The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform Politics 2008-01-30 20:05:00 Turkey is disappointed by the United States' presidential candidates' support to Armenian 'genocide' claims, representative of Turkish FM says ArmInfo. Turkey is disappointed by the United States' presidential candidates' support to Armenian ''genocide'' claims, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Levent Bilman said. As Anatolia News Agency reports, the Turkish diplomat said such statements in support of Armenian Genocide by the USA presidential candidates are an attempt "to cast a shadow over Turkish history and deeply traumatizes the Turkish nation". "We call the US presidential candidates to be more responsible in the face of history and they should also be careful not to offend an allied country with unfounded statements. They must be tactful in Turkish-Armenian relations". L. Bilman said. To recall, candidates from Democratic Party Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made a speech in support of adoption the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the US Congress, and promised to recognize the fact of Genocide after they are elected. 2008-01-30 19:47:00 Serzh Sargsyan: I am a presidential candidate from Prosperous Armenia Party and other political forces too ArmInfo. During a meeting with the voters of Aragatsotn region of Armenia, Prime Minister of Armenia, Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia, and currently a presidential candidate, Serzh Sargsyan advised them not take seriously the statements of those candidates stating that if the RPA leader is elected president, the power in the country will be monopolized, as the RPA represents the parliamentary majority. "I am a presidential candidate from the Prosperous Armenia Party and a number of other political forces, too", Sargsyan said. He stressed that many candidates for president will meet the voters of Aragatsotn and give various promises about Armenia's future. "However, only a desire is not enough to turn Armenia into a paradise", Sargsyan noted. According to him, the only source of income in the country lacking energy resources is taxes. "It is this factor that gave an opportunity to increase the amount of pensions and salaries by 60% in 2008", he said. 2008-01-30 19:44:00 Armenia is unaware of Lord Russell-Johnston's intention to visit the country ArmInfo. Armenia has received no information about the visit of Lord Russell- Johnston, the head of the sub-committee on Nagorno-Karabakh of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to Armenia yet, Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE, Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly's Committee on State and Legal Issues David Harutyunyan said at a press- conference in Yerevan, Wednesday. According to him, Lord Russell-Johnston is to meet the leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan to discuss the further activity of the special committee on Nagorno-Karabakh set up by the PACE Bureau. Russell-Johnston is the chairman of the committee. "In this connection, he has already expressed a desire to visit Azerbaijan. However, we have received no official information about his visit to Armenia yet", Harutyunyan said. In addition, he didn't rule out the possibility that Russell-Johnston will visit Armenia during the pre-electoral period as both a representative of the PACE observation mission and the head of the sub-committee on Nagorno-Karabakh. 2008-01-30 19:23:00 Member of district electoral commission N23 from opposition 'Heritage' party is excluded from it for forgery when forming precinct election commissions ArmInfo. "Member of district electoral commission N23 from "Heritage" party Arnak Sahakyan is excluded from our team for forgery when forming the precinct electoral commissions. He was also obliged to come out of the district electoral commission according to his own statement", press secretary of the opposition "Heritage" party Hovsep Khurshudyan told ArmInfo correspondent. According to him, presently, the head of the party's central office Gevorg Kalenchyan is in Sevan town. The latter tries to find out circumstances of the forgery. "The possibility that elements of crime are present in the actions of ex- member of DEC is obvious for us". H. Khurshudyan said. We don't rule out that after finding out the circumstances we'll turn to law-enforcement agencies, so that they disclose the crime", H. Khurshudyan said. Explaining the core of the incident, Arnak Sahakyan said that he had concealed the core of the deal up to the last moment, but in the long run he presented not the list, which had been received from local party organizations of Sevan, Vardenis, Chambarak and agreed with the central office for the work in precinct electoral commissions of the 23rd constituency, but the data of people who, according to preliminary information, are members of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and its supporters. "Another attempt of similar forgery was made in the 38th constituency in Kapan, however, we managed to suppress it in time", Khurshudyan said. He added that the party's leadership will present an official statement on these events to media today. 