Politics


2008-02-05 20:17:00 Prime Minister of Russia arrives in Yerevan
ArmInfo. A Russian delegation led by Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov has arrived in Yerevan today.

The press service of the Government of Armenia reports that the delegation includes Transport Minister Igor Levitin, Communication and IT Minister Leonid Reiman, the head of the Federal Customs
Service Andrey Belianinov, the director general of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko, Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister Anna Popova, Deputy Foreign Minister
Grigory Karasin, Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin, the first deputy director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Alexander Fomin, the deputy head of the Federal Agency for Management of State property Yuri Medvedev.

The delegation is being accompanied by a group of businessmen: the chairman of the board of directors of Sistema Vladimir Yevtushenko, the president of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin, the deputy
director general of ALROSA Sergey Ulin.



2008-02-05 20:14:00 Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia applies to Arthur Baghdasaryan for materials about bribery of voters
ArmInfo. On February 5, Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia applied to Arthur Baghdasaryan, a presidential candidate, the leader of the Law-Governed Country Party, to present materials about some people who bribe voters, Press-secretary of the Armenian Prosecutor General Sona Truzyan told ArmInfo.

This was conditioned by the fact that at the Feb 2 press-conference Baghdasaryan said that the process of bribery of voters started and he has information about those organizing the bribery, as well as a
video record proving that one of the state officials is doing this. Truzyan added that Prosecutor General's Office applied to the head of Baghdasaryan's campaign headquarters, Heghine Bisharyan, to present her own data about mass campaign violations in different towns of Armenia.



2008-02-05 17:08:00 The delegation of the Russian State Duma to observe presidential election in Armenia
ArmInfo. The delegation of the Russian State Duma will observe the presidential election in Armenia.

As Russian mass media report referring to press-service of Yedinaya Rossia faction, eight persons will be within the delegation headed by the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Konstantin Zatulin. The delegation will arrive in Yerevan on 17 February, Russian mass media report.



2008-02-05 16:45:00 Press-secretary of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's campaign headquarters: Territorial concessions are possible only in case of new security guarantees
ArmInfo. "Seven regions around Nagorno-Karabakh Republic guarantee its population's security. It'll be possible to speak of any concessions to Azerbaijan only in case we receive new
security guarantees", Press-secretary of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's campaign headquarters Arman Musinyan told journalists at Hayatsk club, Tuesday.

Recalling his earlier statement about the territorial concessions to Azerbaijan, Musinyan stressed that the matter concerned the possibility to cede 5 out of 7 regions, but only after receiving new security guarantees for Armenia in accordance with the peace process' results. "At the current stage of the peace process the geography of concessions covers all the 7 regions, including Kalbajar and Lachin",
Musinyan said.



2008-02-05 16:34:00 Consolidation talks of the opposition forces to end by the end of the week, press-secretary of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's central electoral headquarters says
ArmInfo. 'All the three political forces - we, the Orinats Yerkir party and Heritage party do not make a secret that they are actively negotiating on consolidation in the run up of the election. The process will end by the end of the current week and the society will be informed about everything>, -
press-secretary of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's electoral headquarters Arman Musinyan told journalists at Hayatsk club, Monday.

He also added that the first president has always been for the consolidated participation of the opposition in the forthcoming presidential election. He also said that there are serious ground to
suppose that Levon Ter-Petrosyan will be also supported by the leader of the New Times party Aram Karapetyan.

When commenting on yesterday's statement of the Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian that nobody had a right to make statements on behalf of their party, Arman Musinyan said: 'The relations in the opposition are normal. We are negotiating, exchanging views which may not coincide sometimes. The general logic of the talks and their final result are the most important'.



2008-02-05 16:27:00 Levon Ter-Petrosyan's supporters apply to Central Electoral Commission of Armenia to annul presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan's registration
ArmInfo. Levon Ter-Petrosyan's supporters have applied to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Armenia to annul presidential candidate, Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan's registration, Press-secretary of the Armenian ex-president's campaign headquarters Arman Musinyan told journalists at Hayatsk club, Tuesday.

