The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform Intrigue of the day 2008-04-21 20:28:00 Armenian president introduces structural changes in Armenian government ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan introduced structural changes in the country's government by his Apr 21 decree. The Armenian presidential press-service told ArmInfo that in accordance with the decree, the ministry of trade and economic development has been transformed into a ministry of economy, and the ministry of finance and economy - into a ministry of finance. Furthermore, an emergency ministry has been created. The Rescue Service will operate within the frames of the emergency ministry as an operating state body. The Armenian foreign ministry's Agency for work with Diaspora has been transformed into a state committee for work with Diaspora under the RA foreign ministry, it also will have powers of a state body. The Armenian government has been instructed to take relevant decisions proceeding from the items of this decree within 1.5 months. Thus, the Armenian government's structure is as follows: 1. Health Ministry 2. Justice Ministry 3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4. Emergency Ministry 5. Ministry of Labor and Social Issues 6. Ministry of Agriculture 7. Environment Ministry 8. Ministry of Economy 9. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources 10. Ministry of Education and Science 11. Ministry of Culture 12. Ministry of Defense 13. Ministry of Sport and Youth 14. Ministry of Territorial Administration 15. Ministry of Transport and Communication 16. Ministry of Town Planning 17. Ministry of Finance Politics 2008-04-21 22:14:00 Armenian Gevorgyan appointed as Minister of Territorial Administration, vice premier of Armenia ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has appointed Armen Gevorgyan as Minister of Territorial Administration and Vice Premier of Armenia. Armen Gevorgyan was born in Yerevan on July 8 1973. He graduated from the History Department of Orenburg State Pedagogical Institute. In 1998 he was assistant to the president. In 2000-2006 he was the first assistant to the president. In 2007 he was appointed as the secretary of the National Security Council. 2008-04-21 22:12:00 Armenian President appoints new ministers ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has appointed Nerses Yeritsyan as Minister of Economy, Tigran Davtyan as Minister of Finance, Gurgen Sargsyan as Minister of Transport and Communication and Mher Shahgeldyan as Emergency Minister. 2008-04-21 22:10:00 Andranik Manukyan and Manuk Topuzyan appointed as advisors of President of Armenia ArmInfo. Today President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan appointed Andranik Manukyan and Manuk Topuzyan as his advisors. He also appointed Levon Martirossyan as his assistant. 2008-04-21 22:08:00 Armenian President appoints Hovik Abrahamyan as head of his staff ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan appointed Hovik Abrahamyan as the head of his staff. Hovik Abrahamyan was born in Mkhchyan, Ararat region, on Jan 24 1958. he graduated from Yerevan Motor Road College and People's Economy Institute. In 1996-1998 he was mayor of Artashat, in 1998-2000 governor of Ararat region. On June 8 2007 he was appointed vice premier, minister of territorial administration of Armenia. 2008-04-21 18:10:00 LDUA Leader Seyran Avagyan considers personnel appointments made by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to be successful ArmInfo. After Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's inauguration, Armenia entered a new stage of political realias, Leader of the Liberal-Democratic Union of Armenia Seyran Avagyan told ArmInfo correspondent. According to him, today the country faces a problem related to the consequences of the March 1 mass disorders in Yerevan. "The society demands settlement of these issues from the Armenian authorities, and this is the main problem faced by the state", the politician stressed. Touching upon the new appointments, Avagyan said that all people who were appointed by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's decree managed to show their worth over the past few years. "I think, the public opinion about the new ministers is positive", he said. 2008-04-21 18:07:00 French organization 'Grand Orient de France' to pay tribute to memory of Armenian Genocide victims ArmInfo. Chairman of the French masonic organization "Grand Orient de France" Jean-Michel Quillardet intends to take part in the Ceremony of Memory to be organized in Paris by Armenian organizations of France. At the same time, a delegation headed by the deputy chairman of this organization will visit Armenia for the second time to share Armenian people's pain and pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. 