2008-01-30 18:55:00 Robert Kocharian is sure, presence of observing mission in Armenia will promote to fair presidential elections ArmInfo. Armenian President Robert Kocharian met the delegation of PACE's temporary observation mission for presidential election, Wednesday. British parliamentarian John Prescott heads the delegation. As ArmInfo was told at Armenia's presidential press service, the president thanked for the accepted invitation and attached much importance to the work of the observation mission. "We are disposed to hold really good election and think the presence of the observation mission will also contribute to this purpose", R. Kocharian said. For his part, John Prescott also expressed hope that the coming presidential election will record progress in the sphere of democracy. The sides discussed issues related to the coming election. R. Kocharian clarified the reason why presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan didn't go out of prime minister's office. To recall, PACE's delegation is on a pre-election visit in Armenia, January 28- February 1. The visit's main aim is to familiarize oneself with domestic political situation in the country in the pre-election period. One representative from each faction is included in the delegation composed of 5. 2008-01-30 18:35:00 Head of Armenian delegation to PACE thinks Azerbaijan's statements about constant fight with Armenian representatives in PACE are populist ArmInfo. Azerbaijan's statements about constant fight with Armenian representatives in PACE are populist, Head of Armenian Delegation to PACE, Chairman of RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues Davit Harutyunian said at a press conference in Yerevan, Wednesday. According to him, Azerbaijani deputies constantly disseminate information in media that they actively fight with the Armenian Delegation to PACE. However, this doesn't reflect the reality. D. Harutyunian also said he was elected PACE Vice-President for a term of one year. "For their part, Members of Delegation Avet Adonts and Raffi Hovannisian are included in PACE's monitoring committee", the deputy said. Moreover, Raffi Hovannisian became member of the office of Group of the European People's Party, and Davit Harutyunian -member of office of the Group of the European Democrats. 2008-01-30 18:18:00 Supporters of presidential candidate of Armenia, Leader of 'Orinats Yerkir' party Artur Baghdasaryan record violations during pre-election race ArmInfo. The supporters of presidential candidate of Armenia, Leader of "Orinats Yerkir" party Artur Baghdasaryan record violations during pre-election race. As Head of campaign headquarters of Artur Baghdasaryan, Secretary of "Orinats Yerkir" faction Heghine Bisharyan said at a press conference, Wednesday, Artur Baghdasaryan's headquarters has already recorded law violations. Collection of passport data, making lists and bribe distribution have already started 20 days before the election, she said. According to her, these processes are evidence that falsifications will take place in the coming election. Bisharyan emphasized that state resources are involved in the presidential race. The TV air is not equally distributed among the candidates. In particular, some regional TV channels refuse to broadcast information about Artur Baghdasaryan. All the information about the violations will be passed to the international observers, the head of Artur Baghdasaryan's campaign headquarters said. 2008-01-30 18:06:00 About 170,000 citizens have signed agreement with presidential candidate from ARFD ArmInfo. The citizens who have signed an agreement with presidential candidate from ARFD Vahan Hovhannissyan number 170,000 people. The candidate announced this figure at a press conference, Wednesday. The candidate and his supporters hope that this figure will dynamically grow up to the day of election. At the same time, Vahan Hovhannissyan said his supporters exposed about 20 cases of signing "false agreements". To recall, at the end of 2007 V. Hovhannissyan proposed the citizens to conclude a peculiar bilateral agreement with him. Under the agreement, V. Hovhannissyan pledges to fulfill a number of promises, including fair election, social reforms and others if elected. Among the people that have signed the agreement are also people ready to become the candidate campaign agents or just help him in the presidential race. 2008-01-30 17:57:00 RA presidential contender from ARF Dashnaktsutyun party: Presidential contenders should use their authority not to allow incidents during meetings with voters ArmInfo. RA presidential contenders should use their authority not to allow incidents during the meetings with voters , RA presidential contender from ARF Dashnaktsutyun party Vahan Hovhannisyan said at today's press- conference, commenting on January 27 incident in the town of Talin. To recall, a scuffle happened during the meeting of RA presidential contender Levon Ter-Petrosyan with voters in Talin. A criminal case has already been launched on this fact. As V. Hovhannisyan said, the candidates are not engaged in organization of meetings with voters, this is in the campaign headquarters' sphere, however, the candidates may and should suppress such incidents using their