Intrigue of the day

2008-05-27 17:28:00 Secretary of parliamentary group of Heritage party refutes rumors that leader of the party Raffi Hovannisian is having secret meetings with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan

ArmInfo. The secretary of the parliamentary group of Heritage party Stepan Safaryan has refuted the rumors that leader of the party Raffi Hovannisian is having secret meetings with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

"We always inform the public of the meetings of Mr. Hovannissian. He has had several meetings with Mr. Sargsyan so far but both the mass media and the public were informed about them," says Safaryan.







Politics

2008-05-27 17:01:00 American congressman Adam Schiff worries about development of situation in the post-election Armenia

ArmInfo. American congressman Adam Schiff said in an interview with Radio Liberty that he worries about development of situation in the post-election Armenia. , - Schiff said.

Asked if he thinks there are political prisoners in Armenia, American congressman replied that the Department of State worries about the fact that there are prisoners in the country which had been detained because of making speeches during the political campaign in the republic as well as because of expressing their own viewpoints. This is not a ground to arrest them. People cannot be arrested for
expression of their views, Schiff said.

Asked if the USA may impose pressure upon the Armenian authorities trying to stop fulfillment of "Millennium Challenges" programme, the congressman replied: 'I think it will be a big tragedy if the programme is stopped, since it is a very important programme. It will be shameful if fulfillment of the
programme may fail because of the problem of democratizing of the republic', - he said and added there has never been such a precedent in the history of the programme fulfillment.


2008-05-27 16:36:00 We don't see wish of Armenian authorities to fulfill requirements of PACE Resolution N1609, secretary of opposition 'Heritage' party thinks

ArmInfo. "We don't see wish of the Armenian authorities to fulfill requirements of PACE Resolution N1609 "On functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia". At present their actions were limited only by discussion of several ideas and the failed attempts to fulfill obligations against the world community", - secretary of the opposition "Heritage" party parliamentary faction, Stepan Safaryan, told journalists in Hayatsk club today.

He also added that the working group on drawing out of measures directed to fulfillment of the resolution requirements should become the arena of wide dialogue between all the participants in the
domestic political conflict. But the working group prepared imperfect points, Safaryan said. "We prepared our own alternative option for settlement of the crisis. I don't want to compare the two documents. I would only like to say that the actions programme is more detailed", - Safaryan said.

He slagged off the process of making alterations to the law "On holding of mass measures" by the parliament, which is just revision of the failed and unacceptable points but not their cancel as PACE Resolution requires. "There is still little time to fulfill PACE Resolution requirements. And if
our authorities let themselves to waste the term given to the
country, in that case our delegation to PACE should have courage to
confess that we have not fulfilled requirements of PACE Resolution",
- Stepan Safaryan concluded.


2008-05-27 16:17:00 Armenian accused of attacking Barack Obama?

ArmInfo. For a couple of days, the media spotlight was on Davit Zakaryan, a Cincinnati man who wound up spending the better part of a week in a southeastern Iowa jail, Chicago tribune reports.

That was last Fourth of July, when Secret Service agents assigned to protect presidential candidate Barack Obama apparently became suspicious of the Armenian native, who said he was in Iowa to sell
campaign memorabilia.

Zakaryan, 24 at the time, ultimately was jailed on charges of possessing an illegal knife outside a hotel where Obama and his family had stayed the night before. Obama was in Iowa for one of many events held in the months leading up to the state's lead-off precinct caucuses. But for Zakaryan, it was only the beginning of a process that is still winding its way through Iowa's judicial system. A pretrial conference is now scheduled for June 12 after more than a half dozen delays.

Zakaryan faces a maximum prison sentence of up to two years and a fine of at least $625 on the misdemeanor charge. Court documents alleged that Zakaryan possessed and concealed in his vehicle a knife with a blade longer than 8 inches. Iowa law makes it illegal to have a knife with a blade of more than 8 inches "concealed on or about the person." Officials have since described the item, found in a seat pocket of Zakaryan's vehicle, as an ornamental knife. An acquaintance who posted Zakaryan's bond and a close
friend both said it was a fancy letter opener.


2008-05-27 16:14:00 RA president's spokesman: Constitution and legislation of Armenia grant privilege to no one, whether they are policemen, prosecutors or MP relatives

ArmInfo. "RA Constitution and legislation grant privilege to no one, whether they are policemen, prosecutors or MP relatives", RA president's spokesman Samvle Farmanyan told journalists today, commenting on the next clearance in Yerevan of one of the Armenian parliamentarian's relatives with an employee of the law machinery.