According to him, the means being spent on the campaign by the candidate from power aren't evidently from Sargsyan's election campaign fund. If the CEC fails to annul Sargsyan's registration within 3 days, the oppositionists will apply to court "to acknowledge the inactivity" of the CEC. He added that numerous facts of violations of electoral legislation have already been presented to international observers. At the request to comment on the decision of Ter-Petrosyan to reject the invitation to participate in
political
broadcasts on a number of TV channels, A. Musinyan said, according to the information at the Central Headquarters of Information of Armenia, journalists' questions are prepared in the president's administration. "Levon Ter-Petrosyan is invited to the TV with the definite aim of total discrediting him. The decision not to take part in the TV broadcasts was conditioned with this, namely. Besides, our
candidate answered all the questions during the large-scale and lasting press conference on January 11", the opposition representative said.

Touching upon Levon Ter-Petrosyan 's visit to Chambarak during the pre-election trip to Gegharkunik region which didn't take place, Arman Musinyan emphasized changes are regularly made to the geography of meetings and rallies. Occasionally, visits to a number of populated areas are cancelled, but more often, vice versa.



2008-02-05 14:53:00 Prime Minister of Armenia: Programs of KfW Bank in Armenia meet plans of Armenian Government
ArmInfo. Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received First Vice President of KfW Bank Group Ronald Ziller, Monday.

Governmental press-service reports, Prime Minister highly appreciated the development of Armenian- German relations. He stressed that the selection of the spheres to promote is more important than the size of credits issued to these spheres. Financial, private mortgage lending market, social problems in the disaster area as well as energy and water economies are in the focus of the government's attention, the premier said. He also added that the program KfW Bank implements in Armenia meet the plans of the Armenian
Government. For his part, Ronald Ziller thanked the premier, the Central Bank and the Finance and Economy Ministry for contribution to opening the Armenian Office of Procredit international banking network. He was deeply impressed with the economic growth in Armenia which allowed raising
the size of investments trice last year. ProCredit Bank was registered in December 2007. Today, the bank received its first clients.

Germany issued a total of 150 million euros preferential credits and grants to Armenia up to 2007 through KfW Bank.



2008-02-05 14:48:00 Head of Working Group of RA State Commission: RA authorities never made secrets or mysteries on case of Samir Mamedov
ArmInfo. RA authorities have never made secrets or mysteries on the case of Samir Mamedov, Head of the Working Group of RA State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and
Missing Persons Armen Kaprielyan told ArmInfo, commenting on the recent statement of Head of the Azerbaijani DM's press-service Eldar Sabiroghlu about transfer of the Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mamedov to the third country.

"I advise to Mr Sabiroghlu to start learning the Geneva Conventions instead of dabbing with his finger. The Armenian party proves once more its adherence to IHL standards. If Head of the Azerbaijani DM's press-service is a good expert in international standards, he had to get acquainted with IHL standards more attentively", A. Kaprielyan emphasized. Commenting on the words of
AR DM's representative saying that RA authorities allegedly conceal the fact of transfer, Kaprielyan recalled that Armenia's authorities, in particular, the National Security Service made an official statement, having informed that Mamedov has been transferred to one of the European countries, which he chose himself. "Authoritative humanitarian organizations were engaged in this issue. The issue of S. Mamedov, as I said earlier, was in agenda of the UN Commissar for Refugees. RA government has never made secrets
or mysteries on S. Mamedov's case and, unlike Azerbaijan, it fulfills its liabilities to the world community in humanitarian issues. Mamedov resolved his destiny by himself and expressed no desire to return to the Motherland. ICRC representatives had an unlimited access to him from the very first day of his being at the Armenian party", Head of the Working Group said.

At the same time, he recalled that several years ago, Azerbaijan also transferred two Armenian deserters, Roman Teryan and Artur Apresyan to the third country. "However, the Azerbaijani government has not yet officially informed of the location of Apresyan and Teryan. We do not require to deliver information in an ultimative form", A. Kaprielyan said. To recall, a soldier Samir Mamedov had voluntarily passed to the Armenian party on December 24, 2006. He explained his did by a rough treatment and oppressions
by his comrade-in-arms and commanders.



