VENTURE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN IN OCTOBER

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The pairs “scientist – scientific
development introducing company” to participate in the Science and
Technologies Entreprenuership Program (STEP) of the US Civilian
Research and Development Fund (CRDF) in Armenia will be chosen during
a venture conference in Yerevan in October 2006. The program
coordinator Andrew Chakhoyan stated this on May 26 when presenting the
STEP participation terms to representatives of state governance
bodies, private companies, business assistance and donor organizations
in the spheres of science and education. A. Chakhoyan said that
courses will be run for those representatives of the partner-pairs who
have submitted a bid in the period of May 1-30. In his words, in
considering the bids for participation in the STEP, the availability
of a program to commercionalize a development of scientific
application and local resources for implementation of such a program
will be taken into account. Out of the bids to reach the final –
venture conference discussion stage, 4-5 bids – the most substantiated
and accessible ones will be financed. The cooperating company has to
provide 10% of a 5,000-dollar grant from the CRDF to a scientist or
scientific group for fulfilment of new development idea during
implementation of each project. Director of the Enterprise Incubator
Foundation (EIF) Bagrat Yengibarian stated previously that a
50,000-dollar grant will be given to scientific groups in case of
availability of a contract between an enterprise and a scientific
group on implementation of a scientific development. It is envisaged
that the grant component of the STEP program will be financed by
various donor organizations operating in Armenia. According to
A. Chakhoyan, the STEP program has been implemented for a year in
Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan.

STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE POSSIBILITY OF “ARDAROUTIUN”
FACTION’S COOPERATION WITH OYK

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The opposition in Armenia is not
dispersed yet and still will say its word. Stepan Demirchian, the head
of the NA “Ardaroutiun” (Justice) faction and the People’s Party of
Armenia stated about it on May 26. “In general, one must put aside
wrangling, all arguments and join efforts against this illegal
administration,” he mentioned. As for the issue if the “Orinats
Yerkir” (Country of Law) party entered the opposition rows if it’s a
game of the authorities, according to Demirchian, the time will put
everything in its place. “We do not suffer from mistrustfulness, it’s
better to be mistaken by believing than not believing, a lie is always
seen later or sooner,” he emphasized. Responsing the issue about
possible cooperation with the OYP, Demirchian said that the
“Ardaroutiun” faction is ready to cooperate with different political
forces on concrete issues. In response to the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s question which those concrete issues are on which,
after the 2003 April cases, the opposition may cooperate with the
political force headed by Artur Baghdasarian, Demirchian said that
such a cooperation between the “Ardaroutiun” and “Orinats Yerkir”
factions may be promoted at the Parliament connected with any
legislative initiative. Demirchian stated that “Ardaroutiun” would not
participate in the NA Speaker’s elections as it did in 2003. In
response to the question about possible cooperation with the OYP
during the state elections, the Chairman of the People’s Party of
Armenia said that his party is ready to participate in them alone:
alliances are not excluded either, but I can not answer concretely
today, there is time, we’ll think, decide.”

COMPETITION-OLYMPIAD ON ARMENIAN HISTORY HELD IN JAVAKHK

AKHALKALAK, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The final stage of
the competition-olympiad on Armenian history for pupils of Armenian
schools of Javakhk took place in the building of the Akhalkalak Ruben
Ter-Minasian secondary school on May 26. According to the “A-Info”
agency, the main goal of this competition being held for the first
time on the initiative of the Armenian Relief Society Javakhk Fund and
“Akunk” union is to encourage teaching of the Armenian history in
Armenian schools of the region. The matter is that the Ministry of
Education of Georgia prohibited teaching of the Armenian history in
Armenian schools of the country, and this omission is filled by
optional classes. Competition winners were to get their prizes on May
28, the Day of First Republic of Armenia.

ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COOPERATION IN TOURISM SECTOR DEVELOPS

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Cooperation of Georgia and Armenia in
the tourism sector is a promising one both in terms mutual visits of
citizens of the two countries and offering joint tourist service
packages to travelers of other countries. The Georgian Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Revaz Gachechiladze
stated this during a press conference to summarize the results of the
6th international exhibition Country of Talking Stones CTS 2006 held
in Yerevan on May 25-27. Director of the Jemini tourist company
(Georgia) Liana Ramanadze said that agreements have been signed with
Armenian companies to organize visits of those fond of adventure
tourism to Armenia and treatment of Georgian citizens in Armenian
health resorts. In addition, Ukrainian tourists will be given the
opportunity to travel via Batumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan route. According to
Chairman of the American Society of Traveling Agents (ASTA) Armenian
Office Eghishe Tanashian, it was for the first time that Georgian and
Ajarian state bodies and companies participated in the CTS. In his
words, a conference on tourism will be held in Tbilisi this autumn
with the participation of Armenia, Georgia and other regional
countries, during which the opportunities to form regional tourist
service packages, involing Turkey, will be discussed. Director of the
Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) Nina Hovnanian-Alexanian
said that she proposed Ambassador Gachechiladze to present a joint
Armenian-Georgian project during the conference – on organazing a wine
festival within the framework of the Kenats Festival traditionally
held in Armenia in autumn.

