RF IS IN SHAMEFUL THIRD PLACE IN ARMENIAN ECONOMY ON LINE OF INVESTMENTS, V.PUTIN DECLARES
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
MOSCOW, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian who
is in RF on a working visit had a tete-a-tete talk with RF President
Vladimir Putin on October 30 in the Kremlin. According to the report
submitted to NT from RA President’s Press Office, V.Putin greeting RA
President’s visit to Russia expressed satisfaction with the fact that
the bilateral relations periodically continue at the highest level
and depth. He touched upon extension of Armenian-Russian economic
cooperation in the recent period emphasizing that only in the eight
months of this year the volume of mutual trade amounted to 278 mln
dollars, which exceeds the index of the same period of the previous
year by 60%.
Nevertheless, he considered as “shameful” fact that Russia takes the
third place in Armenian economy by the volume of investments. “We
are in the shameful third place, as it is strange that Russia does
not take the first place in the economy of its strategic partner on
the line of investments,” RF President said. Meanwhile, he attached
importance to the circumstance that the Russian investments in
Armenia have a tendency of growing. Robert Kocharian, in his turn,
said that all agreements with Gazprom on energy projects start
to be implemented. “So, the investment component will essentially
change next year,” he said. As an excellent example of bilateral
cooperation RA President mentioned launching of ArmenAl that has
been modernized lately and has increased the production volumes
for several times. At the meeting V.Putin also touched upon Year of
Armenia in Russia mentioning that it proceeds very well and is the
natural continuation of Year of Russia in Armenia. RA President also
mentioned that all events scheduled within the framework of Year of
Armenia in Russia have been implemented. He considered it interesting
that proposals of holding joint events were received from RF regions
during the year, which enriched the scheduled program. R.Kocharian
attached importance to further continuation of cooperation in the
humanitarian sphere and preservation of mechanisms already worked out
in this direction. Opinions on international and regional problems were
exchanged at the meeting. They touched upon perfection of cooperation
within the framework of CIS, Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Cooperation. RA and RF Presidents also
discussed issues relating to combining the two countries’ efforts
in the direction of rehabilitation of the situation in the region,
revelation of the potential of bilateral cooperation, prevention of
new conflicts, in particular, the unsolved Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

ARMRUSGAZPROM’S DIRECTOR: ARMENIA MAY BECOME A TRANSIT COUNTRY FOR EXPORT OF NATURAL GAS
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia may become a transit country
for the export of natural gas, but it is not yet clear when this
may happen.
Chairman of ArmRusgazprom company’s board, General Executive Director
of the company Karen Karapetian expressed this opinion at the October
31 press conference. Speaking about the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
K. Karapetian said that no second section of this gas pipeline
exists. The matter just concerns the extension, or increasing the
capacity of the gas transportation system of ArmRusgazprom, which will
allow to transport the Iranian gas from Kajaran to Yerevan – to the
Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant. Initially 300-400 million cubic meters of
gas will be imported annually, while later this amount will increase
to 2.3 billion cubic meters. According to K. Karapetian, ArmRusgazprom
did not submit any written application to the Armenian government
about the operation of the Armenian section of the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline, this issue was discussed verbally. It was mentioned that
1,753.47 km of gas pipes and 11,474.36 km of distribution networks
are on ArmRusgazprom’s balance.