2008-04-21 18:04:00 Soldier of Azerbaijani Armed Forces Yakub Mukhtarov to be returned to his native land on 23 April ArmInfo. Soldier of Azerbaijani Armed Forces Yakub Mukhtarov will be returned to his native land on 23 April. As press-secretary of Armenian defence minister Colonel Seyran Shaksuvaryan told ArmInfo, Mukhtarov will returned by ICRC mediation at Kaynavan-Gazakh sector of the line of contact. To recall, Azerbaijani soldier Yakub Mukhtarov passed to the Armenian side on 11 March. He explained his step by non-manual relation in the Azerbaijani army. 2008-04-21 15:27:00 From now on one can go on virtual excursions in the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute ArmInfo. From now on one can make virtual excursions in the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. Director of the Museum Hayk Demoyan said at a press-conference, Monday, the visitors to the web-site www.genocide-museum.am will have a chance to see the exposition and lay virtual flowers at the Memorial dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims. The official web-site of the Museum has a total of 250 pages of information about the first genocide of the 20th century (memories of witnesses, documents, etc.). There are also some photos which were considered to be documentary proofs of the tragedy, however, the recent research denied their "implication" in the Armenian Genocide. Demoyan said that these photos should be used in media as little as possible so as not to give grounds to Turkey to blame Armenia for distorting historic facts. Up to 600 people visit the web- site daily. According to Demoyan, in April 2008 the number of the visitors totalled 12 thsd. At the moment, the web-site is presented in the English version. It is expected to work in Armenian, Russian and Turkish in 2008. To note, the web-site was officially launched in June 2007. 2008-04-21 15:26:00 Prosperous Armenia Party not offended for receiving no additional ministerial portfolios ArmInfo. Prosperous Armenia Party is not offended for receiving no additional ministerial portfolios, although the party supported Serzh Sargsyan at the presidential election. Secretary of Prosperous Armenia (PA) Parliamentary faction Aram Safaryan said at Friday Debate Club Monday that this very issue aroused a great interest of journalists. 'Why should we feel offended?' Safaryan said. He stressed that PA has always come out for national accord. Moreover, the parliamentarian said that many wise and intellectual people are the members of the party and their potential can be issued both in the government and other branches, Safaryan said. The reforms in the country depend on the 4- sided coalition and its programs. 'We should use the whole intellectual potential of the parties included in the coalition to overcome the tense post-election situation in Armenia', Safaryan said. As regards the appointments to the government, he said that 'a new and more optimal model of governance is expected'. He believes PA will not receive any new ministerial portfolios. To recall, by the decree of President Serzh Sargsyan, PA received three ministerial portfolios: sport for youth affairs; trade and economic development; health. 2008-04-21 10:59:00 Several events to be held in Tbilisi on April 23 and 24 dedicated to 93rd anniversary of Armenian Genocide ArmInfo. A number of events will be held in Tbilisi on April 23 and 24 dedicated to the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The event have been organized by the Armenian Cooperation Center of Georgia. As the press service of ACCG reports, torches will be lighted on April 23 at 8:30 PM near Turkey's Embassy in Georgia, where a large-scale meeting has been scheduled on April 24 at 1:30 PM. A photo-exhibition and first performance of an artificial film will be held the same day. To note, it is the 4th year the ACCG has been holding different events within the frames of the campaign on activation of the Armenian Genocide issue. In order to attract more number of people to such events, every year, members of the organization conduct an active work with wide strata of the Armenian community of Tbilisi, namely, they hold preparatory meetings with schoolchildren, students and the older generation, as well as distribute booklets, leaflets and other agitation materials. Interview 2008-04-21 21:20:00 PostBank will have no rivals HayPost opened another post office in Yerevan on April 16. Representatives of Armenian postal operator headed by Director Mr. Hans Boon as well as guests from Europe, Chairman of PostEurop Mr. Bernard Damiens, and the Secretary General of PostEurop Mr. Ingemar Persson attended the opening ceremony. This testifies that HayPost modernization that is currently in full swing attracts the attention of European postal operators. One of the most important and expected innovations is the opening of PostBank network in Armenia inside HayPost structure. HayPost director Hans Boon tells about the terms of the postal banks opening and the perspectives of HayPosts development in an interview with ArmInfo. Mr. Boon, would you tell about the PostBank opening? Last year you said that the bank will open at the beginning of the year. Later in February when presenting the annual report of HayPost, you mentioned the middle of 2008. What is the state of affairs at present? Yes, PostBank is still in the process for formation. A great volume of work is to be carried out. PostBank implies creation of small bank departments at every office of HayPost. So, it requires retraining of postal officials and reform of the services provided. That is why the date of opening is being constantly postponed though we try to fix specific terms. Should we hope for opening of PostBank till the end of the year? We hope for this since there is essential need in its services. It is what the ordinary users throughout the country really need. What kind of services will PostBank provide? These are the most urgent services deposits and savings. Ordinary citizens are unlikely