Intrigue of the day

2008-04-29 17:16:00 Gagik Tsarukyan is willing to become a mediator in a dialogue with opposition

ArmInfo. Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the ruling Prosperous Armenia (PA) party, a large entrepreneur, is willing to be a mediator in negotiations with the opposition.

The PA leader himself told about this to correspondents of ArmInfo and Radio Liberty. However, he added that his party respects the opinion of other members of the political coalition and will wait a
little in supporting the negotiations with the opposition. At the same time, speaking of himself as a prominent public figure and businessman, Tsarukyan expressed willingness to start a dialogue with the opposition. "It is necessary to hold a dialogue with the opposition by all means and discuss the tasks faced by the country", the PA leader said meaning the tasks and problems at the international level that Armenia has been facing since the presidential election.







Politics

2008-04-29 20:15:00 Governor of Tavush region of Armenia applies to OSCE to organize a meeting with local administrations of adjoining region of Azerbaijan

ArmInfo. Governor of Tavush region of Armenia, Armen Ghularyan, applied to the OSCE representatives to organize a meeting with the representatives of local administrations of the adjoining region of Azerbaijan.

Armen Ghularyan expressed his suggestion during a conference in the regional administration of Tavush, on the eve of the OSCE monitoring. The conference was attended by the field assistants of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk - Imre Palatinus, Irzi Aberle and Zhaslan Nurtazin. Armen Ghularyan noted that this is not his first proposal to organize the meeting on the third side, for instance, in Georgia. He stressed that the local population from both the Armenian and Azeri
sides suffers from the constant violations of cease-fire and misconduct of the Azeri soldiers.


2008-04-29 17:19:00 Representative of General Staff of RA Armed Forces: Situation on contact line of Armenian and Azeri armed forces in Tavush section remains tense

ArmInfoThe number of cases of cease-fire violation in Tavush section of the contact line of Armenian and Azeri armed forces is increasing, Colonel Andranik Mkrtumyan, the head of the frontier
representation of the General Staff of RA Armed Forces, said during a conference in Tavush's regional administration, Tuesday, on the eve of the OSCE monitoring. The conference was attended by the field
assistants of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk - Imre Palatinus, Irzi Aberle and Zhaslan Nurtazin, Governor of Tavush region Armen Ghularyan, as well as representatives of Armenian foreign ministry and defense ministry.

According to Mkrtumyan, Azerbaijan violates the cease-fire regime regularly and in rare cases Armenia has to open a return fire. The situation remains tense, and three wounded soldiers since the beginning of 2008 is direct of evidence of this. In 2007, in the same section of the contact line 7 people were wounded, 1 person died. The commander of the Ijevan regiment said that the number of shooting attacks on borderline villages and roads in the Ijevan section of the contact line increased in March-April 2008.

"For instance, 130 cartridge shells were registered in February, 550 - in March, 370 - in April. After the previous OSCE monitoring in November 2007, 17 shells were registered in December, 180 - in January", he said. The Voskepar-Kirants road is attacked most frequently, this endangers the lives of civilians using this road. At the same time, he pointed out that Azerbaijan fortifies its stations and supplies them with additional arms.

For his part, Governor of Tavush region Armen Ghularyan brought specific examples concerning the recent shooting attacks. According to him, a soldier was wounded as a result of the Feb 29 shooting
attack on the Noyemberyan section of the contact line, a similar case took place in Berkavan section on March 31. The battalion chief's car was attacked in Barekamavan on March 24. Cars with civilians were
attacked on the Voskepar-Baghanis road on April 1.


