ARMENIA AND GEORGIA AGREE ON 110 KM SECTOR OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN
BOUNDARY
Yerevan, January 8. ArmInfo. The process of delimitation and
demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian boundary is proceeding
efficiently, Vladimir Karapetyan, the acting press-secretary of the
Armenian Foreign Minister, told an ArmInfo correspondent.
As a result of the commissions' fruitful work, the sides agreed upon
110 km sector of the boundary. The sides decided to intensively
continue the process in 2007 and to complete it as soon as possible,
V.Karapetyan said. To note, the length of the Armenian-Georgian
boundary is about 235 km.
TAXES ON SECOND HAND CAR IMPORT GO UP
Yerevan, January 8. ArmInfo. Due to environmental issues an addition
tax will be applied to second hand cars import in Armenia, Ashot
Haroutyunyan, Head of Economy Office of the Ministry on Environmental
Protection, told ArmInfo.
He said that the additional taxes are based on the law on
environmental protection payments adopted by Parliament in December
2006 being into force from January 2007.
As per it, the additional tax for the 5-10 year-old cars will equal
to 2% of customs taxes, and 20% for those run over 15 years. In order
to decrease environmental pollution, the law sets limit to import of
old automobiles to Armenia. Due to the law, customs clearance grew up
from 32% to 52% of the automobile cost.
Previously the environmental tax was paid only according to engine
power, now, the fuel used will be reflected in the tax as well. Cars
working on gas will be less taxed than those on patrol. The law
increased car prices by 10-15%. Half of the imported cars are over 15
years and cost about 5-6 thnd USD. 25 thnd cars were imported to the
country in 2006, and 25 thnd in 2005. Only 3% of these are expensive
ones.
ROTATION OF ARMENIAN PEACEMAKERS IN IRAQ TO TAKE PLACE IN SECOND HALF
OF JANUARY
Yerevan, January 1. ArmInfo. The rotation of Armenian peacemakers in
Iraq will take place in the second half of January.
The peacemaking battalion of the Armenian Armed Forces told an
ArmInfo correspondent that the rotation will most likely take place
before January 25. To remind, the fourth group of Armenian
peacemakers is in Iraq now. The group consists of 46 military
servicemen: 3 staff officers, 2 army doctors, 10 deminers and 31
drivers. The rotation takes place once every six months. Armenian
peacemakers carry out their mission in the structure of a Polish
division.
PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE ON EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION IN NAIRIT
FACTORY
Yerevan, January 8. ArmInfo. Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) of
Yerevan completed investigation on explosion in Yerevan CJSC Nairit
Factory taking place on 23 rd September 2006.
Press service of PGO reported ArmInfo that chloroprene was
distillated in the factory on 14-22 September. 6.1 cubic meter of
unusable chloroprene and 143 cubic meter of chloroprene organic
wastes were accumulated and laid in the unsafe non-freezing zone.
Authorities of the factory decided to mix the wastes with stillage
bottoms and burn. In the result, a highly explosive matter was
composed. Investigation showed that there was a number of
inconsistencies in the factory equipment as well.
The explosion damaged 4 people and 7 cars. The damage of the water
supply system made up 6.5 mln AMD and a part of Yerevan-Meghri road -
6.5 mln AMD. Environment damage made up 1.5 mln AMD. Some houses in
Troim region were destroyed.
Three employees of the factory: Smbat Kazaryan, Hovhannes Hovhannissyan
and Merouzhan Grigoryan were found guilty on the 2nd part of 231
Criminal Code of Armenia on violation of security measures of explosive
objects. The case was passed to the Court.
Rhinoville Property Limited international company bought 90% of
stocks of CC 'Nairit Factory' by 40 mln USD. The company, of U.S.,
German and Polish key purchasers of Armenian caoutchouc, was
specially set up for the deal.
RUSSIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST: WASHINGTON WILL INCREASE ITS PRESSURE ON
MOSCOW IN ORDER TO GET CONCESSIONS ON PRIORITY ISSUES
Stepanakert, January 8. ArmInfo. US-Russian agreements on cooperation
in the South Caucasus would promote stability in the region, while,
presently, Washington and Russia are rivaling in the region - mostly
because of Georgia - and this is having a negative impact on the
situation in the region, particularly, in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, says well-known Russian political scientist
Andranik Migranyan.
"I think that Washington will be increasing its pressure on Moscow
and on the zones of its interest in order to get Russia's concessions
on priority issues: Iraq, North Korea, Iranian nuclear program,
Russian-Chinese relations, Russia's position in the Middle East and
in the post-Soviet republics. In this context, the problems of the
South Caucasus may become a small change in a global game and may be
sacrificed for the sake of Washington's more important interests,"
says Migranyan.
1.6% GROWTH IN CONSUMER PRICES REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN DEC 2006
Yerevan, January 8. ArmInfo. In Dec 2006 consumer prices in Armenia
grew by 1.6%, while AMD grew against USD by 3.1%.
The National Statistical Service of Armenia reports that in Jan-Dec
2006 consumer prices grew by 5.2%, while AMD grew against USD by
18.1%.
In Dec 2006 AMD/USD exchange rate was 364.69/1 against 449.36/1 in
Dec 2005.
