The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform The day news 2008-04-01 12:46:00 Foreign investments in Armenia's economy in 2007 grew by 73,7% ArmInfo. Foreign investments in Armenia's economy in 2007 grew by 73, 7% to $1337.0 mln, as compared with 2006, RA National Statistical Service reports. According to the source data, direct foreign investments (DFI) over the reporting period grew by 43,3% to $669.8 mln. The portfolio investments made up $0.14 mln and reduced by 1,4%. Other investments (available funds and deposits, as well as other liabilities) totaled $667.1 mln and grew 2,3 times. Foreign investments in the real sector grew by 34,6% to $845.4 mln, including DFI grew by 34% to $582.3 mln. Russia leads on foreign investments - $449.4 mln and FDI - $293.2 mln, which grew 2,1 and 1,9 times, respectively, as compared with the last year. Foreign investments from Lebanon made up $134 mln and FDI - $82.8 mln, which grew 2,1 and 72,5 times, respectively. Investments from Germany totaled $55.3 mln, (completely FDI) and grew by 15.6%. Investments from the USA made up $33.4 mln and FDI - $25.7 mln under growth by 2,4% and 3,8%, respectively. Investments from Argentine totaled $26.5 mln and FDI - $18.2 mln under fall by 57,6% and 45,9%, respectively. 30,9% of foreign investments and 25,7% of FDI over the reporting period were attracted to the area of communication. 38,3% of FDI - to the production and distribution of electricity, gas, hot water and steam, and 10,7% - to the mining industry. Politics 2008-04-01 12:32:00 Adoption of UN Resolution on Nagorno Karabakh is failure of Armenian diplomacy: local political experts ArmInfo. Adoption of UN Resolution on Nagorno Karabakh, being unfavourable for Armenia, is a failure of the Armenian diplomacy, a political expert Alexander Manasyan said at today's dispute in "Mirror" club. He said that it has been 18 years already the Armenian diplomacy "silently" agrees with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and does not respond to the initiatives of Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, active counter-measures had to be taken just after coming of RA President Robert Kocharyan's administration to power in 1998. There is a possibility for such measures and steps today as well, with appearance of Kosovo precedent, for example, set the issue of legitimacy of Azerbaijan's borders. "There is no tragedy in adoption of UN Resolution from March 14, however, it would be better not to adopt it", Manasyan said. For his part, a political expert Manvel Sargsyan said that by its actions, Azerbaijan tries to respond to the threat, apparent for it, in the form of appearance of Kosovo precedent. The actions of Baku are aimed, first of all, at changing the whole international atmosphere around the problem of Karabakh conflict settlement. The Armenian party takes nothing in response, limited only to periodical threats to recognize independence of Nagorno Karabakh. "We always have a chance to take some counter-measures, however, we never take any steps, trying to maintain the status-quo, that is harmful for us", the political expert said. 2008-04-01 11:03:00 Armenian president: 'The problem of Nagornyy Karabakh status within Azerbaijan has never been discussed over the least ten years' ArmInfo. 'There are two options - either direct recognition of independence or before final recognition making a treaty between the NKR and Republic of Armenia about mutual support in the sphere of defence and suppressing possible aggression. I think such a treaty will play a preventive part in the matter of bellicose statements averting', - Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said over his short-term visit to Stepanakert on 31 March when replying to the question about possible recognition of the NKR by Armenia, as ArmInfo correspondent reports. Robert Kocharyan also added that the last events around the Karabakh conflict settlement, the attempts of moving settlement process to UN, the bellicose statements of Azerbaijan force the Armenian parties to make certain steps connected with ensuring security of Nagornyy Karabakh. Speaking about the negotiating process over the last ten years Armenian president said the problem of Nagornyy Karabakh status within Azerbaijan has never been discussed over the least ten years. He also said that in fact the document offered by the intermediaries is directed to recognition of the right for self-determination. 2008-04-01 10:21:00 Tigran Torosyan: Matthew Bryza is often cunning when speaking of principles of the co-chairs' proposals ArmInfo. Official Yerevan welcomes the fact that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have formed their proposals on basis of two principles: territorial integrity and self-determination over the last 2.5-3 years, Tigran Torosyan, speaker of Armenia's National Assembly, says in an interview with Day.az portal. "A referendum in Nagorno Karabakh to involve residents of Nagorno Karabakh, including those Azerbaijanis, who had resided there before the well-known events and who will return there, has been proposed to implement the principle of self- determination", he says. The speaker is confident that the conflict must be settled only within the framework of the international law. As for the negative moments, he says that one of the co-chairs, Matthew Bryza, is often cunning when speaking of principles the co-chairs' proposals are based on. "I think that this behavior goes beyond not only the co-chairs mandate, but also the elementary respect to those who are not familiar with these principles". He says that when speaking for Azerbaijanis Matthew Bryza often mentions only the territorial integrity as if only this principle is applied. "There is another example. Though militaristic rhetoric, deep hatred and violation of the trilateral agreement on ceasefire are the biggest obstacles to the conflict settlement, the co-chairs statements on this issue are not addressed to any of the parties", the spokesman says. He believes that despite the existent dissatisfaction, changes in the platform and format of the conflict settlement lack prospects and will further protract the settlement process. 