The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform Intrigue of the day 2008-05-21 10:01:00 Meeting of leaders of governmental and opposition camps will not take place ArmInfo. The meeting of the leaders of the governmental and opposition parties initiated by the leader of the Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian will not take place. The member of the Board of heritage, MP Vardan Khachatryan said in an interview to ArmInfo that the meeting was to take place at the Armenian Center for National and International Studies but all the leaders had indirectly refused to take part in it. "Their key argument is that the invitation should not have been sent in the form of an open letter. But I would like to point out that our initiative reflects the public order and can bring the sides closer to one another. Should any one of them agree to meet we are ready to create all necessary conditions for such a meeting," Khachatryan said. Asked why all the leaders refused to take part in the meeting, Khachatryan said: "Perhaps, our approach was different from the positions of the other forces. I hope that the challenges our country is facing now will urge the other political players to change their stance." To remind, on May 19 the leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian appeared with an open letter urging the leader of the Republican Party of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan, the member of the Supreme Body of ARFD Armen Rustamyan, the leader of the Orinats Yerkir party Artur Bagdassaryan and the first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossyan to meet on May 20 evening in order to search for ways out of the present internal political crisis. Politics 2008-05-21 18:49:00 Leaders of several public organizations and an opposition deputy blamed Venice Convention of Council of Europe for confederacy with Armenian authorities ArmInfo. Leaders of several public organizations and an opposition deputy from the Heritage party Zarui Postanjian blamed Venice Convention of Council of Europe for confederacy with Armenian authorities on the problem of making alterations and amendments to the Law On Holding Mass Actions. Deputy Zarui Postanjian said about setting up of the working group on monitoring of all the steps of the authorities directed to fulfillment of every point of PACE Resolution No1609 "About Democratic Institutions functioning in Armenia". "Armenian Constitution says that if the republican law contradicts international norms, in that case the latter function directly. Those who want to hold a meeting should have an opportunity of their right fulfillment", - she said. The leader of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly Artur Sakunts added the right on holding meetings cannot be limited by the state structures decision, whereas the draft law preserved the point about prohibition of meetings if the Police or National Security Service adopted such decision. 2008-05-21 18:46:00 Authorities still create obstacles to mass events: People's Party of Armenia ArmInfo. 'Authorities keep creating obstacles to mass events, expression of political views by citizens', Press Secretary and a member of People's Party of Armenia Board Ruzan Khachatryan told ArmInfo when asked to comment on the amendments to the Law on assemblies, rallies and demonstrations passed by the parliament in the first reading. The opportunity to appeal against rejection of application for holding a mass event is silly since everyone is well aware how dependant are the courts on the authorities. The current proceedings in the case of political prisoners are an evidence of it, R. Khachatryan said. As regards the prospects of sanctioning mass events after the final approval of the Law in the parliament, R. Khachatyran said: 'The regime makes decision exclusively depending on the situation. Thus on March 17 quite inadmissible amendments were made to the Law on mass assemblies, which the parliament has to revise under pressure of international organizations and Armenian public. The opposition has proved the world that it acts only within the framework of the law whereas the regime constantly goes on provocations. The amendments made to the above Law in the first reading must be considered just in this context'. 2008-05-21 18:44:00 Somebody shot-out from gas pistol at the leader of Armenian 'Helsinki Association' ArmInfo. Somebody has shot-out from a gas pistol at the leader of Armenian "Helsinki Association" Mikael Danielyan, press-service of Armenian Police proved this information to ArmInfo correspondent. According to disproved information, Danielyan was shot-out at Teryan street, at about 3:00 PM. 2008-05-21 18:40:00 Maud de Boer-Buquicchio: RA authorities should assume 'national strategic obligation' in elimination of violence against ArmInfo. RA authorities should assume the "national strategic obligation" in prevention and elimination of violence against women, deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio told ArmInfo. According to her, as this issue is concerned with the necessity of changing the people's mentality, it is important to enhance the society's information awareness. She also said that it is important for the people to raise the issues related to domestic violence, as well as a violence with respect to women. This is not a taboo any more. She thinks that this indicates a sufficient progress achieved, therefore, the activity for enhancement of the public conscience should go on. Talking of the assistance to women, having become the victims of violence, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said that the forces of law and order have to be specially trained, and women-policemen should be also involved in these forces. She added that it is necessary to establish shelters for women, suffered from violence not only in the country's capital but on the outskirts as well. It is necessary to guarantee prosecution of those guilty. She resumed that it is necessary to take a wide spectrum of measures, that will require strategic thinking of the Armenian government, as well as the efforts for bringing the legislative field in line with the needs and allocation of the relevant funds. 