2008-04-29 16:40:00 UAR Deputy Chairman: Law-enforcers of Moscow were wrong to ban a picket dedicated to 93rd anniversary of Armenian Genocide

ArmInfo. The Russian law-enforcers' ban on an action dedicated to the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide near the Turkish Embassy in Moscow on April 24 shouldn't be considered in the aspect of the Armenian-Russian relations, Deputy Chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR) Vladimir Aghayan said. He added that the relations between Armenia and Russia remain strong and reliable. Furthermore, Russia recognized the fact of the Armenian Genocide. "As far I as I know, the ban on the action was conditioned
by the fact that at that moment there were guests in the Turkish embassy", Aghayan said. He stressed that this decision of the law-enforcers of Moscow was wrong as such activities are held annually and one shouldn't doubt their peaceful nature. Aghayan expressed hope that this precedent will repeat no more. He also stressed that such actions are important in the context of exerting pressure on Turkey for the latter to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and this will
become a security guarantee for Armenia.


2008-04-29 14:33:00 RA parliament adopted statement 'On settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem'

ArmInfo. Today, RA Parliament adopted the statement "On settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem". As RA Parliament speaker Tigran Torosyan said in his speech, the statement emphasizes that Armenia stands out the NKR security guarantee. The statement is as follows:

"Expressing its concern over the recent developments in respect of the settlement of the Karabakh problem;

considering that the Azeri high-ranking officials' anti-Armenian militant propaganda is dangerous and aims to break the peace process;

condemning the Azeri army's provocative actions on violating the cease-fire regime, particularly, invasion of the Azeri armed forces to the territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on March 4;

taking into account Azerbaijan's open steps to torpedo the peace process, aspiration to gain military prevalence due to oil financial flows and settlement of the problem in the military way;

the blackmail with respect to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, which is accompanied with threats to express distrust in them and pass the discussion of the conflict settlement to other organizations, which
is qualified as an open and amoral attempt of Azerbaijan to break the peace process;

considering that the fragmentary publication of settlement principles worked out within the frames of the Minsk Group as a possibility of various speculations is dangerous;

considering Karabakh people's right to self-determination to be incontestable and irreproachable from the viewpoint of international law, and the necessity of unconditional application of this principle
when settling the problem, the National Assembly of Armenia suggests that the President and the Government of the country to

- intensify and enlarge efforts to develop and implement measures aimed at informing the world community about the Nagorno-Karabakh problem

- enhance Armenia's initiative concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh problem

- formulate legal grounds for ensuring the security of Nagorno-Karabakh in case of military aggression by Azerbaijan.

Speaker of the NA Tigran Torossyan says that this statement is a response to the latest developments in the framework of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. It is for the Government and the President to solve this problem, so, the National Assembly considers it to be correct to ask them to search for solution. This is the position of all the MPs. As regards the possibility of recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh's independence by Armenia, Torossyan says that Armenia may take such a step if need be. Since the statement
does not mention it, Torossyan supposes that it is not yet time for such an action.


2008-04-29 14:02:00 Preliminary investigation on cases pertaining to brother of ex-deputy Prosecutor General completed in RA Special Investigation Service

ArmInfo. In view of the criminal case on the fact of mass disorders aimed at forced seizure of power and violation of the constitutional system, a preliminary investigation pertaining to the brother of ex-deputy Prosecutor General Vardan Jhangiryan, as well as on the cases of Grigor Aghamalyan, Aram Bareghamyan and Never Sarkisyan has been completed in RA Special Investigation Service.

As the press service of RA Prosecutor General Office told ArmInfo, on the basis of proofs, received during the preliminary investigation, V. Jhangiryan has been accused per part 2 of Article 316 (Use of violence against the power representative with no danger for health, in view of discharge of his professional duties). G. Aghamalyan has been accused per part 1 of Article 225 of CC (participation in mass disorders). A. Bareghamyan has been accused per part 1 of Article 225 of RA CC (Direct affirmative performance
during mass disorders) and part 2 of Article 316 (Use of violence against the power representative with no danger for health, in view of discharge of his professional duties). N. Sarkisyan has already been accused per part 1 of Article 316 of CC (Use of violence against the power representative) with arrest as a measure of restraint. Arrest has been applied as a measure of restraint pertaining to four persons under investigation , and their cases have been submitted
to the criminal court of Yerevan.

