YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM OF ARMENIA DEFEATS “PYUNIK-3” WITH A SCORE OF 5-0
Noyan Tapan
Aug 23 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Group tournament of the Europe
Championship elimination stage of football players until 17 will
be held in Yerevan from September 30 to October 5. The national
team of Armenia is included in 10 sub-groups. Our football players
will compete with the football players of the same age of Scotland
on September 30, of Hungary on October 2 and with the Bulgarian
football players on October 5. Those who will take the first and
the second places will continue the struggle in the next tour. On
August 22, within the framework of preparation for the tournament,
the national team of Armenia held an unofficial match with “Pyunik-3”
in the Republican stadium. The national team won with a score of 5-0
(coach Arsen Chilingarian).

MOUNTAIN-CLIMBER FROM KRASNODAR TO DEDICATE THIER ASCENT OF ARARAT TO “YEAR OF ARMENIA IN RUSSIA”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 23 2006
KRASNODAR, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A group of
Krasnodar mountain-climbers, headed by Vardan Vardanian, started
subjugation of the sacred object of the Christianity, the mount of
Ararat. According to the “Yerkramas” (country) newspaper of Armenians
of Russia, there are representatives of creative professions and
business, heads of big companies and entreprenuers, photopraphers and
painters, among mountain-climbers from Krasnodar, who have already
directed to Iran by plane, from where they will go to Turkey and start
the ascent. Mountain-climbers from other countries will join ones of
Krasnodar on the way. The international group dedicates the ascent
of Ararat to the “Year of Armenia in Russia” being held in 2006. In
Vardan Vardanian’s words, the mountain-climbers from Krasnodar will
hoist on the top of Ararat the flag of the capital of Kuban as well.

ACCORDING TO RA NSS HEAD, MULTIFACTOR ANALYSIS SHOULD BE MADE TO ASCERTAIN CAUSES OF DECLINE IN AGRICULTUTRAL OUTPUT
Noyan Tapan
Aug 23 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. “A multifactor analysis is
necessary in order to ascertain causes of the 6.8% decline in the
gross agricultural output in January-July 2006 on the same period of
last year.” Head of the RA National Statistical Service (NSS) Stepan
Mnatsakanian expressed this opinion, adding that the RA NSS published
the agricultural output indices of January-July 2006 by summarizing
the preliminary data which was collected in a hurry. In response to
NT correspondent’s question whether the above mentioned decline was
not due to drought (although the officials of the agriculatural sphere
deny it), S. Mnatsakanian noted that based on the analysis of the 7.2%
growth in the agricultural sphere in January-June 2006 compared with
the same period of last year, it was conditioned by higher temperature
in June 2006 compared with the same month of last year, as a result of
which the plants grew more rapidly this year. “Under such conditions,
some part of July’s harvest was transferred to June – this was the
explanation we heard,” S. Mnatsakanian said.

IMPROVEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT REGISTRATION FIELD UNDERWAY
Noyan Tapan
Aug 23 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. It is not ruled out that the 101.8%
increase in the average monthly nominal salary in the trade and
public catering sectors in January-May 2006 was conditioned by an
extension in the employment and payment registration field of these
sectors. This opinion was expressed by the Head of the RA National
Statistical Service (NSS) Stepan Mnatsakanian.
Responding to a question of NT correspondent, he said that it is
possible that based on the data of the researches on unregistered
employment and “shadow” payments, the respective bodies are
taking various administrative measures aimed at improving the
registration field. According to official statistics, in 2005, the
hidden employemnt made up 22.9% against 22.6% in 2001. In 2005, the
unregistered self-employed and those employed by employers engaged in
unregistered activities accounted for 6.7% of the total number of the
employed against 12.3% in 2001, while the self-employed and employers
engaged in unregistered activities accounted for 69.1% of the total
number against 91.1%. On the other hand, the hired workers employed
based on a verbal agreement accounted for 16.2% of the total number
of the employed in 2005 against 10.3% in 2001, and for 25.54% of the
total number of hired workers against 15% in 2001. It was noted that
the level of unemployment declined from 38.4% in 2001 to 31.3% in 2005.

STATISTICAL SYSTEM TO EVALUATE EXPENSES OF ARRIVING AND DEPARTING TOURISTS TO BE INTRODUCED IN ARMENIA WITHIN A YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Aug 23 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. A statistical system to evaluate
the expenses of arriving and departing tourists will be introduced in
Armenia within a year. Vahe Danielian, member of the State Statistical
Council, stated this.
Responding to a question of NT correspondent, he said that with the
aim of introducing this system, the RA National Statistical Service
(NSS) will conduct in September 2006 a research at border points on
the purpose of visit of those arriving in Armenia and leaving the
country, as well as their expenses in Armenia and abroad. According
to V. Danielian, at border points, the counters of the RA NSS will
distribute questionnares to 5% of those arriving in Armenia and leaving
it in order to determine their expenses in Armenia and abroad. A
questionnare developed and guaranteed by the World Tourism Organization
will be used. Surveys conducted by using such questionnares allow to
assess the gross product created in the tourism sector.