to need more complicate bank services. Savings at bank create advantages especially to the residents of villages and small towns where cash is still something static whereas in practice it can be quite different. Arent you afraid of competition with 'professional' banks that may also have plans for this sector in not large populated areas? Competition can hardly ever occur since PostBank will not be a bank. Such banks are unlikely to need presence in remote regions of the country. We have also another advantage i.e. we do not need making additional expenses to open PostBank offices as they will be opened at the existing postal offices. How much in total is to be invested in creation of the postal bank system? We envisaged 5 billion drams or about 18 million US dollars investments. It is much more than financing of HayPost: in 2007 1 million US dollars were invested in it. This year we plan to increase this figure to 3 million. However, there are certain reasons for such a seeming disproportion. Thus, creating PostBank we create a new structure, whereas in the case with HayPost we just maintain the existing structure. What prospects will be opened to HayPost the membership in European Association of State Postal Operators PostEurop? Our European colleagues attentively follow our development. The more professional we are, the higher will be our international rating. So our efforts cannot stop here. Thank you for interview. By Aram Gareginyan,ArmInfo,April 16, 2008 Hi-Tech 2008-04-21 18:01:00 Microsoft and HayPost Sign Agreement ArmInfo. Microsoft and HayPost will sign an Enterprise Agreement on April 22, 2008 at 14:00 pm at the Marriott Armenia Hotel, HayPost press-service reports. With support of Dom Daniel LLC - the Large Account Reseller (LAC), this agreement between Microsoft and HayPost will help continue to move forward many of the transformations that HayPost has been undertaking, but this time in the IT sector. The purpose of this agreement will be to help HayPost utilize and implement Microsoft's most innovative technologies and use these to increase the productivity of HayPost's resources. Microsoft will provide training for HayPost IT staff as well as organization workshops and seminars to ensure that the new technologies will be utilized efficiently. "HayPost is on of the most unique organizations that is managing an entire postal service network in Armenia, and for this we feel the need to fully commit to this collaboration and provide our experience and technological capacity and support to help facilitate the modernization of IT in the company," states Grigor Barsegyan, Microsoft CM. "We will do our best to help HayPost to considerably improve and very much develop the posting services offered to domestic market to highly competitive international standards. To be a part of that is a great honor and responsibility for us and we value the professional and very pragmatic position that the management of the company has taken on this matter. We strongly believe that Microsoft's innovative technologies will be used as highly productive resources in building up-to-date IT Infrastructure for HayPost and are ready to openly share our experience and knowledge with our new customer. In this respect we would like to thank management of HayPost for the understanding that effective use of IT can bring to tremendous improvement and great results in terms of making the entire organization much more manageable, effective and offering high quality services." "The cooperation between our two companies will help HayPost optimally assist Armenia in the development of IT technologies, states Hans Boon, Director General of HayPost. "With a larger service network, HayPost will be able to contribute also to introducing new IT innovations for us to increase the quality of HayPost services." Both parties are highly convinced that this cooperation will bring a long, productive and sustainable partnership and help the credibility not only in the IT sector in Armenia, but also the efficiency of the postal and financial sector in the country. Economy 2008-04-21 18:12:00 Second Armenian Tourism Competitiveness Conference to be held in Yerevan in May ArmInfo. The Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, USAID- funded Competitive Armenian Private Sector Project (CAPS) and Armenian Tourism Development Agency are organizing the Second Armenian Tourism Competitiveness Conference, which will take place at Ani Plaza hotel, Ani hall, on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. As CAPS told ArmInfo, the conference will focus on a range of industry-related issues such as country branding and marketing, tourism and hospitality workforce skills, cost competitiveness, and cluster strengthening initiatives, etc. - all with the notion of meeting new challenges and markets. Presentations will include reports on: Armenia's ranking and scores in the 2nd Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (providing also a comparison of results with neighboring countries); the competitiveness of Armenia's air transportation based on recent analysis; the results from a tourism and hospitality workforce skills and knowledge needs analysis; and conclusions from the International Visitor Survey 2007-2008. Presentations will also be made concerning the recent, ongoing and future activities of Armenia's tourism-related associations. The conference is open to all stakeholders, tourism professionals and anyone involved and/or interested in the tourism industry in Armenia. Expected attendees include Government representatives, tour operators, guides, travel agents, service providers, educational institutions, transportation providers, industry associations etc. 2008-04-21 18:05:00 'Wine centers' should be opened at diplomatic missions of Armenia in Russia to strengthen the positions of Armenian wine in abroad ArmInfo. 