BIG TAXPAYERS ARE MOSTLY FROM YEREVAN
Aram Zakaryan
Lragir.am
01 May 06
There are interesting changes on the lists of 300 big taxpayers of
2005 and the 300 big taxpayers of the first quarter.
One of the most notable changes is the recession of Flitfood Company,
owned by Member of Parliament Samvel Alexanyan. In 2005 this company
was the fifth taxpayer (last year it paid 7 billion drams), in the
first quarter of this year it is the 32nd with 245 million drams.
Flitfood imports sugar, and 99 percent of sugar in Armenia is imported
by this company. And the import of sugar is not seasonal.
Let us recall the rumors about a businessman who started the business
of importing sugar to Armenia on the approval of the authorities. The
season might be the reason why Shant +, occupying the 264th place
among 300 taxpayers of 2005, cannot be found among 1000 taxpayers of
the third quarter. This company produces cakes, sweets, but dominates
on the market of ice cream. Again about Samvel Alexanyan. Another
company owned by him, Natali Pharm, which imports medicine, has gone
up the list; if in 2005 it was 56th, in 2006 it is 51st. Moreover,
the amount of taxes that this company paid shows that this business is
not seasonal. Over the past year Natali Pharm paid 675 million drams,
in the first quarter – four times less, 147 million drams.
The business of other companies, Zigzag, Yerevan Champaign Wines,
etc, is not seasonal too.
By the same statistics, the business of Coca Cola is not seasonal
either. The company, however, has yielded its position; if last year
it was the 16th, this year it is the 41st. The first fifth companies
are stable. Copper and Molybdenum Factory is similarly the first, the
second is again Armentel. The sixth big taxpayer is Pares Armenia,
the eighth is Distribution Networks of Armenia, the ninth is Grand
Tobacco and the Nuclear Plant of Metsamor, which is the tenth on
the list, have sustained their achievements. If last year the petrol
company Flash was the third, and Armrusgasard was the fourth, in the
first quarter of 2006 they exchanged places.
K-Telecom, Vivacell, moved from the seventh to the 15th position with a
“tiger’s bounce.” If this company paid 2.2 billion over the past year,
in the first quarter of 2006 it company paid 1.6 billion.
The rumored bird flu, which “did not visit us,” had an extremely
negative impact on Armenian poultry farms. By the way, the owners
of poultry farms have been alarming over the past months. If in
2005 the six largest poultry farms of Armenia, Lusakert, Yerevan,
Arzni and Arax, were among the 300 big taxpayers of Armenia, in the
first quarter of 2006 only two poultry farms, Lusakert and Arax,
are found on this list. In 2005 Arax Poultry Farm was the 102nd,
Lusakert was the 103rd, with 342 million drams each, whereas in the
first quarter of 2006, Arax is the 131st with 70 million drams, and
Lusakert is the 296th with 30 million drams. In the first quarter of
2005 Getamech Poultry Farm is the 548th.
After the casino scandal in Moscow, involving Member of Parliament
Tigran Arzakantxyan, Great Valley Company owned by him dropped by
186 points. This brandy factory paid 164 million drams and was the
132nd last year. In the first quarter of 2006 Great Valley paid 27.8
million and is the 318th. The Mill of Yerevan, owned by another member
of parliament, Levon Sargsyan, also bounced back. In 2005 the mill
paid 373 million and was the 89th, in the first quarter it paid 30
million and is the 297th.
The Underground of Yerevan, living on subsidy, is the 355th taxpayer
in the first quarter of 2006. It paid 24.7 million drams. From among
the state government agencies only the National Assembly is a big
taxpayer; in addition, it is not in the first 300 but in the first
500. In the first quarter of 2006 the National Assembly returned 20
million out of the funds it gets from the state budget. By the way, in
2006 the National Assembly will get more money than the government and
the president’s administration. The National Assembly will get 2.087
billion, the budget of the government will total 1.1 billion and the
president’s administration of the president 1.9 billion. Perhaps this
is the reason why the president’s administration and the government
are not among big taxpayers.
Both in 2005 and in the first quarter of 2006 the majority of taxpayers
are based in Yerevan. Out of the 300 big taxpayers only 74-75 or 25
percent are based in the regions.

COUNCIL OF BENEFICIARIES OF THE “MILLENIUM CHALLENGE – ARMENIA” PROGRAM TO BE ELECTED
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 11:08
Elections of the civil society representatives at the Council of
Beneficiaries of the “Millenium Challenge – Armenia” program will be
held at the American University of Armenia.
The task force of the program is expected to sum up the election
results by 9 a.m.