As of April data, within the frames of the criminal case on the fact of mass disorders in Yerevan, being under the jurisdiction of the Special Investigation Service, 66 persons are under preliminary
arrest. Recognizance not to leave has been chosen as a measure of restraint with respect to 27 accused persons more.







Finance and banks

2008-04-29 16:38:00 Bank VTB (Armenia) to increase mortgage portfolio for several times till the end of 2008

ArmInfo. Bank VTB (Armenia) is going to increase mortgage portfolio for several times till the end of 2008, Director General, Chairman of Directorate of Bank VTB (Armenia) Valeriy Ovsyannnikov told journalists today. He also added that by the end of the first quarter of the current year the mortgage portfolio of the bank amounted to about $21 mln, having grown almost by 29% since the beginning of the year. 'Housing market in Armenia is growing parallel to the construction volumes>, - he said and added that the
bank is going to negotiate with construction companies.

He stressed that the bank's mortgage lending terms are accessible for the middle section of the population. In 2007 the bank was among the first to sell affordable housing loans in the primary and secondary markets at the annual interest of 12% and 20 years of repayment period. As of January 1 2008, the total mortgage portfolio of the Armenian banking system made up 53.5 billion drams, having doubled since 2007.


2008-04-29 16:33:00 VTB Leasing plans to raise its credit portfolio to $10 million till the end of 2008

ArmInfo. The Armenian subsidiary of the Russian VTB Leasing plans to raise its credit portfolio to about $10 million till the end of the year, exclusive of crediting of big projects, Director General, Chairman of Directorate of Bank VTB (Armenia) Valery Ovsyannikov told media Tuesday.

'It is a not bad index for taking a proper position in the market of leasing services in Armenia given the fact that the market's potential is rather great', Valery Ovsyannikov said. He informed media that VTB Leasing is nearing completion in crediting big projects. He said the company is negotiating with some clients for supply of duplicating facilities. In addition, the company is negotiating with the government structures for import of medical equipment for hospitals. 'Leasing loans will be actually aimed
at
modernizing the fixed assets', he said. The company is currently negotiating also with big producers of aviation equipment. In particular, V. Ovsyannikov said, one of the big projects of VTB leasing is acquisition of aviation equipment, including SSJ-100 Sukhoi SuperJet by the national carrier of Armenia Armavia Company.

VTB Leasing aims to reequip the dynamically developing enterprises in Armenia and make them more competitive through provision of an effective and accessible mechanism of acquisition and odernization
of the capital stocks. The company's goal is to increase the clients of the subsidiaries of VTB leasing OJSC and VTB Group, on the whole, as well as to take the leading positions in the Armenian market of
leasing services.

VTB-Leasing OJSC is a universal leasing company, belonging to Bank VTB OJSC. The company's capital for 2007 totaled $146 million in accordance with IFRS, assets exceed $3.46 billion and net profit totaled 477.9 million. VTB-Leasing has regional offices in 11 cities in the Russian Federation and subsidiaries in Ukraine, Cyprus, Belarus and Armenia.

The Central Bank of Armenia registered VTB Leasing on March 28 2008. At present there are another two leasing companies in Armenia - ACBA leasing and AGRO Leasing with $12/2 million summary portfolio as of April 1 2008.


2008-04-29 16:31:00 Bank VTB (Armenia) increased its credit portfolio by 12% by the end of the first quarter of 2008

ArmInfo. Bank VTB (Armenia) increased its credit portfolio by 12% up to 45.1 bln drams by the end of the first quarter of 2008 of compared with the forth quarter of 2007. As Director General, Chairman of Directorate of Bank VTB (Armenia) Valeriy Ovsyannikov told journalists today, over the first quarter of 2008 assets of the bank grew by 22,7% mounting to 84.9 bln drams; general obligations - by 31% amounting to 63.5 bln drams. As of 1 April of the current year general capital of the bank amounted to 21.4 bln
drams, having increased by 3,2% if compared with the forth quarter of 2007. By this index the bank occupied the second place in the banking system of Armenia. The bank finished the first quarter of 2008 with net profit 624 mln drams. Ovsyannikov thinks that dynamics of the current indicators will make it possible for the bank to occupy a place in the three of the leaders of Armenian banking system by the end of 2008. The bank is going fully fulfill the business strategy
programme till 2010, including ensuring of business growth with higher rates, development of investment-banking business and other directions.