2008-02-05 14:42:00 Presidential candidate Armen Melikyan applies to Ombudsman regarding voting from abroad
ArmInfo. Presidential candidate Armen Melikyan is to apply to the Ombudsman of Armenia regarding the problem with voting from abroad. Arman Melikyan said at a press conference, Tuesday, he had earlier applied to the Constitutional Court for the same problem. However, his application was rejected. The CC motivated the rejection with the fact that the issue was not within the competence of the presidential candidate.

Arman Melikyan said he had a meeting with CC Chairman Gagik Haroutunyan Monday. 'The explanations met the letter of law. However, the issue is still open', A. Melikyan said. The candidate also added that he intends to apply to Ombudsman Armen Haroutunyan in order the latter, in his turn, applies to the CC. However, if the problem is not studied before the election, Armen Melikyan intends to execute his right of appeal against election results. He mentioned that about one-fourth of the population having the right
to vote are in abroad. Ban on the voting from abroad will have an impact on the election result. Armen Melikyan stressed that he has no intention to withdraw his candidature.

As it was reported earlier, Armenian Parliament adopted alterations and amendments to the Election Code on February 26 2007 banning voting of citizens from abroad. Armen Melikyan applied to the CC for
cancellation of Article 2.2 of the Election Code.



2008-02-05 14:31:00 RA Parliament ratified agreement with OSCE Yerevan Office on creation of OSCE offices in country's regions
ArmInfo. Today, RA Parliament ratified an additional protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Armenian government and the OSCE Yerevan Office on creation of OSCE offices in the country's regions.

As deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Gegham Gharibjanyan said in his speech, the memorandum was signed even on September 15, 1999, based on which an additional protocol was signed on June 5, 2006, according to which the OSCE Office, in cooperation and agreement of RA government, may open its offices in the republic's territory for implementation of various programmes. The deputy minister exemplified the work of OSCE Yerevan Office in Armenia's Syunik region, where OSCE Yerevan Office was opened for fulfillment
of the programme of assistance to the local farmers. Such an initiative is welcomed by the republic's executive power, as almost all the international structures have been centered in the capital over the recent years, while the regions turned out to be aside.



2008-02-05 14:26:00 RA Parliament approved programme of activity of RA Audit Chamber in 2008
ArmInfo. Today, RA Parliament approved the programme of activity of the Audit Chamber of Armenia in 2008.

As Chairman of the Audit Chamber Ishkhan Zakaryan said, according to the current legislation, the programme had to be submitted to the Parliament till November 1, 2007. However, taking into account that Head of AC and its members were approved later, the document has been submitted at late December, 2007.

Four principles have been laid as a basis of the submitted document. First, AC has to carry out control of efficiency of using the budget funds, those of the Central Bank and the funds received from privatization of the state property objects. Moreover, in 2008, AC intends to start analyzing efficiency of implementation of 31 credit programmes. The Chamber also envisages to carry out analyses of programmes, which were implemented over the last 4 years but were not analyzed. AC will analyze efficiency of implementation
of programmes in such spheres as construction, nature protection, RA
Police, RA Customs Committee and the local authorities.



2008-02-05 14:06:00 RF prime minister visits Armenia today
ArmInfo-RBK. RF Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov will pay official visit to Armenia on February 5-6, the Russian governmental press-service told journalists. The visit programme envisages negotiations of V. Zubkov with the Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, as well as meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, Parliament Chairman Tigran Torossyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. As a source in the Russian government reported, primary importance in negotiations will be attached to the economic interaction
and further development of the Russian-Armenian trade-economic and investment cooperation. Presently, Russia entered the positions of the main foreign investor in the Armenian economy. The volume of the accumulated Russian investments makes up $1 bln. Cooperation of two countries in energy, construction, banking sphere, diamond and gold-mining sectors, as well as in the area of transport and communication actively develops. RAO "UES of Russia", "Gazprom" OJSC, and Vne
shtorgbank, "Russian Alluminum" OJSC, "Vympelcom" OJSC work in the Armenian market.



