds will go towards building new drinking water
pipelines as well as reconstructing healthcare facilities and schools
that fell victim to the devastating war. In an effort to eradicate
poverty in this war ravaged border region, Armenia Fund will also
implement a comprehensive agricultural development project to impact
1,000 farmers in 8 Hadrut villages. A similar regional development
program is currently underway in the northern Martakert region using
the funds raised during last year’s Telethon 2005.