The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform Politics 2008-02-01 19:10:00 United Labor Party to support Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan's candidacy at forthcoming presidential election ArmInfo. The United Labor Party (ULP) will support Armenian Prime Minister, Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan's candidacy at the forthcoming presidential election in Armenia. The relevant decision was taken at the ULP's 4th congress, Friday. According to a close ballot of the party's active members, a total of 124 out of 199 delegates voted for the prime minister, 47 - for Armenian ex- president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, 14 - for ex-Premier, Leader of the National-Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan, 5 - for ex-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Leader of the Law-Governed Country Party Arthur Baghdasaryan, and 2 - for Vice-Speaker, member of Bureau of the ARF Dashnaksutyun Party Vahan Hovhannisyan. Nobody voted for Leader of the People's Party Tigran Karapetyan. The rest of the candidates received 1 vote each. During a press-conference which followed the congress, Gourgen Arsenyan said that nobody exerted pressure or imposed anything on the ULP active members. "During the voting we also took into account 7 votes of members of one of our regional branches who didn't vote for Serzh Sargsyan. Nobody is going to press or made those, who voted for other candidates today, participate in the pre-electoral campaign of the prime minister or support his candidacy. We respect the opinion of each member of our party", Arsenyan said. At the congress Arsenyan was re-elected chairman of the party. The participants in the congress appealed to voters to actively participate in the election and to all the presidential candidates to demonstrate political tolerance, political ethics and refrain from applying anti-propaganda towards one another. 2008-02-01 19:06:00 Penal Enforcement Department of Justice Ministry of Armenia refutes report about transfer of Nairi Hunanyan to another jail ArmInfo. The Penal Enforcement Department of the Justice Ministry of Armenia has refuted the information about transfer of Nairi Hunanyan to another jail. Today, Iskakan Iravunk newspaper reported that Hunanyan had been transferred from Nubarashen prison to Kentron jail. "This is not true. Hunanyan has been kept in Kentron jail from the very first day of his imprisonment," the press secretary of the department Arsen Babayan told ArmInfo. To remind, on Dec 2003 Nairi Hunanyan, his brother Karen Hunanyan, their uncle Vram Galstyan as well as Eduard Grigoryan, Derenik Bejanyan and Ashot Knyazyan were sentenced to life in prison for committing an act of terrorism in the Armenian parliament on Oct 27 1999: they killed the speaker of the parliament Karen Demirtchyan, prime minister Vazgen Sargsyan, vice speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, MPs Genrikh Abrahamyan, Leonard Petrossyan, Mikayel Kotanyan and Armenak Armenakyan. 2008-02-01 18:57:00 Alexander Arzumanyan: International community recognized me a political prisoner ArmInfo. Alexander Arzumanyan, the former foreign minister of Armenia and currently the head of Armenian ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's campaign headquarters, rejected pointblank the supposition about " the authorities' good will in the matter of his quick release". To recall, the matter concerns Arzumanyan's arrest on the suspicion of involvement in money laundering. Stressing that 4 months in prison are not a small term, Arzumanyan said that he was released not thanks to the Armenian authorities' good will, but because the international community recognized him a political prisoner. At the same time, Arzumanyan stated that his criminal case is not stopped, and he himself is released on his own recognizance. However, Arzumanyan thinks that "the case fabricated against him failed". As it was stated earlier, according to the investigation data, ex-foreign minister of Armenia Alexander Arzumanyan and ex-deputy defense minister Vahan Shirkhanyan, according to a preliminary agreement with businessman Levon Markos received $178 200 in April 2007 in the names of 9 different people. Levon Markos was searched at that time. The money transfer was made with the support of Converse Bank and the Russian Bank for trade financing. Moreover, the money transfer process was accompanied by serious violations. 