2008-02-05 14:02:00 Dmitrij Rupel: We hope presidential election wil not have negative impact on settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
ArmInfo. 'We hope presidential elections will not have negative impact on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the process of negotiations will continue', President of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel told journalists in Azerbaijan, APA reports. Dimitrij Rupel said that European Union is ready to assist in the settlement of the conflict. "We are pleased with any agreements reached by the parties. European Union wants the conflict to
be solved peacefully and is ready to render any assistance," he said.

European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner also said the organization supports the process of negotiations. "Both Azerbaijan and Armenia understand that the settlement of the conflict will have positive influence on the development of the region. We do not want negative rhetorics to be spouted during the election campaign," she said.



2008-02-05 13:58:00 RA Constitutional Court about reason for refusal to consider suit of RA presidential contender Arman Melikyan
ArmInfo. The Executive office of the Constitutional Court of Armenia explains the reason for refusal to consider the suit of RA presidential contender Arman Melikyan.

According to the message, received by ArmInfo from Armenia's CC Executive office, RA presidential contender Arman Melikyan appealed to the Constitutional Court with demand to cancel the alterations
and amendments made to point 2, Article 2 of RA Election Code on February 26, 2007, which "obstacle the rights of RA citizens living abroad to vote". However, the message reports, RA CC has no authorities to "cancel" such obstacles. Moreover, according to Article 101 of RA Constitution, RA presidential contender has no right to appeal to RA CC rebutting constitutionality of provisions of the electoral legislation. Guiding by Articles 52 and 101 of RA Constitution, Articles 32, 61 and 75 of the Law on the Constitutional
Court of Armenia, RA CC made a decision to refuse to consider the suit of Arman Melikyan, the message reports.







Economy


2008-02-05 19:02:00 Georgia will not annul discounts for Armenian cargo transit
ArmInfo. The report that Georgia is going to annul cargo transit discounts for Armenian Railways starting from Mar 1 2008 is a fake, the president of the Association of International Haulers of Georgia

The report followed the decision to place Armenian Railways under the management of Russian Railways. The point is that Georgia has no tariff agreement with the Russian company. Presently, the discount for Armenian cargo transit is 17% for liquid and 22% for dry cargoes.

The president of the Union of Industrialists and Businessmen of Armenia Arsen Kazaryan says that this problem is discussed every year and is always settled in Armenia's favor in Mar-Apr.



2008-02-05 14:35:00 Armenian parliament ratified agreement with World Bank about financing of the programme on poverty alleviation
ArmInfo. Today Armenian parliament ratified agreement with World Bank about financing of the programme on poverty alleviation.

As Armenian Deputy Finances and Economy minister Suren Karayan said, the agreement was signed on 27 November 2007 in Yerevan. The given programme is the forth. It costs 12 mln SDR and will be
fulfilled in 2008-2012. The credit will be redeemed from 15 May 2018 to 15 November 2027 with an annual rate 0,75%. The total sum of the credit will be directed to financing of the budget deficit of
Armenia, the main directions of which are defined by the main economic law of the country.


Finance and banks


2008-02-05 20:54:00 Gold in Armenia rises in price by 4,1% over the past week
ArmInfo. From January 28 till February 4, 2008, the price of gold in Armenia (small gold bullions) grew by 4,1% and is fixed at 9129.86 AMD per g till February 10.

The Armenian State Depository for Precious Metals and Precious Stones told ArmInfo that till the end of the current week silver in Armenia will cost 165.80 AMD/g, which is by 4,8% higher than the index of the previous week. Within the period under review, platinum will cost 16887.79 AMD per g, rising in price by 8,7%, and palladium - 3842.05 AMD per g, rising in price by 5,6% as compared with the previous week.

To note, on January 2, 2008, the gold price exceeded $850 per ounce, which had been the record mark since January 1980.



