The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform Intrigue of the day 2008-05-06 14:14:00 Armenian Foreign Minister confirms readiness for normalizing relations with Turkey without preconditions ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan confirmed the country's readiness for normalizing the relations with Turkey without preconditions. The minister made this statement to media in Paris after meeting his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner on May 5. The minister stressed that the present generation of Armenian and Turkish peoples inherited a heavy burden from their past. In order to turn this black page in their history, political leaders must cooperate. 'For its part, Armenia is ready for it. We propose establishing relations without preconditions, which will be in favor of both the region and the two countries', the minister said. Politics 2008-05-06 20:35:00 Heritage Party blames ruling coalition for distorting reality ArmInfo. The Heritage Party demands that one of the items of the ruling coalition's recent statement should be immediately changed. The item concerns Heritage Leader Raffi Hovannisian's alleged refuse to take part in the work of the interdepartmental working group set up in connection with Resolution 1609 adopted by PACE. As Heritage Party told ArmInfo today, ten days ago, when Raffi Hovannisian was offered to take part in the working group's work, he said that for family and professional reasons he would have to be absent from the republic on the days of the group's work. Nevertheless, Hovannisian expressed willingness to hold a direct dialogue with the president and the working group if necessary. Moreover, Hovannisian suggested the candidacy of the secretary of the party's parliamentary group Stepan Safaryan for participation in the daily work of the coalition. He says that the coalition and its authors are free to write whatever they like but, if they don't care for principles and just want to sent a dead-born protocol to Strasbourg, Heritage will, at least, have no hand in it. But if the coalition realizes how serious the present crisis is, Heritage is ready to negotiate with its leaders on how to revive Armenia and the Armenian people. To remind, the above-mentioned point of the coalition's statement says: "We regret that the member of the Armenian delegation to PACE, the leader of the parliamentary group of Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian has refused to work in this group." 2008-05-06 20:33:00 Issue of creation of Armenian National Congress being discussed, APNM representative says ArmInfo. "Levon Ter-Petrosyan has recently made a proposal to create Armenian National Congress, and this issue is currently being discussed", Karen Karapetyan, a member of Board of the Armenian Pan-National Movement (APNM), said to ArmInfo correspondent. Speaking of the APNM's present activity, Karapetyan said that by arresting the leadership of the party, the authorities made an attempt to paralyze its activity. "However, they failed as the APNM continued the fight. The arrests by no means weakened the Armenian Pan-National Movement, and the ruling regime once again demonstrated its inability to gain its goals", he said. Asked whether a certain recession is observed in the oppositional movement after the known events, the oppositionist stressed that despite the authorities' efforts to restrict the rights and freedoms of citizens at any price, even by means of legislative amendments, "no tendency for weakening of the Nationwide movement is observed. On the contrary, there is enthusiasm, aspiration and resoluteness to keep on fighting up to the victorious end". 2008-05-06 20:31:00 Court prolongs term of APNM leader Ararat Zurabyan's pretrial detention for two more months ArmInfo. On May 5, the term of the Armenian Pan-National Movement Leader Ararat Zurabyan's pretrial detention was judicially prolonged for two more months, Karen Karapetyan, a ember of APNM Board, told ArmInfo correspondent. Karen Karapetyan said that criminal cases were instituted against about thirty APNM members. "Besides the purely political court proceedings which are often delayed, more and more oppositionists receive calls and are invited to the police station or the National Security Service. They are pressed, and no weakening of political persecutions is observed", Karapetyan said. According to Karapetyan, one can state unambiguously that the authorities still fail to make attempts to carry out the requirements of the PACE Resolution N1609 "On Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Armenia". Karapetyan states that the Armenian authorities and law-enforcement agencies are trying to maintain the atmosphere of fear in the republic as roughly as possible. The law-enforcers call people to questioning and roughly violate the law at the same time: they present no summon or any other written demands, Karapetyan said. "When a person says that he/she is ready to go the police or the NSS but first of all asks for a written notification and ground, which is quite legal, he/she may hear the same reply: it is for us to decide to send you a summon or not and what we have or have no rights to. And if someone refuses to go to the police unless receiving a written notice, the law-enforcers start threatening to arrest them and took to the police in manacles if the latters fail to visit the police station within an hour", Karapetyan said. 2008-05-06 20:20:00 Adviser to President of Armenia: As statesman I am also guilty in 1 March incidents in Yerevan ArmInfo. As statesman I am also guilty in the tragic incidents on 1 March in Yerevan, Adviser to President of Armenia Garnik Isagulyan said at Friday Club Tuesday when commenting on 1 March unrest at the request of ArmInfo. He expressed condolences to the relatives of the killed on 1 March. G. Isagulyuan said he would not like to speak of the guilt of any politician. 