The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform The intrigue of the day 2008-04-16 11:32:00 RA Energy Minister: Rise in prices for natural gas in Armenia from May 1 not to reflect on country's economy ArmInfo. Rise in prices for natural gas in Armenia from May 1, 2008, in view of termination of state subsidization will not reflect on the state of the country's economy, RA Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said in an interview with RA Public TV. He said that the subsidies of $188.8 mln, received from sale of the fifth power unit of Hrazdan TPP, ended in January, 2008 in view of an unexpected high gas consumption. However, even after termination of subsidization, the gas prices in Armenia still remain the lowest in the region, the minister said. In fact, the gas price in Armenia for those consuming up to 10,000 cub m of gas per month (mainly the population) will grow by 25,000 drams per 1000 cub m to 84,000 drams. For commercial consumers using over 10,000 cub m of gas per month, the price will rise by $52,01 to $153,26 per 1000 cub m. A. Movsisyan also said, for comparison, that the gas price in Azerbaijan, using its own gas, makes up $250, in Georgia - $270-305, in Turkey - $307. Politics 2008-04-16 12:22:00 Orinats Yerkir faction representative refrains from comments on PACE draft resolution on Armenia ArmInfo. A member of the parliamentary faction of Orinats Yerkir party Artashes Avoyan believes it untimely making any comments on the draft resolution on activity of democratic institutions in Armenia adopted by PACE spring session. A. Avoyan stressed that the final resolution will be adopted by PACE on April 17. 'At the same time, I'd like to say that the key directions of speeches by PACE delegates on the resolution were on human rights protection in Armenia, development of democratic institutions, provision of basic rights and freedoms of citizens and fully coincided with the provisions of the Memorandum on establishment of a political coalition in Armenia', he said. 2008-04-16 12:21:00 Orinats Yerkir party to get 2-3 portfolios in the new government and the posts of two permanent parliamentary commissions ArmInfo. Orinats Yerkir party will get 2-3 portfolios in the new government and the posts of two permanent parliamentary commissions, a member of the OY party parliamentary faction Artashes Avoyan said at today's press-conference in Hayatsk club when replying to ArmInfo correspondent's question. He also added it is not clear yet what ministerial portfolios will be offered to the OY party. They are still negotiating and everything will be clear in a day or two. 'Not ministerial portfolios are important for us but fulfillment of our programmes 90% of which were included in the coalition memorandum', - he said. 2008-04-15 20:18:00 CoE Commissioner for Human Rights: Interpretation of criminal articles applied with respect to detainees in Armenia is unclear ArmInfo. The interpretation of the criminal articles applied with respect to oppositionists is unclear, CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg said at a press- conference in Strasbourg. Nevertheless, he noted that he doesn't consider it to be a professional approach to assess each specific case of detention from the political viewpoint. He stressed that one should avoid situations when political motives are a basis for beginning of criminal procedures. The CoE thinks that it is inadmissible to detain people for their political views. 2008-04-15 20:18:00 Special Investigation Service of Armenia refutes Levon Ter Petrossyan's report about 150 arrested supporters ArmInfo. The Special Investigation Service of Armenia has refuted Levon Ter-Petrossyan's report about 150 arrested supporters. The senior investigator of the service, the chief investigator of the Mar 1 case Vahagn Haroutyunyan says in an interview to ArmInfo that Ter-Petrossyan is lying. He says that 125 people are facing charges under the case with just 78 people arrested for specific crimes: stealing, robbery, arson, violence against policemen. The criminal cases of 20 people have been sent to court. 3 of them have pleaded guilty. 11 cases have been sent to the National Security Service and the Police for additional investigation. 2008-04-15 20:16:00 Special Investigative Service of Armenia: Nobody is arrested or detained for political views ArmInfo. The Special Investigative Service of Armenia (RA SIS) doesn't consider the statements on existence of political prisoners in Armenia to be grounded. Senior Investigator of the RA SIS Vahagn Harutyunyan, who heads the investigation of the criminal case on the March 1 mass disorders in Yerevan, expressed his opinion in an interview with ArmInfo correspondent. Commenting upon Armenian ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's statement that there are political prisoners in Armenia, Harutyunyan noted that this statement is another attempt to distort the facts. As regards Ter-Petrosyan's statement that many of his election agents are arrested, Harutyunyan said that there may be such people among the detainees, however, they are accused not for being Ter-Petrosyan's election agents but for committing criminally punishable acts. "And the number of these persons doesn't correspond to the statement of oppositionists", Harutyunyan stressed. He added that the offenders have different professions and different political views, and this has a secondary importance. These data may only serve for the persons' characteristics when delivering the verdict. Harutyunyan also touched upon the hunger strike of some arrested oppositionists. According to him, the hunger strike was organized to create the impression that "all of them are allegedly political prisoners, a hunger strike is their only method to make a name for themselves". "But I don't understand how a participant in the mass disorders and robberies may be considered a political prisoner", Harutyunyan noted. "Besides the criminal responsibility, one should remember that there were victims and bloodshed, and the culprits should be responsible for their actions before the society, people and their own conscience. A professional politician shouldn't try to lay his responsibility to other people", he said. The SIS representative also considers such actions an attempt to exert pressure on the investigation as they discredit the country's authorities and cast shade on objectivity of the investigative body. This is done deliberately but this is doomed to failure, he said. Harutyunyan added that the investigative body only obeys the requirements of the legislation in force and everything will be done to conduct unbiased and all- round investigation and find all the culprits. 