ARMRUSGAZPROM INVESTS 83 MILLION DOLLARS IN SYSTEM IN PAST 5 YEARS
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. In the past 5 years, ArmRusgazprom
company has invested 83 million USD in the system. The overall
revenues of the company made 236 mln USD, its profit – 3 mln 750
thousand USD. Karen Karapetian, Chairman of ArmRusgazprom Board,
General Executive Director of the company, said this at the October
31 press conference. Natural gas imports into Armenia increased by
61% in 2006 on 2001, while the use of gas grew by 65%. The number of
commercial users increased by 526% compared with 2001, while the number
of subscribers increased by 336% and made 450 thousand. According to K.
Karapetian, gas supply networks have been installed in 97 communities
and city districts of various marzes. In early 2007, the number
of potential subscribers will make 630 thousand, while the number
of actual subscribers will exceed 450 thousand. K. Karapetian said
that in the indicated period the consumption volume of gas filling
stations has grown by 636%. According to him, the current capacity
of the Abovian underground gas depot makes 110 million cubic meters,
and it is envisaged to increase this capacity to 150 mln cubic meters
in 2009.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE POLICY IMPORTANCE FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT” OPENS IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Exchange of the best international
experience on the open source software (OSS) policy may contribute
to the necessity for OSS introduction in Armenia. Larisa Minasyan,
Director of the Open Society Institure Assistance Fund’s (OSIAF)
Armenia Office, said this at the opening of the two-day international
conference “Open Source Software Policy Importance for Information
Society Development.” Experts from Armenia, Russia, Bulgaria,
Macedonia, and Tadjikistan are participating in the conference,
the main purpose of which is to introduce representaives of the
Armenian government, civil society and IT industry to the OSS use
and the policy implemented in this sector. Tagui Tumanyan, of the
Center for Information Law and Policy (CILP), presented the results
of a survey on usage of OSS conducted in Armenia’s 14 ministries
(of foreign affairs, education and science, finance and economy,
and others) and universities (the American University of Armenia,
Yerevan State University, and other big universities), which show a
low level of OSS usage. Out of the programs implemented in Armenia
with the assistance of donor organizations, T. Tumanyan indicated
the UNDP-supported program “Regions”, which created the opportunity
to organize electronic dialog between government bodies and citizens
in some Armenian marzes (provinces). Another program developed with
the use of OSS is the computer translation program implemented
with the assistance of the Soros Foundation. T. Tumanyan also
attached importance to the creation of high-efficiency servers
intended for scientific papers, which function with OSS usage in
40 educational institutions. David Sandukhchyan, CILP Director,
informed conference participants that the strategy of e-governance in
Armenia, which was worked out for a year, has been submitted to the
RA government. Foreign experts invited to take part in the conference
will tell the participants about experience of OSS usage in state and
local governments and educational institutions of their countries,
about obstacles to OSS adoption and factors contributing to it. The
conference is organized by the Internews Center for Information Law
and Policy (CILP), the Open Society Institute Assistance Fund (OSIAF)
and the organization Internet Society of Bulgaria.

EU COUNTRIES’ 53.9% SHARE IN DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA IN 2003 INCREASES TO 76.5% IN 2005
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-August 2006, European
Union (EU) countries accounted for 36.9% of Armenia’s foreign
trade. 50.8% of goods exported from Armenia was exported to EU
countries. In the indicated period, EU countries accounted for
30.6% of Armenia’s imports. The RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmaritian presented this data during the October
31 press conference, noting that the EU is the most active trade
partner of Armenia. According to him, in 2001-2005, the average
annual share of the EU in Armenia’s foreign trade made up 36.9%,
its share in the country’s exports – 37.3%, in imports – 32.3%. In
the same period, the companies of EU countries accounted for 42.6%
of foreign investments in Armenia, their share in direct investments
over this period amounting to 49.9%. In 2003, EU countries accounted
for 53.9% of the direct foreign investments in Armenia, while in 2005 –
for 76.5%. K. Chshmaritian said that in 2005, foreign investments in
Armenia amounted to 400 million USD, investments of EU countries’
companies – to 215 million USD, 187 million of which was direct
investment. According to the minister’s forecasts, in 2006, the total
amount of investments in Armenia will grow by about 20%. The minister
noted that Greece is in first place by the amount of investments in
Armenia in 2005, followed by Germany and France.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INVESTMENTS OF RUSSIAN COMPANIES IN ARMENIA WILL GROW, ARMENIAN MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSURES
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. In 1991-2005, Russia was in first
place in terms of foreign investments made in Armenia. The RA Minister
of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmaritian stated this
at the October 31 press conference. As for the concern at the small
amount of Russian companies’ investments in Armenia that the Russian
President Vladimir Putin expressed on October 30, K. Chshmaritian said
that this concern is related only to the data of 2005. In 1991-2005,
Russian companies have invested about 400 million USD in Armenia. This
is equal to the total amount of foreign investments in Armenia in 2005.