'Wine centers' should be opened at diplomatic missions and trade offices of Armenia in Russia to strengthen the positions of Armenian wine in abroad, Chairman of the Union of Armenian Winemakers Avag Haroutunyan says. 'For instance, Armimport organization at the Armenian Trade Office in Moscow organizes presentation of Armenian wine. However, it is insufficient for such a big market as the Russian. In case of good marketing, much can be achieved', he said. Haroutunyan believes that tax privileges for import of equipment may become another step to boost wine industry. 'If importers of winemaking equipment were exempted at least from VAT, it would greatly help the branch to develop', A. Haroutunyan says. He is sure that lack of up-to-date equipment is the key obstacle to upgrading wine industry in Armenia. Finance and banks 2008-04-21 11:01:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 310 drams for 1 dollar, 490drams for 1 EUR and 12,97 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 311 drams for 1 dollar, 494 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 2008-04-18 14:21:00 ARMIMPEXBANK CJSC to finance acquisition and delivery to Armenia of 55 ZONDA model buses ArmInfo. Fifty-five comfortable ZONDA buses will soon be serving passengers throughout Yerevan streets, Ameria consulting company told ArmInfo. Thus, the principal means of public transportation in Armenia are buses, trolleybuses, minibuses and metro, with minibuses being the most popular and holding about 80% share of total transportation services. The estimated growth of the number of vehicles in the capital totals to 9,000-10,000 per year, thus making the traffic even more difficult. Taking all that into account, the city municipality adopted a policy of increasing the number of buses and simultaneously decreasing that of minibuses in city routes. One of the pioneers in switching some of the routes from minibuses to buses is TIGRAN LLC, one of the major transport operators in Armenia. To support the program implementation process, Tigran LLC contracted Ameria CJSC, a leading investment advisor in Armenia. Based on the Client's objectives Ameria specialists elaborated an investment project, based on which a loan of about US $3'000'000 was funded by ARMIMPEXBANK CJSC to finance acquisition and delivery to Armenia of 55 ZONDA model buses. During the first phase of the project, 10 ZONDA buses will replace 21 GAZEL minibuses and 4 PAZ buses. The second phase provides for 45 more ZONDA buses to be imported to Armenia and replace 103 GAZEL microbuses. In addition to significant improvement of traffic in the city, these buses were chosen for their efficiency, safety and environmental safety. Ecology 2008-04-21 15:18:00 An action to protect the Tekhut wood organized by young eco-activists of Armenia ArmInfo. The bike ride to protect the Tekhut wood, where exploitation of the copper-molibden deposit, was organized by young eco-activists of Armenia on Sunday, in Yerevan. About 50 bikers with placards "Let's save Tekhut" were riding at Yerevan streets for several hours. Organizers of the bike ride are sure that it is still possible to save the unique wood. The bike ride was organized within the frames of the ecological green festival supported by the WWF and being held in Armenian since 28 March of the current year. Culture 2008-04-21 15:22:00 State budget allocates 21 million drams for restoration of irrigation system of Tsitsernakaberd Park ArmInfo. The state budget of Armenia allocated 21 million drams for restoration of the irrigation system of Tsitsernakaberd Park, Director of Armenian Genocide Museum Institute Hayk Demoyan told media, Monday. 'The park occupies 100 ha territory. However we will restore only 15 ha this year. A total of 10,600 trees and bushes will be planted. Nevertheless, the park restoration works will be continued also in future. I hope we will fully restore it,' H. Demoyan said. The park is the largest green zone in the capital city. Unfortunately, as a result of electricity crisis in 90s, the park was subjected to large scale felling. 2008-04-21 11:42:00 Photo exposition devoted to Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day to be opened at University of Tartu ArmInfo. A photo exposition entitled First Genocide of the 20thCentury to be opened at Library of the University of Tartu, Monday. Baltic Armenian House NGO is the event organizer. The event is timed to the April 24 Day of Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915, www.armenia.ee portal reports. The exposition will be open till May 11. The exposition presents photocopies of archive documents, memories of witnesses and photos telling about the massacres and deportations of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, as well as statistical data on the number of Armenians, parishes, and schools in 1914 and 1922. The Armenian Genocide Museum Institute in Yerevan provides materials. 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