JON HUNTSMAN PLANS TO FOUND ONCOLOGICAL CENTER IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Aug 23 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The famous American businessman,
Chairman of Huntsman Corporation Jon Huntsman, who is once again in
Armenia with some serious programs related to education and health
care, has expressesd a desire to found a modern oncological center
in Armenia. Assessing this idea as quite interesting and long-term,
the Armenian President Robert Kocharian said during the August 23
meeting with the American businessman that he is ready to assist with
its realization in every possible way. The President also attached
great importance to assistance programs in the sphere of education,
noting that in conducting its policy, the Armenian government respects
human rights.
He expressed confidence that the efficient cooperation with Jon
Huntsman that has formed over years will continue and his intentions
will be put into practice. According to the RA President’s
press service, the sides spoke about Armenian-US relations as
well. R. Kocharian presented the economic situation in Armenia,
the priorities and prospects of development of the country’s economy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HEAD OF ARMAVIA AIRLINE DISAGREES WITH IAC CONCLUSIONS
Yerevan, August 23. ArmInfo. Head of the Armenian national airline
Armavia, Mikhail Baghdasarov, categorically disagrees with the
conclusions of the International Aviation Committee (IAC) on the
results of the investigation of A- 320 crash near Sochi on May 3. To
recap, under IAC made a conclusion that the reason of the crash was
human factor, i.e. the faults of the crew.
In an interview to Haykakan Zhamanak, M. Baghdasarov says: “What
was shown to us was not right.” He says none of the Armenian party
representatives participating in the investigation have signed any
document so far. In such conditions, no final resolution is possible,
he says. The fact that IAC published its version of the resolution
is a gross violation of international aviation rules. Under these
rules, a resolution on the results of a crash investigation is made
subject to the fact that the resolution is final. While, it requires
signatures of all the parties of the investigation, Baghdasarov says.

AN ARMENIAN ENTREPRENEUR INTENDS TO SELL 30% OF VTB BANK SHARES
Yerevan, August 23. ArmInfo. Renowned Armenian entrepreneur Mikhail
Bagdasarov intends to sell 30% of VTB-Armenia bank, which belong
to him.
In an interview to ‘Haykakan Jhamanak’ newspaper he stated that at
present he considers 2 possible ways of selling the shares. By the
first one the shares will be purchased by the Russian Vneshtorgbank,
owner of the remaining 70% VTB shares. His intention Mr. Bagdasarov
explained by resigning the office of the Head of VTB-Armenia Bank
Council. Recently on that post was elected the vice-president of
Vneshtorgbank.
According to ArmInfo analysis, Mikhail Bagdasarov is rather
dissatisfied with the passive and instable stance of the VTB-Armenia
bank in the Armenian market. At the same time the Russian side has
already invested $15-20 million for the development of the former
Armsavingsbank. By the end of the first half of 2006 the authorized
capital stock of the bank equaled $18 million.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN CITIZEN ARMENIAN BY ORIGIN VIOLENTLY BEATEN UP IN KRASNODAR
Krasnodar, August 23. ArmInfo. A group of youngsters attacked an
Armenian in the center of Krasnodar, in the corner of Kommunarov and
Gorky streets, approximately at 10:00 PM on August 21.
Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia, told ArmInfo the group
consisted of about 15 youngsters at the age of 18-22, as witnesses
say. The Armenian was violently beaten up after he tried to protect
a woman from the group that attacked her shop. The man was beaten as
long as he lost consciousness. He was hospitalized with concussion
of the brain and numerous injuries.
Witnesses say the youngsters cried nationalist slogans like “Let’s
clear Kuban from the black” and “Russia is for Russians.” It is
noteworthy that witnesses applied to a nearby guard department,
which, however, made no response to their cries for help, the
newspaper reports.

‘ASTARAK-KAT’ COMPANY ACTIVATES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM
Yerevan, August 23. ArmInfo. At the ‘Caucasian Center of Study
Resources – Armenia’ was held a seminar dedicated to corporate social
responsibility (CSR). Employees of the Center, representatives of
social organizations and Armenian businessmen took part in the
seminar. Methods of CSR application in foreign states and other
important issues were considered. On the event were represented the
terms of CSR application at ‘Ashtarak-Kat’ CJSC.
It should be noted that in July 2006 the Shareholders’ Council of
Ashtarak-Kat approved the principles of corporate management of the
company. According to the adopted document, corporate management
principles provide for the moral and ethical norms of business
behavior. The corporate management principles are based upon the CSR
terms, the 1994 Swiss declaration by the major entrepreneurs of the
world and the UN Global Agreement.