NEW LIBRARY INAUGURATED AT ARF BUREAU OFFICE
Yerkir
31.10.2006 17:09
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – A library named after Armenian Revolutionary
Federation figure Hrayr Marukhian was inaugurated on October 30 at
the ARF Bureau office in Yerevan.
The ceremony was attended by members of the ARF Bureau, ARF chapters
from Armenia, Artsakh and other countries.
ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian and Hrayr Marukhian’s widow
Anahit inaugurated the new library.
In his remarks, ARF Bureau member Albert Achemian said that Marukhian
was both a skilful political figure and intellectual. “He was a great
fan of books and a great reader,” Achemian said.
Achemian also said that ARF Bureau has decided to bring a copy of the
ARF archives to Armenia using modern technology as well as bring the
items kept at the ARF’s Paris museum to Armenia.
The newly established library began to operate in March on the basis
of the books brought to Armenia from Athens. Later, books were also
brought from the ARF office in Lebanon, making the library complete.
Currently, the library contains full collection of many ARF
publications, including the Droshak copies published between 1890
and 1904.
The library has about 5,000 books currently.
ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian said that the library would
be very useful not only for the ARF members but also for all those
who may use the books of the library for their studies.
Shaghik Marukhian, Hrayr Marukhian’s daughter, said that the library
would be helpful especially for the young people who are engaged in
political and social sciences.
“As for the emotional value of the library, I have to say that the
party was the first family of my father, and it is natural that all
his books have been returned to the party,” Marukhian said.

ARAM KHACHATRYAN’S STATUE TO BE OPENED IN MOSCOW
ArmRadio.am
31.10.2006 10:38
The opening ceremony of Aram Khachatryan’s statue will be held in
Moscow today. The event will be attended by the Mayor of Moscow
Yuri Luzhkov and the Armenian delegation headed by President Robert
Kocharyan. The monument was erected near the House of Composers.

CONFERENCE ON “NEW THREATS AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES IN THE 21ST CENTURY” TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
31.10.2006 10:43
An international conference on “New Threats and Global Challenges in
the 21st Century” will open in the Yerevan State University today. The
event is timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Byurakan
Astrophysical Observatory, therefore the second day of the conference
will be held in Byurakan.
The international conference will provide a theoretical overview of
new threats and global challenges of the 21st century; the methods
and measures for Armenia to adequately and effectively confront them
and the new threats and global challenges of the 21st century within
the context of the OSCE area. The main objective of this effort is
to carry this conference forward and to leverage this event as an
impetus for greater and continued co-operation.
Scientists, researchers and academia representatives from the USA,
Europe, Southern Caucasus and Armenia will participate in the event.
The event is organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in co-operation
with the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

GEORGY PETROSYAN: NKR APPROACHES REGARDING THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT UNCHANGED
ArmRadio.am
31.10.2006 12:00
The approaches of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic regarding the conflict
settlement have not changed, NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan told
” Armenpress.”
The Minister refused to make any predictions about the terms of
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. “Nagorno Karabakh stands for
the rapid resolution of the conflict and establishment of friendly
relations with Azerbaijan, as a guarantee of stability and development
in the region,” Georgy Petrosyan said.
He is confident that only the peace that guarantees the security of
the conflicting parties, freedom and dignity will be enduring.
In response to the question whether it is possible to agree upon
the pivotal issues of settlement in the current year, the Foreign
Minister said that the year 2006 was full of optimistic statements
and predictions about the Karabakh conflict settlement, which,
unfortunately, do not correspond to the real state of negotiations,
which resulted in certain disappointment.