2008-02-01 18:53:00 Head of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's campaign headquarters accuses Armenian TV channels of bias ArmInfo. Head of the presidenital candidate Levon Ter-petrosyan's campaign headquarters, the former foreign minister of Armenia Aleksander Arzumanyan accused local Mass Media of biased coverage. He repeated this accusation at a press conference, Firday. He mainly accused e-media, probably, meaning TV channels. Arzumanyan said: 'all the channels are controled by a single center' which sets the tone of campaign coverage. Asked why Levon Ter-Petrosyan has not accepted any invitation to participate in a TV program so far, Arzumanyan said the atmosphere of such political programs 'is more like an interrogation than interview'. It is inadmissible to speak in such tone with the president, he said. 2008-02-01 18:46:00 Serzh Sargsyan: We have an opportunity to increase state budget and GDP within 4-5 years ArmInfo. "We have an opportunity to increase the state budget and GDP within 4-5 years", Armenian Prime Minister, Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan said during his meeting with voters of Shengavit community in Yerevan. According to him, if he holds the post of the country's president, he will never let high officials ignore the people's problems. "The functionary who is far from the nation and isn't interested in its problems, is worth nothing", the premier said. The candidate also emphasized that all the potential of the nation must be used for the state's development. Touching upon the slogan "Ahead, Armenia!", Serzh Sargsyan said it wasn't randomly chosen. "We are sure that we can move Armenia ahead with joint efforts", he said. 2008-02-01 16:23:00 Unknown people attacked by fire headquarters of the candidate for president Serzh Sarkisyan ArmInfo. Today night unknown people attacked by fire headquarters of the candidate for president, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan. As press-service of Armenian Prosecutor General's office informs, today, at 10:20 AM a member of S.Sarkisyan's headquarters S.Aleksanyan informed the Police that unknown people attacked by fire Serzh Sarkisyan's headquarters located in the Fifth Nork district. The policemen that arrived in the place of incident clarified that the attack happened at night at 2-3 PM. Windows of the headquarters were broken as a result of attack. A criminal case was initiated by the article 258 of Armenian Criminal Code. 2008-02-01 15:42:00 KLO considers invitation of Armenia's representatives to Baku inadmissible ArmInfo-TURAN. Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) considers the invitation of Armenia's representatives to Baku at the beginning of March to the NATO seminar unacceptable. The KLO also believes that Azerbaijan's authorities conduct "preventive measures" to make neutralize the KLO activists. The police are learning the addresses of all the members and arrest them if necessary. The KLO treats the invitation of Armenians as an insult to the Azerbaijani people and high treason. "This disgrace must be prevented, and the authorities will bear responsibility for possible resistance," the statement of KLO reads. 2008-02-01 14:53:00 Samir Mamedov sent to Europe ArmInfo. Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mamedov has been sent to a third country. National Security Service of Armenia reports S. Mamedov was released and sent to a European country in late January 2008 with support of international organizations. Mamedov left Armenia being absolutely healthy, the source reports. S. Mamedov, born in 1987, a soldier of Azerbaijani Armed Forces, deserted to the Armenian party on December 24 2006. He refused to return to Azerbaijan. 2008-02-01 14:43:00 Armenian ombudsman to be aware of all the human rights violations over the electoral campaign ArmInfo. A the signals about human rights violations over the electoral campaign will be thoroughly examined by the Armenian Ombudsman office. As Armenian Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan said at the press-conference today, the following hot line telephone numbers and e:mail address may be used to give information about violations: 53-76-51, 53-92-71, 53- 88-31, 53-76-34, 53-85-77, 091-00-88-17, 091-28-02-06, ombuds@ombuds.am. He also added that on 19 February from 07:00 AM to 09:00 PM duty will be held at the Ombudsman Office, which is closely cooperating with Armenian law-enforcement agencies. The ombudsman called up all the political forces of Armenia to tolerance. 2008-02-01 14:37:00 Regional Council of the Shirak branch of Erkrapah Union of Volunteers demands from Artashes Gegamyan to say sorry to the members of Vazgen Sarkisyan's family ArmInfo. Regional Council of the Shirak branch of Erkrapah Union of Volunteers disseminated a statement today in which they express indignation because of the electoral campaign of the candidate for president, leader of the National Unity party Artashes Gegamyan. As press-release received by Arminfo agency says, over several last days Artashes Gegamyan is trying to compromise Sparapet Vazgen Sarkisyan's family from time to time. 