12TH MEETING OF US-ARMENIA TASK FORCE TO START TODAY IN YEREVAN
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 10:35
The 12th meeting of the US-Armenia Task Force (USATF) will start
today in Yerevan. The meeting will be chaired by RA Minister of
Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatryan and US Coordinator for Europe
and Eurasia Tom Adams. According to the Press Service of the RA
Ministry of Finance and Economy, it is envisaged to discuss issues
of bilateral interest, present the programs under implementation and
to clarify issues of the programmed measures. Among the issues on the
USATF agenda are measures to encourage Armenia’s economic development,
democratic reforms, the Millennium Challenge Program-related issues,
macroeconomic policy and long-term development promotion programs,
tax and customs sector reforms. Problems of agriculture, judicial
and energy sectors, educational and scientific issues, as well as the
fight against terrorism and other programs of mutual interest will be
addressed during the meeting. The USATF was established in 2000 with
the aim of promoting the cooperation between the two countries and
enhancing the efficiency of assistance programs implemented by the
US government in Armenia. The USATF holds two meetings annually –
in Washington and Yerevan. Over the past decade, the US government
has implemented various development and humanitarian programs of a
total of 1.6 billion dollars in Armenia.

KARS-AKHALKALAK-TBILISI-BAKU RAILWAY COMMUNICATION ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED AT TRASECA SITTING
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 11:43
The issues of Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway communication
will be discussed at the sitting of the intergovernmental commission
of TRASECA participant countries to be held in Sofia, Azerbaijani
Ministry of Transport informs.

PACE RAPPORTEUR ON MONITORING OF CULTURAL MONUMENTS TO PAY A VISIT TO THE REGION
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 12:54
“PACE Rapporteur on monitoring of cultural monuments in the South
Caucasus, British MP Edward O’Hara’s visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh is expected between May25 – June 7, 2006,” member
of the Azeri delegation to PACE Rafael Huseynov told “Trend” Agency.
“I am a member of the PACE delegation for investigation of facts,”
Huseynov said, noting that the first pat of the reporter’s visit
will be dedicated to the investigation of the state of Azerbaijani
monuments on the territory of Armenia. Huseynov said that the exact
date will be set after the sitting of the PACE Committee on Culture,
Education and Science, which will be held May 18-19 in Paris.

OPENING OF THE FIRST BUILDING UNDER THE “CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II WORK PROJECT” TO BE HELD MAY 3 IN GAVAR
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 13:10
On May 3, 2006 the opening ceremony of building will be held under the
” Catholicos Karekin II Work Project: An Armenian Building on Faith”
project in Gavar city, Gegharkunik region.
“The partnership with HFH Armenia and also being the first to
implement such a great project is much responsible for us,” said
Gurgen Martirosyan, the mayor of Gavar city, “We will do our best in
the mission of eliminating poverty housing in our community.”
The construction of this building was stopped in 1993 because of the
huge grade the country was exposed. Now the city administration gave
the building to the families selected by HFH Armenia to be homeowner.

GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 13:25
Jab Bush, Governor of Florida, US President George Bush’s brother
declared April 24th the day of commemoration of Genocide victims,
Turkish “Hurriet” informs. According to the source, the Jab Bush
issued an official statement saying, “Turks carried out genocide
against Armenians.”
“1915-1923 Osman Turks subjected 1.5 million Armenians to mass
assassination, who became victims of a genocide,” the statement says.
The source reminds that “the Governor of California Arnold
Shwarzenegger declared a week of commemoration of Genocide victims in
California, while President Bush has not been using the word “genocide”
ever since undertaking his position, despite the great pressure.”

ASHOT GALOYAN APPOINTED RA AMBASSADOR TO ESTONIA
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 13:48
With RA President Robert Kocharyan’s decree dated April 29, RA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Poland Ashot Galoyan
was appointed RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Estonia.

“ARMENIA AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE: FIVE YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP” CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 14:00
Achievements in building pluralistic democracy based on respect for
human rights and rule of law during Armenia’s five year membership
in the Council of Europe will be the main theme of the “Armenia and
the Council of Europe: Five Years of Membership” conference to be
held 5 May 2006, at the Armenia Marriott Hotel.
On 25 January 2001, by joining the Council of Europe, an organisation
that promotes democracy, human rights and rule of law continent-wide,
the Republic of Armenia made an important step towards freedom and
democracy. The conference intends to bring together national policy
makers, RA National Assembly deputies, civil society and media as well
as representatives of international community to celebrate the fifth
anniversary of Armenia’s membership in the Organisation and exchange
views on future cooperation between the Council of Europe and Armenia.
The conference will be concluded by a panel discussion entitled
“The Many Facets of Cooperation: Armenia’s Contribution to Building
European Standards” with participation of Armenian professionals
engaged in the Council of Europe activities regarding Armenia.

US EXPERT: ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN ARE NOT READY FOR SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 14:43
Peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is currently
impossible, Director for international security and energy programs
of the Nixon Center Zeyno Baran said, “Turan” Agency informs.
“If the parties were ready for concessions, they would lead a different
foreign and domestic policy,” he considers.
“The possible action against Iran may have a negative influence on
Azerbaijan. However, today it is still hard to estimate the volume
of this influence,” the expert noted.