HRAYR KARAPETIAN: IRRESPECTIVE OF RE-ARRANGEMENTS, 66 VOTES NECESSARY
FOR MOST IMPORTANT VOTIONS TO BE AT PARLIAMENT

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The United Labour Party’s (ULP)
involvement in the staff of the parliamentary majority is more a
political issue than one of clear mechanical counting of votes. Hrayr
Karapetian, the “ARF” faction’s newly elected head stated about it at
the May 26 parliamentary breifing. Responding the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s question, Karapetian assured that formation of a new
majority at the Parliament does not oppose results of parliamentary
elections as a result of what the coalition was created. According to
him, the issue is not the mandates the ULP has, but joining the
principles stated by the memorandum signed by the parliamentary
political majority. “I’m sure that those 66 votes that are necessary
for the votion, will be at the Parliament,” the “ARF” faction head
stated. According to him, the world experience shows that the role of
the once smallest in number faction of the Parliament was decisive in
the issue of the Prime Minister’s election and the Government’s
formation. Hrayr Karapetian mentioned that one must not understand his
word in the way that the ULP may have a decisive role at the
Parliament of Armenia tomorrow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMECONOMBANK JOINS GLOBAL TRADE FINANCE PROGRAM

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Armeconombank has become the first
Armenian bank to join the Global Trade Finance Program implemented by
the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The agreement on trade
facilitation was signed on May 29. During a press conference following
the signing ceremony, IFC’s Director of the Central and Eastern Europe
Department Edward Nassim said that the IFC will open a credit line of
1 mln USD for a year for Armeconombank. According to him, the program
will encourage development of hundreds of small businesses. In the
words of Armeconmbank’s Chief Executive Officer Ashot Osipyan, the
program will promote foreign trade activities of Armenian businessmen,
allowing them to use such financial instruments abroad as accreditives
and guarantees. He said that the bank attaches great importance to
cooperation with the IFC. The IFC, the private sector arm of the World
Bank Group, provides technical assistance along with financial
resources. He noted that the IFC will allocate credit resources at
quite low interest rates of 6-9%. To recap, in 2004, a 2 mln-dollar
agreement was signed between the IFC and Armeconombank, under which
1.5 mln USD will was allocated for small and medium business
development, and 0.5 mln USD – for mortgage crediting.

ARMECONOMBANK TO BECOME FIRST ARMENIAN BANK TO RECEIVE CONVERTABLE LOAN

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Armeconombank and the International
Finance Corporation (IFC) on May 29 signed a memorandum of intentions
on implementation of two new programs. Armeconombank’s Chief Executive
Officer Ashot Osipyan told reporters that under the first program, the
bank will receive 2 mln USD for 8 years, 1 mln USD of which will be
used for small and medium business crediting, while another 1 mln USD
– for mortgage crediting. According to A. Osipyan, the second program
envisages that the IFC will allocate Armeconombank a so-called
convertable loan of 2 mln USD. This a a new instrument for Armenia: it
allows the creditor to have its stake in Armeconombank’s capital. The
bank may also give its shares to the IFC against all or any part of
this 2 mln-dollar loan. Armeconombank currently ranks 5th among the
Armenian banks by its assets amounting to 77 mln USD. The bank’s net
capital makes a sum equivalent to about 12 mln USD.

IFC TO GIVE LOAN TO SIL CONCERN FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF AYRARAT CINEMA

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Ayrarat Cinema will be turned into a
trade and recreational center with trade and cinema hall, cafes,
etc. Executive Director of SIL Concern Arman Zargarian said at the May
29 press conference that the total cost of the reconstruction will
make 12 mln USD, with 5.2 mln USD of this sum to be provided as a loan
by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank. The
Ayrarat Cinema (formerly the Rossia Cinema) located in downtown
Yerevan is currently used as a fair. According to IMC Armenian Office
Director Nerses Karamanukian, the loan is repayable over 10 years,
while the construction work will last 4 years in the maximum. He said
that athough the fair will not stop functioning during the project’s
implementation, some new modern buildings will be constructed in its
place. It was pointed out that the exterior of the cinema will remain
the same. The archtectural work is being done by Hrachia Poghosian,
who was one of the architects of the Rossia Cinema.

SPRING SOWING PROCEEDS SLOWLY IN SYUNIK BECAUSE OF UNFAVORABLE WEATHER

KAPAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. As of May 26, spring sowing work was done
on 5.8 thousand ha out of the planned area of 7-8 thousand ha in
Syunik marz (3.4 thousand ha was sown with grain crops). Deputy head
of the agriculture and nature protection department of the regional
administration Vahram Avanesian told NT correspondent that the work is
proceeding slowly due to unfavorable weather. It was noted that
although the number of rodents has considerably declined in
agricultural zones of the marz in recent years, the local farms will
be allocated chemical pest-killers. However, weeds have grown in the
areas under crops because of high humidity this year, which will also
hinder the work. At the same time, according to V. Avanesian, the
Armenian government has supplied the marz with 19 thousand tons of
nitric fertilizer at low prices. The process of transporting the
fertilizer to the marz and its distribution has entered its final
stage.

IMPLEMENTATION OF “AWARE AND CAPABLE COMMINITY” TO CONTINUE IN MARZ OF
GEGHARKUNIK

GAVAR, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Aware and Capable Community”
education program was implemented last year in the communities of
Sarukhan and Ljashen of the marz of Gegharkunik by the Finnish
Government’s financing. 130 employees of the local self-government
bodies passed re-training within the framework of the mentioned
program. The 17 thousand evro program was implemented by the “Public
Dialogues’ and Initiatives’ Center” NGO. To get acquainted with
results of the program in the above-mentioned communities, Terhi
Hakala, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to
Armenia visited the marz of Gegharkunik on May 23. The “Aware and
Capable Community” program gave its positive results. I became sure of
it while talking to people,” the Ambassador mentioned. According to
him, the program will implemented in 2006 in a number of other
communities of the marz of Gegharkunik.