'All of us are guilty for a tragedy happened', he said. As regards the necessity of an independent inquiry in the incidents, he said: 'We must seat at the negotiating table and discuss and find out everything together. We do not need any help from outside', G. Isagulyan said. 2008-05-06 14:17:00 Armenian Foreign Minister: peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict has no alternative ArmInfo. ' Peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict has no alternative', Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan told media in Paris after meeting his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner on May 5. The minister confirmed Armenia's readiness for peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict and stressed the necessity of establishing atmosphere of confidence and constructiveness for further negotiations. As regards the upcoming meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov , Minister Nalbandyan said he pins hopes for a constructive dialogue to achieve the conflict resolution with help of the mediators. 2008-05-06 14:01:00 Edward Sharmazanov: Dialogue between the opposition and authorities should not start on the basis of 'distribution of posts' ArmInfo. 'The dialogue between the opposition and authorities should not start on the basis of "distribution of posts", it should be formed for the love of the future state', deputy from the Republican Party of Armenia parliamentary faction, RPA press-secretary, Edward Sharmazanov, said at today's press-conference in Hayeli club. He also added that the views that the authorities do not make steps to start the dialogue are false, as over the RPA meeting President Serzh Sarkisyan was calling up all the political forces, including the opposition ones, to form the coalition government. 'My opposition colleagues do not want to see readiness of the authorities to make reforms in the country. But I guarantee that they will be forced to become witnesses of these reforms though they don't want to',- he said. 2008-05-06 11:43:00 Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers to meet in Strasbourg on 6 May ArmInfo. The first meeting of the new Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov is expected in Strasbourg today on May 6. Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service reports the meeting will take place in the second half of the day. The meeting with the Azerbaijani minister and OSCE MG Co-chairs will be over tonight. The parties will meet within the frames of Council of Europe Ministerial meeting. 2008-05-06 11:22:00 NATO's expert group arrived in Yerevan ArmInfo. NATO's expert group arrived in Yerevan today with two-day working visit. As spokesman of RA Defense Ministry, Colonel Seyran Shahsouvaryan told ArmInfo, discussions will be held during the visit regarding perfection of the military-training programmes in the context of reaching an agreement on continuation of cooperation. 2008-05-06 11:19:00 RA FM: Critics, contained in US State Department's report on terrorism-fight, gives rise to concern ArmInfo. The critics, contained in US State Department's report on terrorism-fight, gives rise to RA Foreign Ministry's concern, Head of the Department for Mass Media Relations of RA FM press service Tigran Balayan said when asked by "Haykakan Zhamanak" about Armenia's position in view of the critics contained in the report. "Corruption-fight is a problem which needs continuous and consistent efforts. As you know, a national anticorruption strategy was developed several years ago, and some provisions of this strategy are presently under revision. Corruption-fight was one of the main provisions of Serzh Sargsyan's election programme, thus, RA government is resolute in fighting against such a negative phenomenon as corruption. Armenia has joined a number of international documents: UN Convention on corruption-fight, several documents of CE aimed at corruption-fight and control of this process. Armenia will keep on making efforts in fighting against this phenomenon", T. Balayan said. 2008-05-06 11:16:00 Kentucky has become the 41st American state having recognized Armenian Genocide ArmInfo. Kentucky has become the 41st American state having recognized the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire. As the Armenian National Committee of America reports, the relevant decision was made by Kentucky Governor Steven L. Beshear. As ANCA Eastern Region Director Karine Birazian said, "Governor Beshear's proclamation reflects the growing sentiments of U.S. government officials to speak with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide. The burgeoning Kentucky Armenian community's initiative serves as an inspiration to Armenian American activists across the U.S. to redouble efforts to end Turkey's gag rule on U.S. affirmation of this crime against" , K. Birazyan said. 2008-05-06 11:15:00 RA FM: Our relations with Iran are of bilateral cooperation nature ArmInfo. Armenia considers Iran as a neighbouring and friendly country, where a large historically-formed community lives, Head of the Department for Mass Media Relations of RA FM press service Tigran Balayan said when asked by "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper about Armenia's position on the critics contained in US State Department's report on terrorism-fight. "Our relations with Iran, aimed against no other country, are of bilateral cooperation nature, and I think it is quite natural for neighbouring countries. Armenia strives to establish similar relations with all the neighbouring countries", T. Balayan said. Economy 2008-05-06 19:51:00 Prices for maintenance of aircrafts and service of air passengers in 'Zvartnots' Yerevan airport are highest in region ArmInfo. The prices for maintenance of aircrafts and service of air passengers in "Zvartnots" Yerevan airport are the highest in the region, the preliminary data of competitiveness of Armenia's air transport, carried out by experts of USAID programme "Competitive Armenian Private Sector" (CAPS) testify this. As CAPS consultant for Politics and Law Arsen Nazaryan told journalists today, the surveys were carried out in April-May, 2007, and 12 countries were selected for comparative analysis. He said that the expenses for maintenance of one "Boeing" or "Airbus" aircraft in "Zvartnots" airport total $4 thsd, which may be compared only with the expenses in Baku airport. He also said that these expenses in Vienna make up $5,6 thsd, in Tbilisi - about $2 thsd, in Moscow "Domodedovo" airport - about $1 thsd. Service of air passengers in "Zvartnots" airport is also the most expensive. As A. Nazaryan said, the expenses per one passenger in Yerevan total about $60, while those in Vienna are equal to $30-35, in Baku - $50, in Tbilisi - $30, in Istanbul - $15, in Moscow - about $20. The consultant also said that almost half of the passenger carriage market in Armenia falls on the national carrier, the "Armavia" Company, followed by "Siberia Airlines" and "Aeroflot" - 11% each, "Ural Airlines" and "Austrian Airlines" - 4% each. Moscow (40%) is the main direction of flights from Armenia, that indicates a great centralization. Prague (9%) and Paris (5%) are the next, and the rest 46% of directions have been distributed among 34 countries. The flights to Moscow are served by four air companies. 