2008-04-15 20:15:00 Thomas Hammarberg: Armenian authorities themselves determine the way of cooperation with CoE in matter on conducting investigation of March 1 events ArmInfo. The Council of Europe expects the Armenian authorities to make a specific proposal on possible cooperation with the CoE in the matter of conducting investigation of the March 1 events, CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg said, replying to ArmInfo correspondent. He recalled that one of the CoE's recommendations was that a thorough, internal and unbiased investigation of the post-election situation in Armenia should be conducted. Hammarberg doesn't think that the international community may impose its will on Armenia's authorities to conduct investigation. He added that the CoE may render expert assistance to Armenia. The Armenian authorities should clearly realize what contribution they expect from the Council of Europe, Hammarberg said. Economy 2008-04-16 12:43:00 Growth of foil-rolling production of RUSAL UC in 1Q, 2008, by over 18% has become result of planned achievement of design capacity by ARMENAL plant ArmInfo. Growth of foil-rolling production of RUSAL UC in 1Q, 2008, by over 18% has become a result of planned achievement of design capacity by ARMENAL plant, the press release of RUSAL reads. According to the Company data, mining of grew by 13,1% to 4 537 288 tons as compared with 1Q, 2007. The volume of alumina production increased by 3,5% to 2 837 030 tons as compared with the similar period, 2007. Aluminum production grew by 9,4% to 1 096 236 tons, that has become a reason of achievement of full design capacity by Khakas aluminum plant. Output of cast production with high added value grew by 17,8%, and its share made up 52% of the total volume of aluminum production. Growth of foil-rolling production made up 18,4%. The total investments in 1Q, 2008, reached about $457 mln, among which the investments for expansion, reconstruction, upgrading and re-equipment of the active enterprises made up about $235 mln. Commenting on the results of the Company's activity in 1Q, Director General of RUSAL Alexander Bulygin said: "Stable growth on all the production indicators, reached during three months, 2007, is the best proof of successful integration with the frames of the united company, created a year ago. Having assured and tightened the position of the biggest producer of aluminum and alumina in the world, we prepared a good basis for beginning of implementation of a strategy of diversification and turning our company into one of the leaders of the world mining industry". 2008-04-16 11:56:00 Gas, electric power and water tariffs not to change in Armenia ArmInfo. Armenian Public Services Regulatory Commission has said that gas, electric power and water tariffs will not change in Armenia in 2008. It also says that beginning from 1 May consumers will pay the same tariff fixed in 2006 - 84 thsd drams for 1000 cubic meter of gas. The tariff for the commerce consumers is $153.26. Meanwhile the point is that till 1 May the gas tariff will be subsidized by the government and the consumers will pay less. Thus, for population gas is subsidized in an amount 25 thsd drams per 1000 cubic meter. For this reason in fact they pay 59 thsd drams instead of 84 thsd. As for the commerce consumers, they are subsidized in an amount of $52,01 per 1000 cubic meter, and they pay $101.25 instead of the fixed $153.26. 2008-04-16 11:44:00 Today, retail prices for oil products in petrol stations of Armenia grew by 2,4% -2,9% ArmInfo. Today, the retail prices for oil products in petrol stations of Armenia grew by 2,4% -2,9%. The prices during a day grew by 10 drams per 1 liter, as compared with April 15, and make up: petrol "Super AI 98" - 420 drams, "Premium AI 95" - 390 drams, "Regular AI 91" - 360 drams, diesel fuel - 340 drams. As compared with February , the oil prices in Armenia grew by 20 drams per 1 l. The oil traders connect this rise in prices with the situation in the world market. Finance and banks 2008-04-16 12:59:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 311 drams for 1 dollar, 489drams for 1 EUR and 13 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 311,5 drams for 1 dollar, 492 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 2008-04-16 11:58:00 Results of Currency Transactions in Interbank Market for April 15 ArmInfo. The transactions in the Interbank currency market for November 12 made up $1.250 mln ($3.881 bln drams) by the average weighted rate of $310,45 AMD/$1. The total transactions grew 4,2 times as compared with the previous trading day indicator (92.550 mln drams on April 7). According to the data of the commercial banks, the average exchange rate of USD raised by 0.6 point. The data of the Armenian stock exchange say the currency transactions on the floor made up $6.9 mln (2.142 bln drams), which exceeds the similar indicator of the Interbank market 5,5 times. The average weighted rate at the exchange made up 310,39 AMD/$1 USD. 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