2008-05-21 18:38:00 President of Russian Academy of Social Science asks Armenian president to meddle in the investigation of the case on New Times party leader ArmInfo. Today President of Russian Academy of Social Science Gennadiy Osipov directed an open letter to Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan. It says that Russian Academy of Social Science worries about the fact that the fully-fledged member of the Academy, leader of the New Times party Aram Karapetyan was detained on 24 February 2008 in Yerevan, especially that Karapetyan's health has worsened sharply over the period of staying in the isolation ward. 'Everybody knows that Aram Karapetyan has always been the supporter of the political and economic rapprochement of Russia and Armenia. He has never changed the way he had chosen. He may be called true son of his people as even in the most hard days he was with the people and his activity was submitted to serving Motherland...Karapetyan is a politician with a critical mood... But this is not a basis for his political and legal prosecution in such a democratic country like the Republic of Armenia, as the world community conceives it>, - the letter says. Russian Academy of Social Science thinks it is its duty to apply to the leadership of the country and directly to the president of Armenia with a requirement to meddle in the case against Karapetyan and to stop legal prosecution, the letter says. 2008-05-21 11:13:00 Another citizen of Armenia detained during investigation of unrest on 1 March in Yerevan ArmInfo. Another citizen of Yerevan Gnel Tovmasyan was detained during the investigation of the unrest on 1 March in Yerevan. Armenian Prosecutor General's Office reports the detainee is suspected in distribution of bottles filled with explosive ubstances, in particular, with petrol. The special investigation service is engaged in the investigation of the fact of mass disorders in Yerevan on 1 March. 2008-05-21 11:12:00 ICRC representatives have not been yet permitted to visit four RA citizens being on Azerbaijani side ArmInfo. Representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross have not been yet permitted to visit four RA citizens being on Azerbaijani side. As ICRC Yerevan delegation told ArmInfo, the ICRC learnt from their families of the arrest during the night of April18/19th of four Armenian citizens, who were apparently subsequentlydetained in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Since then, in conformity with its usual practice, the ICRC has sought access to these individuals in order to assess their conditions of detention and offer them the possibility of exchanging family news with their relatives. Unfortunately, to date, ICRC staff based in Azerbaijan have not been permitted to visit the four persons, but efforts to arrange such a visit continue. To recall, civilians Vanik Zmboyan (Gavar), Artyom Zohrabyan (Noraduz), Karen Torosyan (Noraduz) and Aghasi Yenokyan (Noraduz) turned out to be on the Azerbaijani side after the incident in one of Nakhichevan near-border military units. The incident happened due to interpersonal relations. By unofficial data, a group of civilians arrived "to help" their friend, having been recently transferred to the new military unit. A conflict started among the young man and his comrade-in-arms, and the "brothers" arrived by several cars at the unit to settle a dispute. A scuffle happened and the commander had to shot in air to stop it, unofficial data say. As a result, the stranger- young men were captivated. The Azerbaijani party tries to represent them as raiders in every way. 2008-05-21 11:10:00 Supporters of arrested leader of 'New Times' oppositional party stopped hunger-strike ArmInfo. Supporters of the arrested leader of "New Times" oppositional party Aram Karapetyan stopped the hunger-strike in front of the building of RA Prosecutor General's Office, initiator of the hunger-strike, member of Board of "New Times" party Hrachya Sarkisyan told ArmInfo today. To recall, on May 16, member of Board of "New Times" party Hrachya Sarkisyan announced that he starts a termless hunger-strike "until discharge" of the arrested leader of "NT" Aram Karapetyan. Later, another 9 supporters of A. Karapetyan joined him. However, A. Karapetyan, being in "Erebuni" Medical Center because of vast health deterioration, addressed the action participants in written , thanked them for support and called on them to stop the hunger-strike, after which the hunger-strike was stopped. 