91% of regular flights from Armenia and back is carried out over the air space of Europe, only 5% - over Near East and only 4% - over Asia. 2008-05-06 13:55:00 Head of CAPS: Armenia has to carry out targeted marketing to conquer new markets in tourism ArmInfo. Presently, more than ever before, Armenia has to carry out a targeted marketing to conquer new markets in tourism, Head of the USAID programme "Competitive Armenian Private Sector" Hayley Alexander said today during opening of conference in Yerevan on Armenia's competitiveness in tourism. He said that the propaganda of Armenia's tourist attractiveness of should be carried out not in chaotic but addressed manner. Thus, as a result of a specific work carried out in Italy in 2007, Armenia succeeded to twice increase the Italian tourists' inflow. In particular, fact-finding visits to Armenia were organized last year for the Italian tourist operators and journalists. Such a targeted marketing should be carried out also in France, which is also a prosperous direction for development of tourism in Armenia, he said. Director of USAID's Economic Growth Office Rolf Anderson said in his speech that the USA is interested in development of tourism in Armenia, since this sphere is of great importance for the country's economy, especially for development of the economy in regions. Tourism promotes creation of new workplaces and forms a country's friendly image. He expressed satisfaction with the fact that over half of Armenia's visitors are pleased with their visits and they express desire to visit the country again. RA Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan added that the Armenian government expressed the state policy in the concept of tourism development for the next 10-30 years. He thinks that the problem of formation of a favourable business-climate, increase of the tourist attractiveness and competitiveness in the region, growth of the services quality to the world ones should be solved to assure stable growth in this sphere. The conference has been organized by RA Economy Ministry, USAID programme "Competitive Armenian private Sector" (CAPS) and the Armenian Tourism Development Agency. The participants intend to discuss the following: how the management of the country's brand may assure competitiveness and promote tourism development in the country; are the services in tourism too expensive in Armenia; what is Armenia's position in the world tourist rating and other questions. Finance and banks 2008-05-06 20:37:00 As of Mar 31 2008 share of foreign capital in authorized capital of Armenia's banking system exceeded 52% ArmInfo. As of Mar 31 2008 the share of foreign capital in the authorized capital of Armenia's banking system made up 63.3bln AMD ($206mln) or 52.2%. In Jan-Mar 2008 the authorized capital of the banking system of Armenia grew by 4.2% to 121.3bln AMD or $394.9mln. The press service of the Central Bank of Armenia reports that in Jan-Mar 2008 the total capital of the banking system of Armenia grew by 6% to 181.9bln AMD ($593mln). The share of profit therein made up 44.2bln AMD or $143.8mln, the share of reserves - 5.9bln AMD or $19.1mln. As of Mar 31 2008 there were 22 commercial banks and 358 branches in Armenia. 2008-05-06 14:03:00 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, 476drams for 1 EUR and 12,7 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 308 drams for 1 dollar, 477 drams for 1 EUR and 13,5 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 2008-05-02 15:56:00 First international exhibition 'Finances. Credits. Insurance and Audit EXPO 2008' held in Yerevan ArmInfo. The first international specialized exhibition "Finances. Credits. Insurance and Audit EXPO 2008" opened at the House of Moscow in Yerevan, Friday. The exhibition will last till May 4. During the opening ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Artur Javadyan highly estimated the organization of this exhibition aimed to raise the society's awareness of range of financial services provided in Armenia. The exhibition will by all means have a positive effect on further development of the Armenian financial system, he stressed. Javadyan added that such activities are an important step towards transparency of the financial sector and protection of consumers' interests. According to him, the CBA attaches much importance to the fact that exhibitions allow consumers to familiar themselves with the wide range of services and products of the financial system, compare and analyze them. Javadyan also pointed out that the CBA set up a department engaged in protection of consumers' interests, the goal of the department is to raise the awareness of consumers, implement educational programs and publish reference information. In his turn, the president of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia Arsen Kazaryan pointed out that the financial-banking system enjoys the highest level of enterpreneurship in Armenia. "The government program says that Armenia should become the financial center of the region. I hope that we will achieve this goal in the near future," Kazaryan said. 25 Armenian financial-crdit companies are attending the exhibition. They are presenting banking, investing, insurance and other financial services. The objective of the exhibition is to bring together all financial service providers and to familiarize people with their products: banking deposits, consumer, mortgage and other credits, insurance policies, investment fund and trust management schemes. The exhibition has been organized by LOGOS EXPO with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, the Central Bank of Armenia, the Armenian Development Agency, the Union of Banks of Armenia and the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia. 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