2008-04-01 10:18:00 Alterations and amendments to law on order of holding rallies, demonstrations and processions conflict with Armenia's commitments to CE: leader of People's party of Armenia ArmInfo. 'Alterations and amendments to the law on the order of holding rallies, demonstrations and processions are anti-constitutional and conflict with Armenia's commitments to the Council of Europe. I think that CE will give them a relevant assessment', Chairman of the oppositional People's party Stepan Demirchyan told ArmInfo. He said that the fact of mass violation of human rights in Armenia is apparent and undeniable, and the world community cannot turn a blind eye to this. "The authorities should realize that it is impossible to overcome the existing crisis in the country by repressive methods. Today, the regime suppresses any opportunities for the opposition to work. In particular, rallies have been banned, the TV air has been completely closed, one-sided propaganda is carried out by electron Media. Meanwhile, the authorities have to understand that they have problems not with separate personalities or political parties but with the public and, by their actions, they deepen this dividing ridge", S. Demirchyan said. PPA leader thinks that numerous spontaneous actions are held just for this reason, as the Armenian public cannot put up with glaring unfairness, mass falsifications, violence and expresses its discontent. " The authorities have to reckon with the public opinion", S. Demirchyan said. 2008-04-01 10:15:00 Stepan Demirchyan: Primary goal is to achieve termination of repressions and release of political prisoners ArmInfo.'The primary goal is to achieve termination of repressions and release of the political prisoners, moreover, the governing parties should also be interested in it', Chairman of the oppositional People's party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan told ArmInfo. He said that the people, having committed criminal offences, must be separated from those who expressed their political position and who are persecuted for that now. "We have again faced mass repressions against the oppositional leaders and activists", S. Demirchyan emphasized. He thinks that RA authorities aim at frightening the Armenian public, however, it is impossible to overcome the present sharpest internal political crisis in such a way. PPA leader said that the necessity of dialogue is much spoken about today, however, the authorities have to take steps to moderate the tension. "Meanwhile, just the contrary happens de facto: a complete arbitrariness in the actions of policemen: the people, just walking, are taken to Police. Such actions aggravate the situation more and more, that is absolutely inadmissible. Whichever reasons are given by the authorities, the matter concerns the apparent arbitrary actions, which violate one of the fundamental rights of citizens for freedom of movement", S. Demirchyan said. 2008-03-31 19:35:00 Armenian president awarded an NKR order ArmInfo. On March 31, Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree on awarding Armenian President Robert Kocharyan with Grigor Lusavorish Order for services before the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The chief information department of the NKR presidential administration told ArmInfo that the order was awarded to Kocharyan on March 31, during a meeting with the NKR leadership at the session hall of the NKR government. 2008-03-31 15:55:00 AGO Group meets Levon Ter-Petrosyan to get first hand view of full picture in Armenia ArmInfo. The meeting with AGO Group in the residence of the ex-president of Armenia on March 30 was requested personally by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Head of Ago Monitoring Group of CE Committee of Ministers Per Sjogren said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in Yerevan, Monday. The diplomat said AGO Group met with Levon Ter-Petrosyan to get a full imagination of the picture in Armenia after 1 March incidents. He stressed that the Group as usually meets with all the parties. L. Ter- Petrosyan informed the Group of his vision of the situation in the country, including March 1 incidents and the election. In its turn, the Group informed the ex-president of its opinion about the issues connected with the CE, for instance, the release of the detained for political reasons, P. Sjogren said. 2008-03-31 15:46:00 Raffi Hovannisian Meets Greek Prime Minister, Pace President ArmInfo. Raffi K. Hovannisian, the Heritage Party's parliamentary leader and member of Armenia's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), met