2008-02-05 18:52:00 ProCredit Bank opens in Armenia for business as the 22nd institution in the worldwide ProCredit group
ArmInfo. ProCredit Bank was opened in Yerevan today with an official ribbon cutting performed by Tigran Sargsyan, the Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, Vardan Sukiasyan,
ProCredit Bank's first client, a local small business owner who will open a savings account with the bank and Bertolt Hertzfeldt, the General Manager of ProCredit Bank Armenia and Andrea Wiktorin, the German Ambassador to Armenia.

The bank is located at 31/99 Moskovyan Street in Yerevan.

Hertzfeltd said that the bank would serve the small businesses and "ordinary people" of Armenia. ProCredit Bank seeks to be a "neighbourhood bank" which will serve the local community in Armenia.
It looks forward to welcoming to its opening ceremony members of the general public, local suppliers of the bank, and hopefully many of the bank's potential clients.

ProCredit Bank in Armenia, like the ProCredit institutions in all other countries where the group operates, will be a customer-oriented, socially responsible bank, providing high-quality and affordable services to ordinary people, placing emphasis on lending to very small, small, and medium-sized businesses and developing a savings culture among ordinary people. "We will be your bank around the corner that offers the best service to all its customers. We welcome everyone to start saving with us or to take out
a loan to develop his or her business. The whole ProCredit team is looking forward to starting operations in Armenia. We want to be your neighbourhood bank and a bank that makes a difference," Hertzfeldt said.

ProCredit Bank will focus on lending to very small, small and medium-sized enterprises, as it is convinced that these businesses create the largest number of jobs and make a vital contribution to
the economic development of Armenia. The bank will offer business loans starting from USD 100 for small entrepreneurs and transparent banking services for private individuals, such as saving accounts
with no minimum deposit amount.

The Central Bank of Armenia granted ProCredit Bank a license to conduct banking operations in Armenia on December 7, 2007. The shareholders of ProCredit Bank are ProCredit Holding AG, the majority
shareholder, with a 66.66% stake; KfW, which holds 16.67% of the shares; and the EBRD, which holds 16.67% of the shares. By the end of 2008 ProCredit Bank Armenia will be represented in three regions of Armenia with six branches: four in Yerevan, one in Vanadzor, and one in Artashat.



2008-02-05 14:58:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR
ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 308 drams for 1 dollar, 456 drams for 1 EUR and 12,4 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 309 drams for 1 dollar, 459 drams for 1 EUR and 12,6 drams for 1 Russian ruble.


Crimes and emergency situations


2008-02-05 17:01:00 Earthquake on Nakhichevan-Iran border: the aftershock was felt in Kajaran, Sunik region
ArmInfo. 3.5-point earthquake took place on the Nakhichevan-Iran border 20 km south of Nakhichevan today at 4:42 PM. The National Seismic Protection Service of Armenia reports that in the epicenter the magnitude was 5 points. The aftershock was felt in Kajaran, Sunik region, Armenia.


Culture


2008-02-05 19:04:00 Exhibits of History Museum of Armenia to be exhibited at Hermitage in 2008
ArmInfo. Exhibits of the History Museum of Armenia will be exhibited at Hermitage, in 2008.

As Director of the museum Anelka Grigorkya told ArmInfo correspondent, "Urartu" exhibition, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the historian-Orientalist, academician Boris Piotrovsky, will be held at the end of November, 2008. About 100 exhibits of the History Museum of Armenia dating back to the epoch of 3000bc will be exhibited in it. These are mainly items excavated by B. Piotrovsky, himself.

Boris Piotrovsky has worked as the director of Hermitage 1964-90. The results of his excavations (1939-1971) of Urartu town and fortresses on Karmir-Blur hill are especially important. His main works are
devoted to the history, culture and art of the Caucasus and the Ancient East, to Urartu state and the issues of the Armenian nation's origin and ancient history, in particular. One of the halls of Armenian art in Hermitage - "Antiquities of "Urartu" is dedicated to the memory of B. Piotrovsky.