'We are deeply concerned about the anti-propaganda held against Vazgen Sarkisyan's family. Nobody has a right to desecrate memory of Sparapet and insult members of his family. We demand from Artashes Gegamyan immediately to stop immoral actions against the national hero of Armenia Vazgen Sarkisyan and members of his family and be guided only by the moral norms, and to say sorry for his actions', - the statement says. 2008-02-01 14:30:00 RA presidential contender appealed to Constitutional Court concerning voting of RA citizens living abroad ArmInfo. RA presidential contender Arman Melikyan appealed to the Constitutional Court concerning voting of RA citizens living abroad. The copy of the appeal, received by ArmInfo, indicates that, according to the alterations and amendments made to RA Electoral Code by the Parliament on February 26, 2007, the citizens of Armenia, living abroad, are deprived of the right to take part in the election. Thus, according to point 2, Article 2 of the modified EC, the indicated category of RA citizens are deprived of the opportunity to realize their voters' rights, envisaged by the Constitution. Limitation of the rights of citizens (employees of diplomatic corps being in business-trip or living abroad) also conflicts with the principles of international law. Moreover, the limitations, envisaged by the adopted alterations of EC, reduce the potential number of voters for each of the candidates. As the document says, taking into account the fact that RA Constitution is valid in the territories of RA embassies and consulates, the forthcoming February 19 presidential election should be organized there. In fact, RA citizens living abroad, are not protected as they are deprived of their constitutional right to vote, the document emphasizes. "RA Constitution clearly indicates the category of persons not being able to take part in voting", the document recalls. These are legally incapable citizens, as well as those, with respect to whom the court verdict took effect. "I am sure that the decision not to open the polling stations abroad is a factor which directly affects the election results", A. Melikyan's appeal emphasizes. The presidential contender added that this circumstance is a great obstacle for him personally as considerable part of his potential voters is abroad. In view of the above-stated, Arman Melikyan demanded from RA CC to cancel p.2 of Article 2 of RA EC. 2008-02-01 14:25:00 Working Group of Armenian Ombudsman visits town of Talin to study details of incident during meeting presidential candidate Levon Ter- Petrosyan ArmInfo. Rapid Deployment Group of Armenian Ombudsman left for the town of Talin, Armenia, to study the details of the scuffle that happened at pre- electoral meeting of RA first president, presidential contender Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Ombudsman Armen Haroutunyan told journalist that all the facts of the incident will be carefully studied on the spot. The media will be informed of the results shortly. To recall, after a number of speeches of Ter-Petrosyan's supporters, an outcry was heard from the crowd saying that the first president is not so much waited for in Talin. All this resulted in a scuffle, which lasted for several minutes. The local investigation department initiated criminal case on Article 188 of the Criminal Code, Ombudsman said. 2008-02-01 14:05:00 Presidential candidate from ARF Dashnaktsutyun spending most of all on his campaign ArmInfo. Presidential candidate, a member of ARFD Bureau Vahan Hovhannissyan has spent most on all on its campaign so far. Central Electoral Commission Press Secretary Tatev Ohanyan told ArmInfo Vahan Hovhannissyan has spent 27,914,000 drams on his campaign within 10 days, the balance of his campaign fund is 2,086,000 drams. Leader of Orinats Yerkir Party Artur Baghdaaryan has spent 14,297,800 drams and his balance is 6,062,200 drams. Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan has spent 7,670,000 drams and his balance is 13,380,000 drams. The ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan has spent 6,200,000 drams and his balance is 6,337,000 drams. Leader of the National Unity Party Artashes Geghamyan has spent 5,930,000 drams and his balance is 70,000 drams. Leader of the National- Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan has spent 308,533 drams and has 21,466 on his balance. Within the ten days of the presidential campaign the remaining candidates transferred no money to their Funds: ex- adviser to NKR President Arman Melikyan, Leader of People's Party, Head of ALM Holding Tigran Karap etyan, Leader of National Accord party Aram Haroutunyan. The campaign fund of the candidates must not exceed 70 million drams. 2008-02-01 13:50:00 Armenian Genocide Center to be opened in Decines, France ArmInfo. Armenian Genocide Center will be founded in Decines, France. Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service reports, Armenian organizations in France met on January 28 in Marseilles and on January 28 in Lyon. Local authorities, senators, mayors of the two cities, statesmen and political figures attended the meetings. Ambassador of Armenia to France Edward Nalbandyan said a number of new programs will be implemented soon. Particularly, Armenian Genocide Center will be opened in Decines, one of the schools in Provence Alpe Cote d'Azur will be renamed after Manushyan, a square after Hrant Dink will be opened in Marseilles. Addressing the Armenian organizations in Paris, Lyon and Marseilles Ambassador Nalbandyan said he hopes the current year will become a year of unification of the Coordination Council of Armenian organizations in France. 