over the weekend with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and privately exchanged views on matters of mutual concern, Heritage Party told ArmInfo. Hovannisian was in Greece to take part in a policy conference, entitled "Anti-terrorist Measures and Human Rights," organized by PACE's Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights together with its Sub-Committee on Crime Problems and the Fight against Terrorism. In the framework of the conference, Raffi Hovannisian conferred on the global challenges of security and civil liberties, unfolding regional developments, and deepening domestic crises with renowned human rights experts and MPs from several European nations. He discussed these issues separately with newly-elected PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig. Accompanied by Aristotelis Pavlidis, Greece's former minister of finance and current head of the Hellenic Republic's delegation to PACE, Raffi Hovannisian attended a special session of the Greek Parliament. There he met, for the second time in the past couple of years, with his long-time colleague Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. 2008-03-31 15:44:00 Ago Group comes out for a high-level dialogue on Karabakh peace process ArmInfo. The Ago Group comes out for a high-level dialogue on the Karabakh peace process, Head of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the so-called Ago Group, Swedish Ambassador to CoE Per Sjogren said at a press-conference in Yerevan, replying to ArmInfo correspondent's question about the position of Azerbaijan which refused to hold a high-level meeting within NATO summit's frames. Per Sjogren noted that Ago contributes to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. He recalled that though the talks are held in the OSCE Minsk Group format, Ago group's mandate also implies contribution to the settlement within the limits of possibilities. He also recalled that peaceful settlement of the conflict is related to the CoE admission commitments of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, the Ago Group advocates a high-level dialogue, Sjogren said. Weather 2008-04-01 11:02:00 Temperature swings in Armenia ArmInfo. Atmospheric temperature in Armenia will fall by 8-10 degrees for the coming two days. Meteorologists forecast also rains. Synoptic on duty of the 'Armhydromet' State Center Natalia Bisharyan told ArmInfo that on April 2 temperature in daytime will fall to +15 - +16 degrees by Celsius in average and to +1 - +3 degrees at night. In the second half of day on April 1 and 2, meteorologists forecast rains, thunderstorm and wind 20 m/s. Temperature for April 1 in Ararat valley and foothills will make up +24 - +25 degrees, in Aragatsotn, Shirak, Gegharkunik, Kotayk regions and in the foothills of Syunik region - +18 - +19 degrees. Head of the Crop Raising Department, Agricultural Ministry of Armenia, Garnik Petrosyan told ArmInfo the period of pollination of apricot trees in Ararat valley is over the temperature +3 degrees will not damage the future harvest so far. Only temperature below zero may affect the harvest. Meteorologists forecast the temperature will began rising already from April 4. Economy 2008-03-31 19:50:00 Serzh Sargsyan discuss problems of SME with businessmen ArmInfo. Today the newly elected president of Armenia, prime minister Serzh Sargsyan met with small and medium-sized businessmen as well as members of over 20 public organizations representing their interests. The press service of the Government of Armenia reports that representatives of concerned ministries reported to Sargsyan on their work done in the sphere. The parties exchanged views concerning the current problems and development prospects of small and medium-sized business. Sargsyan pointed out the big role of SME in the economy of Armenia. He promised that such meetings would be held on a regular basis until all problems were formulated and solved. The deputy chief of the State tax Service pointed out that the Commerce and Industry Chamber had discussed the legal status, taxation and administrative problems of small and medium-sized comapnies. 2008-03-31 15:23:00 Share of tourism in GDP in Armenia to grow to 12% in 2030 ArmInfo.The share of tourism sector in GDP in Armenia will grow to 12% in 2030 in conformity with the tourism development sector in Armenia, Head of Tourism Department, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Armenia, Mekhak Apresyan said at a press conference, Monday. He said incomes from tourism are forecasted at $3 billion annually in 2030. Due to it, Armenia will be included into the list of 50 developed tourist countries. He said the annual growth of the sphere in the country was 20-30% over the last years. In 2007, 510,000 tourists visited Armenia. The number of tourists will grow to 600,000 people in 2008. He also added that mass disorders in Yerevan that led to 8 deaths will negatively affect the inflow of tourists. However, M. Apresyan could not make any specific forecasts. For her part, Commercial Director of Armenian Tourism Development Agency Suzan Azoyan said those incidents have frightened tourists for a short period of time. Thus, March 1 unrest made 700-800 tourists to refuse from visiting Armenia on Easter on March 23. Finance and banks 2008-04-01 11:05:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 307 drams for 1 dollar, 