As S. Farmanyan said, the time of street clearances has passed. "The force of thought and intellect wins in XXI century", the spokesman said. "This unpleasant incident was initially investigated by RA
Police, after which the case was submitted to the Special Investigation Service. All the circumstances of the incident will be cleared up and the guilty persons will be brought to responsibility without fail", the spokesman said. To recall, senior inspector of Nor Nork Police department David Kazaryan submitted a written application saying that at about 2:00 AM on May 18 on Myasnikyan Avenue, near "Belajio" restaurant, he tried to outdrive "Mercedes" by his car "VAZ 2108"and has slightly rubbed the
foreign-made car. The driver of 'Mercedes' with his friends beat Kazaryan, however, the latter consulted a doctor only in the evening of the same day. Among the persons, who attacked him, Kazaryan recognized Garnik Mouradyan, who was detained by him several years ago for illegal storage of arms and ammunition. By unofficial information, among the persons, having attacked Kazaryan, there was also employee of Kotayk region's Prosecutor's Office Karo Guloyan, being a son of MP Mourad Guloyan and a son-in-law of
MP Gagik Tsarukyan. According to the available information, K.Guloyan was in fact at the scene of incident together with his wife and infant child.


2008-05-27 16:09:00 Russia aims to further support Karabakh conflict parties in finding mutually advantageous resolution to conflict

ArmInfo. Russia aims to further support the Karabakh conflict parties in finding a mutually advantageous resolution to the conflict, Official Representative of RF Foreign Minister Andrey Nesterenko told RIA Novosti. 'The basic stance of Russia on Nagorny Karabakh conflict settlement remains the same. We proceed from the fact that Armenians and Azerbaijanis are responsible for the final formula of the settlement. Russia would be ready to support the very settlement-scheme that would satisfy the parties. In case
of a consensus, Russia will become the guarantor the settlement',
Nesterenko said.


2008-05-27 12:20:00 'New Times' oppositional party leader is still in hospital

ArmInfo. "New Times" oppositional party leader Aram Karapetyan is still in "Erebuni" Medical Center where he undertakes intensive treatment. As "NT" party told ArmInfo today, it is yet difficult to say how long the treatment will last, however, Aram Karapetyan hopes for prompt recovery and return to the political policy.

To recall, A. Karapetyan was detained by employees of the National Security Service of Armenia on February 24, 2008, and taken into custody. He was brought the charge per Article 333 of RA Criminal
Code . The court of general jurisdiction of the Center and Nork-Marash Yerevan communities has triply granted a petition of the investigation group, conducting Karapetyan's case, on
prolonging the term of his staying under arrest. However, in view of his health deterioration, leader was transferred to "Erebuni" Medical Center on May 16. The day before, by personal instruction
of RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan, A. Karapetyan's measure of restraint was changed for recognizance not to leave.


2008-05-27 12:15:00 Swiss ambassador to Azerbaijan: Military phase of Nagorno Karabakh conflict additionally indicates that peaceful way of settlement has no alternative

ArmInfo. Switzerland has always kept to the necessity of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in a peaceful way, Swiss Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alain Guidetti told APA.

"My country proceeds from the fact that military way of any conflict settlement, including Nagorno Karabakh one, can never lead to the final peace. The Armenian- Azerbaijani conflict, which started over 15 years ago, has not been solved as yet. The conflict's military phase has become an additional indication of the fact that peaceful settlement has no alternative. This is the key principle of Switzerland's foreign policy on such kind of problems. Moreover, we see that the potential of the conflict settlement
through negotiations has not been yet exhausted and there are still opportunities to achieve a positive result", the ambassador said.


Hi-Tech

2008-05-27 17:05:00 Process of forgiving receivables of ArmenTel's fixed communication subscribers finishes on May 27

ArmInfo. The process of forgiving the receivables of fixed communication subscribers of ArmenTel company (Beeline brand) is finishing on May 27.

ArmenTel's PR service told ArmInfo that after completion of the process of debt forgiveness, the subscribers will have a chance to see the real amount of the debt for April 2008. Disconnection of the
phone communication of the specified subscribers (who make up 20% of the total number ArmenTel's fixed communication subscribers) will be put off till July. Thus, debtor-subscribers' communication won't be disconnected before July 1. If a subscriber has completely repaid the debt, the amount for the period from January till March, will remain as prepayment on his/her account.

To recall, on May 14 Beeline took a decision not to levy from the subscribers the amounts of "from fixed to mobile numbers" calls which were not settled in the specified period (from January till March)
and were presented in the bills for April.

ArmenTel CJSC is a branch of VimpelCom OJSC (Russia) and represents the Beeline trademark in Armenia. ArmenTel provides fixed and mobile communication services in Armenia.


2008-05-27 16:10:00 Head of Microsoft Armenia: IT development conception in Armenia cannot be called ideal, but it can become good basis for future

ArmInfo. IT development conception in Armenia cannot be called ideal, but the most important is that it was created on the basis of agreement of the government and IT and private sectors, Director of Microsoft Armenia Grigor Barseghyan told ArmInfo.