authority. "I urge the candidates to pacify some of their supporter and the municipal authorities - not to disserve the authorities", V. Hovhannisyan said. 2008-01-30 12:47:00 Representative of Armenia on development of political dialogue with NATO: We achieved mush in this context ArmInfo. Armenia achieved much in developing political dialogue with NATO in 2007, Head of RA Mission to NATO Samvel Mkrtchyan told ArmInfo. He said Armenia and NATO leaderships have discussed not only bilateral cooperation and the situation in the South Caucasus, but also other security-related issues. Particularly, the parties discussed the problems of further fulfillment of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, deployment of American anti-missile system in Europe, the future status of Kosovo, and extension of NATO, S. Mkrtchyan said. 2008-01-30 11:49:00 Armenia violates truce regime: Baku ArmInfo-TURAN. Since January of last year Armenia has been violating the cease-fire regime. This takes place mainly in the Agdam, Fizuli, Terter, and Hojavend regions. As a result, both sides have losses, head pf press-service of Defense Ministry Eldar Sabiroglu said at a press-conference on Tuesday. He complained that international organizations and the OSCE, who are demanding peaceful settlement of the conflict, do not react to constant facts of violation the cease-fire regime. Economy 2008-01-29 15:27:00 List of 1000 biggest tax-payers in Armenia published ArmInfo. The Tax Service of Armenia published the list of 1000 biggest tax-payers upon the results of the financial year, 2007. The list is headed by the Armenian "Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Complex" CJSC, which paid taxes to the sum of over 33,6 bln drams to the state budget. The second place is taken by the "ArmenTel" CJSC (a subsidiary of the "Vympelcom" Russian Company), having paid 20,8 bln drams to the state budget. The third place is taken by the "ArmRosgazprom" CJSC - over 20 bln drams. The second cell communication operator, "K-Telecom" CJSC, 80% of shares of which belong to the MTC Russian operator, paid 15,5 bln drams taxes and took the fourth position. The five of leaders is concluded by the "Kagh Petrol Service" oil company - 10 bln drams. To recall, upon the results of 10, 2007, the "ArmRosgazprom" was the leader, the second place was taken by the "ArmenTel" CJSC and the third place - by the Zangezour Copper-Molybdenum Complex. The "Electric Networks of Armenia" took the ninth position. Finance and banks 2008-01-30 19:37:00 Consumer credits make up most part of advances portfolios of Armenian commercial banks - 28,5% or $405.8 mln ArmInfo. As of December 31, 2007, consumer credits made up the most part of the combined advances portfolio of the Armenian commercial banks - 28,5% or 123.6 bln AMD ($405.8 mln). The press- service of the Central Bank of Armenia told ArmInfo that the total volume of consumer credits of commercial banks increased by 80,7% in 2007. The volume of crediting the trade sectors by commercial banks ranks next - as of December 31, 2007, it totalled 86.8 bln AMD ($285 mln), the annual growth being 75,1%. The third place is held by the volume of crediting the industrial sphere by commercial banks, which totalled 56.3 bln AMD ($184.7 mln), the annual growth being 43,3%. The fourth place is held by mortgage credits, their total volume made up 53.4 bln AMD ($175.2 mln) under the banking system. To note, by growth rates, the mortgage credits are in the lead - 2,2 times within the period under review. The fifth place is held by the volume of investments in the agriculture which made up 22.4 bln AMD ($73.5 mln) as of December 31, 2007, the annual growth being 57,6%. The financial sector holds the sixth place - 22.3 bln AMD ($73.2 mln) as of December 31, 2007, which is by 45,4% higher than the index of 2006. The volume of crediting the construction sector is in the seventh place - 22 bln AMD ($72.3 mln) with 90,9% annu al growth. The eighth place is held by the volume of crediting the transport and communication sphere - 5.8 bln AMD ($18.2 mln), with 49,3% annual growth. Credits and receivables classified by risk groups grew by 61% in 2007 and totalled 480.3 bln AMD ($1.6 bln) as of December 31, 2007, which is conditioned by the annual increase of 'standard' credits - by 61%, 'controlled' ones - by 36,3%, 'non-standard' credits - by 48,8%, and the 'doubtful' ones - 2,3 times. As of December 31, 2007, the 'standard' credits made up 469 bln AMD, the 'controlled' ones - 6.5 bln AMD, the 'non-standard' ones - 1.6 bln AMD, and the 'doubtful' ones - 3.2 bln AMD. The share of 'standard' credits made up 97,6%, the 'controlled' ones - 1,4%, 'non-standard' ones - 0,3% and 'doubtful' ones - 0,7%. According to the CBA, there were 22 commercial banks and 347 branches in Armenia as of December 31, 2007. The ProCredit Bank entered the Armenian banking sector at the end of 2007. 2008-01-30 12:14:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 306 drams for 1 dollar, 450 drams for 1 EUR and 12,25 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 308 drams for 1 dollar, 454 drams for 1 EUR and 12,45 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 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