2008-02-01 13:41:00 Prosecutor General's Office receives 17 applications on violations of electors' rights during presidential campaign ArmInfo. As of January 30 the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia received 17 applications on violations of electors' right during the presidential campaign, including 11 of them were published in the press. Prosecutor General's Office press-service told ArmInfo 3 criminal cases have been initiated on the basis of the applications on attacks on campaign headquarters, electors bribing, attempts to collect passports of electors, as well as on the procession by cars organized by the supporters of the presidential candidate, first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Economy 2008-01-31 12:19:00 Cargo traffic in Armenia in 2007 grew by 6,4% ArmInfo. Cargo traffic in Armenia in 2007 grew by 6,4% up to 10296.1 thsd tons as compared with 2006, National Statistical Service of Armenia told reports. Railroad freight activity for the last year was up 9,7% to 2983.7 ths tons. Cargo traffic grew by 2,3% to 5864.5 ths tons. Freight air transportation for the reporting period was up by 7.5% to 10.0 ths tons. Natural gas supplied to the country through the gas main totaled 1437.9 ths tons, which is by 18.1% more than in the same period of the last year. Cargo turnover grew by 21.4% to 2874.9 million t/km. Passenger transportation for 2007 grew by 8.1% to 3769.1 mln people. Railroad passenger transportation totaled 23.9 mln people, which is by 13,7% less than in the same period of 2006. Highway passenger transportation grew by 4.3% to 2669.5 mln people. Air passenger transportation grew by 20,8% to 993.6 mln people. Electric drive transportation grew by 6,3% to 82.1 mln people. Interview 2008-02-01 20:03:00 Development and deepening of relations with NATO promotes conducting of more flexible security policy Interview of Head of RA Mission to NATO Samvel Mkrtchyan with ArmInfo Agency How do you assess Armenias cooperation with NATO in 2007? One can say for sure that the relations between Armenia and NATO in 2007 rose to a new qualitative level. Fulfillment of the Individual Partnership Action Plan [IPAP] was first assessed at the beginning of 2007; and the results of assessment were discussed at NATO session on 4 April in which Armenia took part in the format 26+1. Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan visited NATO headquarters and that was the first visit of the Armenian premier in the history of Armenia-NATO relations. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Defence Minister Mikhael Harutyunyan, commander of General Headquarters Seyran Ohanyan and a group of Armenian parliamentarians also visited NATO. Representatives of different ministries and departments took part in sessions of various committees, that deal with transport, communications, civil population protection, medicine and science issues. A week of NATO was held in Armenia in March. Armenia took an active part in the Second Security Forum held in June. A seminar on the topic of fighting terrorism was held in Yerevan in July. Special representative of NATO secretary general Robert Simmons paid working visits to Armenia, over which he met President Robert Kocharyan, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, speaker of the parliament Tigran Torosyan, foreign and defence ministers and took part in the sitting of the IPAP. As you see that was a very active year in our relations. What level is the political dialogue with the Alliance at? Can we tell of the achievements in this context in 2007? Armenia achieved much in developing political dialogue with NATO in 2007. 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. What stage is implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO at? Actually, Armenia has successfully completed the two-year cycle of the Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO. Afterwards, we will discuss together the document prepared by NATO experts in Brussels. Many goals included in the Plan have been achieved or will be achieved shortly. We strictly followed the schedule of the Plan. Now, we need to coordinate isolated parts of the document in order to set new goals and establish the next cycle of their fulfillment. What events, including NATO exercises, have been scheduled for 2008 and is participation of Armenias representatives envisaged in them? The Armenian delegation took part in the annual Planning Symposium in Oberammergau (Germany) on January 23-24. The issues of different formats of partnership with NATO were discussed at the Symposium. An informal meeting of NATO countries' defense ministers will be held in Vilnius on February 7 with participation of the states, contributing to the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo. However, the greatest event is, of course, meeting of NATO heads of state and governments in Bucharest scheduled for April 2-4, 2008. Within the frames of the Summit, NATO members will meet the Euro- Atlantic partners on April 3. In 2008, we schedule to hold the second week of NATO in Armenia. Preparatory work over two seminars on