He thinks that there are some faults in the conception that can be removed in future. 'Wasting time on long debates and discussions will hardly bring any tangible result. So, first of all, we must approve
the conception of IT development and then regularly revise and improve it', Barseghyan said. At the same time he stressed that the implementation of the conception will allow everyone interested including foreign investors develop mid-term e-societies given the fact that numerous programs are already implemented in Armenia to upgrade the level of IT-usage.


Economy

2008-05-27 22:46:00 Russian Vneshtorgbank signs a loan agreement worth $249,5 mln with Armenian Copper Programme

ArmInfo. Russian Vneshtorgbank (VTB) will provide the metallurgical company Armenian Copper Programme (ACP) with a loan worth $249,5 mln for development of the Teghut copper- molybdenum deposit in the north of Armenia. President, Chairman of VTB Board Andrey Kostin and President of ACP and Teghut CJSC Valery Mejlumyan signed the loan agreement in Yerevan, Tuesday.

At a press-conference Kostin recalled that a memorandum on providing the Teghut project with a loan worth $257 mln was signed in Yerevan in November 2007. The sides have been engaged in organizational and preparatory work up to present. In 2007, VTB opened through its branch in France a credit line worth $30 mln for ACP, Kostin said. He qualifies this loan agreement as an important step in development of the bank's activity in Armenia. "This is one of the largest loans that have ever been provided by Russian
banks in the post-Soviet area for investment projects. This is one of the key projects for development of Armenia's economy for the next few years", the VTB head said and added that the loan is provided for 12 years, it is long-term investment and has an increased hazard rate for the bank. The bank will have representative offices in the managing bodies of the project to control the financial flows. The project is promising from the viewpoint of international export's pot
ential, he said. The bank hopes to obtain a certain share of stocks in the project, which will later be purchased by the chief stockholder Kostin said.

Mejlumyan said that presently ACP is building construction roads and construction sites, drainage ditch of tailing dump, the administration building and a number of infrastructures. The construction will last for four years. After launch the combine will need two more years to reach its full capacity.

He said that the project will have almost no effect on ecology. In response to the remark of one journalists that EBRD has refused to take part in the project exactly because of its impacts on ecology,
Mejlumyan said that ACP has never offered EBRD to take part in the project even though three years ago ACP and EBRD jointly presented the Teghut project in London.

To note, 81% of shares of Armenian Copper Programme CJSC belong to Vallex F.M. Establishment (Liechtenstein), 19% to Russian citizen Valery Mejlumyan. Mejlumyan says that in 2007 the turnover of Vallex group totaled $160mln, the profit - $20mln.

Prospecting has shown that the Teghut deposit has 450 mln tons of ore, 1.6 mln tons of copper (0.655% concentration) and 99,000 tons of molybdenum (0.021%). APC is planning to mine 25,000-30,000 tons of copper and 800 tons of molybdenum a year - 40%-50% and 20% of total copper and molybdenum production in Armenia. In 2001 the company was granted a license for 25 years.



Finance and banks

2008-05-27 09:48:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR

ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 306 drams for 1 dollar, 481drams for 1 EUR and 12,8 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 308 drams for 1 dollar, 485 drams for 1 EUR and 13,5 drams for 1 Russian ruble.


Crimes and emergency situations

2008-05-27 12:14:00 Earthquake in Iran

ArmInfo. Earthquake of magnitude 5 happened today in the territory of Iran at 10:18 AM by Yerevan time at 19 km to the South-east of Zanjan town. The earthquake shock in the epicenter was of force 6-7on the Richter scale, the National Seismic Protection Service of Armenia reports.


Sports

2008-05-27 16:35:00 Famous gymnast Albert Azaryan to carry flag of Armenian Olympic Team

ArmInfo. Famous gymnast Albert Azaryan to carry flag of Armenian Olympic Team at the opening of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Armen Grigoryan said at a press conference Tuesday.

He said the National Olympic Committee of Armenia completed organizational activities. 'The uniform of our sportsmen has been already ordered. A special attention will be paid also to the dress cloths of the Armenian delegation', the minister said.

'Arevik Fashion Agency will provide the dress cloths for our sportsmen for participation in the opening of Olympic Games', he said.

He stressed that 3 Armenian sportsmen won participation in the Olympic Games through the last qualifying tournament of Greco-Roman Wrestling. Hence, a total of 23 Armenian sportsmen will participate in the Olympic Games. Armenia has an opportunity to increase its participation through the so-called white cards issued by international sport federation for light athletics and swimming. 'Of
course we rely on our sportsmen but it is untimely to speak of medals so far. Our sportsmen are ready to fight', he said. Grigoryan stressed that a specially set-up republican headquarters is responsible for both physical training of sportsmen and organizational issues.