2008-05-21 09:56:00 Arrested MPs don't receive their salaries as they don't go to work, a representative of RPA faction thinks ArmInfo. Galoust Sahakyan, a representative of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of Armenia, thinks that the arrested MPs, particularly, Sasoun Mikayelyan, Myasnik Malkhasyan and Hakob Hakobyan don't receive their salaries as they don't go to work. Sahakyan expressed his opinion in a conversation with ArmInfo correspondent. "The one who led these people should have thought about this issue as well. Today Levon Ter-Petrosyan lives perfectly and could have solved this problem", he stressed. At the same time, the MP noted that if the authorities are asked to help in this matter, they are willing to "display a relevant approach". To recall, the specified MPs were arrested after the March 1 mass disorders in Yerevan. Economy 2008-05-20 13:46:00 Gasprom and Armenia agree to make mid-term contract for gas supply and changeover to European gas tariffs in 2011 ArmInfo. Chairman of Gazprom OJSC Board Aleksey Miller, President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan agreed to make a new contract for gas supply. Gazprom press-service reports the parties agreed that it will be a mid-term contract with a price formula i.e. a changeover to the European price level is expected in 2011 (like in Russia). 'Gas price will be changed gradually given the high level of strategic cooperation and strengthening Gazprom's position in Armenia due to the increase of its stake in ArmRusgasprom Company', the source reports. Before January 2009 Russian gas will be supplied to Armenia for 110 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters. The parties stressed that ArmRusgasprom JV is extending its activity and preparing to launch IPO. Earlier Head of ArmRusgasprom Karen Karapetyan said that the company is working on a preliminary IPO and conducts international audit. In the spring of 2006 Gazprom and the Government of Arme nia signed a 25- year contract to determine the strategic principles of cooperation in gas and energy projects in the territory of Armenia. The contract implies acquisition of the fifth power unit of Hrazdan TPP (Hrazdan-5) from the Government of Armenia and the country's gas facilities. The Russian holding pledged to complete the construction of the 5th power unit within 2 years and to build a gas turbine with up to 140 MW capacity hereby increasing the general capacity to 440 MW. After the investments, Gazprom will have majority stake in ArmRusgasprom CJSC. The above gas price (110 dollars per 1.000 cubic meters before January 2009) was established in exchange for the sale of the assets to Gazprom. Starting from January 1 2009 up to 2011, the gas price for Armenia will make up 165 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters. Armenia has no own natural gas resources. Gazprom resumed gas supply to Armenia in June 2003 and it is the only gas supplier to Armenia. Gasprom Export LTD (100pct subsidiary of Gazprom) is engaged in gas supply up to the Armenian boundary. Gasprom holds 67.94pct stake in ArmRusgasprom at present. Finance and banks 2008-05-21 11:17:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 308 drams for 1 dollar, 481drams for 1 EUR and 12,8 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 309,5 drams for 1 dollar, 482 drams for 1 EUR and 13,5 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 2008-05-21 09:36:00 Rosgosstrakh comes to Armenia ArmInfo. The Council of the Central Bank of Armenia registered a new insurance company - CJSC Rosgosstrakh-Armenia at the May 20 sitting. As the CBA press-service told ArmInfo, the company obtained licence for non-life insurance, particularly, insurance of cargo carriages, ground transportation vehicles, property, car holder's liability, general liability, accident insurance, as well as insurance of fires and disasters. To note, Rosgosstrakh-Armenia is included in the largest insurance group of Russia - Rosgosstrakh, 75% - 1 share of which belong to Chairman of the group's Board Daniil Khachaturov and his brother Sergey Khachaturov after privatization in 2003; 25% + 1 share belong to Russia. The Rosgosstrakh Group consists of OJSC Rosgosstrakh, 3 regional and 7 inter-regional insurance companies, RGS-Medicine LLC, which makes surgical operations by compulsory health insurance, as well as RGS-Life LLC, which is engaged in life-insurance and non-governmental retirement insurance. The Rosgosstrakh Group was awarded ++ rating (high reliability with positive outlook) by the Expert RA Rating Agency in 2004, this rating was confirmed in 2006 as well. At the moment, the number of insurance companies of Armenia is 11, Rosgosstrakh- Armenia inclusive. Social 2008-05-21 18:52:00 Armenian Government concerned about traffic in Yerevan ArmInfo. The Government of Armenia is concerned about the traffic in Yerevan, Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said in the parliament today. The poor traffic in Yerevan not only makes people nervous but also causes damage to the country's economy. Sargsyan instructed concerned department to prepare proposals on how to improve the situation. Armenia will get technical assistance from the World Bank. Sargsyan is also concerned over the work and the technical equipment of the road police and suggests applying modern technologies for making traffic more controllable and the work of police more transparent. To remind, the WB is financing a project by Ameria consulting company and WYG International (the UK) to draft national road safety strategy in Armenia. Culture 2008-05-21 10:09:00 Armenian singer Sirusho in the Eurovision final ArmInfo. Armenian singer Sirusho has found herself in the Eurovision final. Thus, her performance number 14 was really lucky not only for her but also for thousands-strong army of her fans. Dima Bilan from Russia is among the main competitors of Sirusho. But knowing unpredictability of Eurovision at present it is difficult to say who will win. At the same time, when assessing the passed semi-final it becomes clear why Serbian and British book-makers highly appreciated chances of Sirusho and Dima Bilan, which will compete again on 24 May, at Eurovision final. 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