the topics "Fights Against Cyber- Terrorism" and "Energy Security" is underway". In April, we shall participate in the exercises on management of crisis situations CMX 08: these exercises are headed by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. A big event will be held in Armenia in 2008 in the sphere of military cooperation: exercises "Longbow/Lancer 08" will be held within the frames of the Partnership for Peace programme. How do you assess activity of NATO Special Representative to Caucasus and Central Asia as regards deepening of Armenias relations with this structure? From the very beginning of his appointment in 2004, Robert Simmons actively contributed to development of multilateral relations between the Alliance and Armenia. He visited Yerevan already 8 times over the last years, and his every visit was an additional stimulus for extension of our relations. I hold regular consultations with Robert Simmons on a wide circle of issues. In Brussels, we keep in daily touch with his colleagues from the International Secretariat. The recent appointment of the new communication officer Z. Rybatsky (he started taking up his duties in September, 2007) much facilities the problem of coordination in situ. How much, in general, Armenia strives for deepening the relations with the Alliance, taking into account the fact that joining this organization is not the goal of Armenia, as RA president used to say? The president, stemming from the national interests of ensuring security to the state, adopts a decision regarding Armenia's joining any organization. At the same time, there are very wide opportunities of partnership with NATO: it may be in the political dialogue, military reforms, crisis situations, science and parliamentary cooperation. Development and deepening of relations with NATO promotes conducting of more flexible security policy, upgrading of our armed forces and strengthening of the structure engaged in emergency situations. Importance of our relations with NATO is reflected in National Security Strategy and in Military Doctrine. Will possible entering of other South Caucasian countries, particularly, Georgia, NATO reflect the relations of Armenia with the Alliance? If yes, how? Only Georgia, of all our direct neighbours, actively strives for the membership in NATO .This is Georgia's sovereign right. NATO Summit in Bucharest will probably discuss the issue of presenting the Membership Actions Plan to Georgia, and it is not ruled out that a positive decision will be made. It is necessary for us to be ready to the situation when our northern neighbour, with which we have only friendly relations, will become NATO member in time. We should use this new situation for strengthening of our security, including further development of relations with NATO. Is involvement of NATO in Karabakh conflict settlement, in particular, in the monitoring of preserving the cease-fire regime, possible? Did Armenia apply with proposal to organize such a monitoring? If no, then why? NATO has not been not directly involved in the Karabakh conflict settlement process and it has no such intention: NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer multiply told about it. For its part, Armenia did not apply the Alliance with such a request. The negotiation process on Karabakh conflict settlement is held within the frames of OSCE Minsk Group. Deployment of any peacekeeping forces in the region of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is possible only after reaching a political agreement and by consent of the all the conflict parties. Does Armenia's partnership with Iran emerge in our relations with NATO? This issue has never emerged in our relations with NATO. The Alliance has always highly appreciated Armenia's policy and aspiration to support and develop normal relations with all the countries in the region. Armenia is a member of CSTO and actively cooperates within the frames of this organization. At the same time, Armenia develops the relations with NATO. Does cooperation within the frames of one organization hinder Armenia to develop relations with another one? There has been no problem in this sense. We hope that there will be no problem in the future either. Our membership in the CSTO and partnership with NATO are the components of our foreign policy of complementarity and Armenian security policy. Mariam Levina, ArmInfo, January 30, 2008 . Finance and banks 2008-02-01 19:54:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 306,5 drams for 1 dollar, 453 drams for 1 EUR and 12,3 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 308 drams for 1 dollar, 458 drams for 1 EUR and 12,5 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 2008-02-01 19:17:00 7 commercial banks of Armenia included in list of 100 largest tax payers of Armenia ArmInfo. 