According to the main finance indices of 2007, Bank VTB (Armenia) entered the first five.


2008-04-29 14:51:00 International specialized exhibition Finance, Credits, Insurance and Audit EXPO 2008 to be held in Yerevan

ArmInfo. The 1st international specialized exhibition Finance, Credits, Insurance and Audit EXPO 2008 will be held in Moscow House in Yerevan on May 2-4 2008. The event organizer, LOGOS EXPO Center, reports the exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Economy, Central Bank, Armenian Development Agency, Union of Banks of Armenia, Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers). The exhibition will present banking services, investment, management and insurance companies. The event aims to gather in a single
premises the companies engaged in financial services for individuals: bank deposits, consumer, mortgage and other loans, insurance, mutual funds, trust management and others.

LOGOS EXPO Center is the leading company in the field of the organization and carrying out of specialized trade-industrial national and international exhibitions and congresses in Armenia and
abroad. For last six years LOGOS EXPO Center has organized more than 85 exhibitions which have been lead in cooperation and at support of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Armenia, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ministry of Health of Armenia, the Ministry of Education of Armenia, the Ministry of Culture of Armenia, Embassies of Belarus, the Great Britain, Italy,
India in Armenia, the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia, Association of Banks of Armenia, Academy of Development of Education, National Association of Publishers of Armenia, the Armenian Agency of Development, etc. LOGOS EXPO Center has confirmed the right to brand Armenia EXPO, and is the unique authorized organizer of the largest international trade-industrial
expo- forum.


Social

2008-04-29 16:44:00 Social state of children adopted by foreigners will be regularly verified

ArmInfo. 'The social conditions of the children adopted by foreign citizens will be regularly verified. In case of any violations, the adopted child will be immediately taken under temporary custodial care>, Justice Minister of Armenia Gevorg Danielyan said at a seminar devoted to the country's commitments under the national legislation and the Convention on Children Protection and Cooperation in the Sphere of International Adoption of Children.

He said that in case of any violations of the social conditions of the adopted child, all the further steps will be coordinated with the central agency - the Justice Ministry of Armenia and in conformity with the interests of the child. The minister said that over the last ten months (since Armenia's joining the above Convention on June 1 2007), no facts of violation were registered in the Convention signature-countries. 'We sent relevant documents for more effective cooperation to the Central Agencies of the
Convention signature-states. We collect information on the majority of the children also from unofficial sources. Thus, by combined efforts of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Governmental
Department for Social Affairs, photos and various data on the state and diseases of the adopted children are received constantly', the minister said.


Crimes and emergency situations

2008-04-29 14:32:00 Earthquake in Armenia

ArmInfo. Earthquake with magnitude of 3,7 happened on April 29 at 10:20 AM by local time on Armenia-NKR border at 20 km to the south-east of the town of Vardenis, the National Seismic Protection Service told ArmInfo. Accoridng to the source, the earthquake shock in the epicenter was of force 5; in Vardenis - 4, in Jermuk and Karchakhmyun - 3.


Sports

2008-04-29 20:19:00 Armenian sportsmen ensure 19 trip tickets to Olympic Games in Beijing

ArmInfo. Armenian sportsmen ensured 19 trip tickets to the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, however, the complete team of the sportsmen is not determined yet, President of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia Gagik Tsarukyan told ArmInfo correspondent.

According to him, the team of the sportsmen who will represent Armenia at the Olympic Games in Beijing will include weightlifters, boxers, judoists, wrestlers and shots. "Our sportsmen will take part
in three large competitions, and we expect these competitions to bring Armenia 5 more Olympic trip tickets", Tsarukyan said. He added that the sportsmen are ready gain victory in China, a country with 1.5 bln population, "to raise the state flag of Armenia, a country with 1.5 mln population".