483drams for 1 EUR and 12,9 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 308 drams for 1 dollar, 487 drams for 1 EUR and 13 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 2008-03-31 19:56:00 Ameria CJSC updates database of legislature and legal acts related to concessional activity in Armenia ArmInfo. Ameria CJSC, a leader in the market of professional advisory services in Armenia, has updated the database of legislature and legal acts directly or indirectly related to the concessional activity in Armenia. The PR department of the company told ArmInfo that Ameria was retained by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to assess if any of particular laws had been amended or if new laws had been enacted that impacted upon concessions in Armenia. According to the source, the EBRD had requested Gide Loyrette Nouel (GLN) to prepare an update to the Concession Assessment Report of 2005 in respect of the concession laws in the EBRD countries. The GLN and the EBRD invited Ameria to participate in preparing an updated report for Armenia on any amendments to the laws or if any new legislation regarding concessions enacted since 2005, which were further considered and incorporated in a questionnaire presentation as agreed with EBRD. The source says that the main laws being researched for updates since 2005 were the Law of RA "On Foreign Investments" (adopted in 1994), Law of RA "On provision (concession) of entrails for prospecting and mining the purpose of exploiting" (adopted in November 2002, in force from April 2003), Law of RA "On procurement" (adopted in August 2000), Law of RA "On Privatization" (adopted in February 1998), Water Code (adopted in October 2002), certain sections of general legislation such as the Civil Code of RA, Law of RA "On Budgetary System" (for aspects such as government support and financial securities). The thorough research performed by the Ameria Legal team revealed few changes in the legal framework governing concession in Armenia. Some of those were the amendment introduced to the mining legislation (Law of RA "On provision (concession) of entrails for prospecting and mining the purpose of exploiting"), adoption of decision No. 1497-N on Priority Measures to Reform the A rea of Railway Transport, etc. Social 2008-04-01 12:34:00 Former presidential TU-134 makes first regular flight Yerevan-Astrakhan-Yerevan ArmInfo. Armavia Armenian national career opens a new regular flight Yerevan- Astrakhan-Yerevan. The first flight from Yerevan Zvartnots airport was made on April 1, Armavia Press Secretary Nana Avetisova told ArmInfo. After ceremonial seeing off the first passengers of the new flight, Armavia Director General Norayr Belluyan said the flight will be made on Tuesdays. In future, the flights will become more frequent. The first flight was made by TU-134 that earlier served President of Armenia. The plane fully meets European standards. TU-134 has 32 econom-class and 5 business-class seats. Belluyan said the plane made the first flight full with all the 37 seats. In future, CRJ100 will also make the given flight. Passengers say the flight was necessary since earlier they had to make transit flights to other cities in Russia. Armavia is expected to open new flights Yerevan- Marseilles- Yerevan, Yerevan - Dusseldorf - Yerevan and Yerevan-Riga- Yerevan. 2008-03-31 20:16:00 ArmenTel's subscribers receive access to GRPS-roaming ArmInfo. Beeline's subscribers can make use of GPRS-roaming in the territory of Armenia and Uzbekistan. According to Russian media, from the Armenian side the access to internet will be ensured by ArmenTel operator. In Uzbekistan the partner for GPRS- roaming is Unitel. Ecology 2008-03-29 12:43:00 Yerevan ecologies trying to draw attention via rock concert, bike ride and innovatory art ArmInfo. Yesterday an Environmental Exhibition"Become the Voice of the Voiceless" was opened Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art [ACCEA]. The Exhibition is aimed at speaking through Arts on behalf of trees, animals, and homeless children, whose voice is not heard by society, carried away with material, daily and other concerns. Photos of Armenian journalists Narine Kirakosyan (ArmInfo news agency) and Galust Nanyan (Hayastani Hanrapetutyun daily) made over the last four years at the most ecologically unfavorable regions of Armenia were exhibited. Photos of local and foreign professional photographers were also exhibited. Photos of tailing pounds, toxic wastes of which are the most dangerous for ecology, prevail at the exhibition. Photos of children born with anomalies, often because of bad ecology, were also exhibited. The Exhibition presented various urgent ecological issues in Armenia to show the impact that local issues might have on the nature, global warming as well as present and future generations. Organizers of the exhibition, which will be open till 15 April, "Armenia Tree Project" (ATP) Charitable Foundation, "World Wildlife Foun " (WWF) Armenian Branch planed other ecological initiatives as well. In particular, tree planing and territory clean-up action in the Botanical garden (March 30), tree planting at Nubarashen N11 boarding-school (April 6) and Rock concert at the Puppet Theatre (April 14, at 19:00) with participation of lock bands and environmental cycling in the central streets of Yerevan (April 20). 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