7 commercial banks of Armenia were included in the list of 100 largest taxpayers of the country according to the 2007 results. According to the data of the State Tax Service of the Republic of Armenia, HSBC Bank Armenia became the first bank in the mentioned list by the volume of taxes paid in 2007. Having paid taxes worth a total of 1,618 bln AMD, 1,475 bln AMD of which were tax on profit and income tax, it occupied the 31st place in the top 100. It is followed by ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank, which paid 1,090bln AMD, 1,054bln AMD of which were tax on profit and income tax and occupied the 57th place in the top 100. Ardshininvest bank supplemented the budget by 922,3mln AMD in 2007, including 854,3mnl AMD - tax on profit and income tax, thus occupying the 65th place. Armeconombank, which paid 877.3 mln AMD, 800.9 mln AMD of them being profit and income taxes, ranks next and holds the 70th position. VTB Bank (Armenia) holds the 91st position on the list of hundred largest tax-payers in Armenia, having paid 635.6 bln AMD to the state budget in 2007, 585.3 mln AMD of them being profit and income taxes. INECOBANK holds the 95th position, having paid 570.7 mln AMD, 561.6 mln AMD of them being profit and income taxes. Unibank closes the list of the banks which entered the top hundred of Armenian tax-payers. The bank paid 567.3 mln AMD to the state budget, 546.9 mln AMD being profit and income taxes. As of December 31, 2007, there were 22 commercial banks in Armenia. 2008-02-01 19:02:00 On February 1 USD share price totals 308,43 AMD/1 USD ArmInfo. 28 lots worth a total of 5,595 mln (1.726 mln AMD) were sold at today's currency auction at the Armenian Exchange (ArmEx) at the average exchange rate of 308,43 AMD/1 USD. It was by 0,29% lower than the index of the previous auction on January 31. Demand for USD totaled $900 thsd, with supply being $1,400 mln. The best demand price was 308,15 AMD/1 USD (the average price - 308,04 AMD/1 USD), the best supply price was 308,95 AMD/1 USD (the average price - 309,08 AMD/1 USD). The opening price for USD was 307,76 AMD/1USD, closing - 308,8 AMD/1USD, minimal - 307,75 AMD/1USD, maximal - 309 AMD/1 USD. During the current week, January 21-25 inclusive, currency transaction worth a total of $15,460 mln were made at ArmEx. Moreover, the exchange rate of USD transactions grew by 0,53 percentage points. On the whole, from January 6, 2007 up to February 1, 2008 inclusive, $814,704 mln and 96,442 thsd EUR were sold at ArmEx, with the USD average exchange rate of the transactions for this period of time falling from 364,5 to 308,43 AMD/1 USD and the EUR average exchange rate - from 483,5 to 466,73 AMD/1EUR. The maximal volume of transactions was registered on 26 November - 78 lots worth a total of $25.690 mln (7.835 bln AMD) at the exchange rate of 305 AMD/1 USD. The minimal volume of transactions was registered on 7 January - 3 lots worth $100 thsd (36.450 mln AMD) at the exchange rate of 364,5 AMD/1 USD. 2008-02-01 14:50:00 Non-cash transactions in inter-bank market for January 31 ArmInfo. The non-cash transactions in the inter- bank foreign exchange market for January 31 made up $425,000 (130.692 million drams at the average exchange rate of 307.51 AMD/$1 USD). General transactions were down 0.6 times as against the previous trading day (January 30 - 230.095 million drams). According to the data of commercial banks, the average exchange rate of USD was up 0.2 percentage points. The data of the Armenian stock exchange (ArmEx) say the foreign exchange transactions on the floor made up $2.425 million (745.758 million drams), which is almost 27 times higher than the similar indicator of the inter-bank market. The average exchange rate of US dollar at the exchange market totaled 307.53 AMD/$1 USD. Social 2008-02-01 19:13:00 Apartment house to be built in Yerevan for young professors of Yerevan State University ArmInfo. A program for housing support of young professors of Yerevan State University was presented in Yerevan today. The construction of a nine-storied house with 153 apartments will be started in the framework of the program in Avan community in Mar 2008. The total area of a two-room apartment will make up 58 sq m, a three-room apartment - 82 sq m, a four-room apartment - 144 sq m. The house will have gas, heating system, a yard and an underground parking lot. The project will last for 18-20 months. One square meter will cost 170,000 AMD ($550), which is much lower than the average price in Yerevan - $900-1,300. The construction will be carried out by Glendale Hills company, while Converse Bank will issue mortgage credits. The parties are also considering the possibility of building two more houses for YSU professors. "Two years ago we said that it was necessary to help each young Armenian family to buy house and car. I am sure that the rate of the mortgage credits offered by Converse Bank will be the lowest on our market. I hope that the example of Glendale Hills and Converse Bank will inspire other organizations to carry out similar actions," Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during the presentation. No information from Site can be used without prior permission of ARMINFO http://www.arminfo.am -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=media.arminfo&email=e@mail http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com