The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform Intrigue of the day 2008-06-16 12:50:00 Head of RA president's administration intends to take his brother's place in Parliament ArmInfo. Registration of the candidates for deputy for participation in August 24 additional election to RA Parliament in the 17th election district (Ararat region, town of Artashat), completed yesterday. As the spokeswoman of the Central Election Committee Tatev Ohanyan told ArmInfo today, applications for participation in the election were submitted by three candidates for deputy: a non-party Grisha Virabyan, Head of RA president's administration, ex-vice speaker an ex-Minister of Territorial Administration, member of the Board of the ruling Republican party of Armenia Hovik Abramyan. To recall, the deputy place has become vacant after H. Abramyan's brother Henrik (Jonik) Abramyan divested himself of the deputy authorities. Politics 2008-06-16 17:38:00 Armenian parliament starts hearings on NA's draft statement on implementation of PACE Resolution 1609 ArmInfo. The Armenian parliament started hearings on the National Assembly's draft statement on implementation of PACE Resolution 1609 by Armenia, Monday. MP Hranush Hakobyan, one of the statement's authors, said that the Armenian public has been discussing PACE Resolution 1609 for two months. Different assessments are given to the Resolution at different levels, and parallels with other documents are drawn. In this connection, the representatives of the ruling coalition in parliament came out with an initiative to prepare a draft statement on implementation of the Resolution 1609 by the republic. In particular, the statement covers the events during both pre-election and post-election periods. Thus, the PACE Resolution notes that the presidential election in Armenia was held in line with international standards. Furthermore, the Resolution calls on all Armenian political forces to obey the Constitutional Court's decision. The document also points out the mistakes and shortcomings registered during the election, as well as proposals to eliminate them. For instance, PACE recommends the Armenian authorities to reform the Election Code. In connection with this speaker of the Armenian parliament formed the working group on resolving of the given problem. The group is headed by headed by hairman of the permanent parliamentary commission on the state and legal issues David Harutyunyan. Experts of different political forces , public organizations and mass media were involved in the group. PACE Resolution also suggests to ensure independence and transparency in Armenian Public TV activity, which should implement the idea of pluralism of views. Moreover, the resolution suggests to ensure independence of the commission on television and radio. The main problem is that members of the commission should be selected on the basis of competition. In this context suggestion of t he Heritage party was accepted and the detailed parliamentary hearing were held on the draft laws which regulate the given sphere. Practically all the parliamentary forces, public organizations and mass media took part in the hearing. The package of the draft laws was drawn out and directed to expertise of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Within the frames of Armenia's commitments extraordinary report of Armenian Ombudsman on the 1-2 March events was presented. The draft law "On regulations of the National Assembly" was adopted in the first reading. This draft law gives wider authorities to the Armenian opposition. Alteration and amendments were made to the "Law on the order of holding rallies, demonstrations and processions", which meets all the international standards at present. Armenian president charged to set up the working group, headed by justice minister Gevorg Danielyan, on drawing out legislative and normative acts directed to ensuring independence of the court system. As for the arrested people for participation in the 1-2 March events, a total of 115 people were detained and arrested. At present 72 people out of them were released, 14 recognized they are guilty and 3 were justified. Thus at present criminal persecution continues only regarding 24 people. Certain work was implemented for the dialogue between the opposition and authorities. It is supposed to start the dialogue within the frames of Public Council as well as in the National Assembly. Temporary parliamentary commission to investigate the 1-2 March events is being formed at present. And the post of deputy chairman of the commission maybe given to representative of the opposition. 2008-06-16 17:31:00 New system for assessing migrants starts functioning in Great Britain ArmInfo. The UK government today announced the introduction of a new system for assessing highly skilled migrants wanting to come to the UK to work. Tier 1 of the new points based system (PBS) will come into effect on 30 June. The points system means only those migrants Britain needs can come to the UK. The new system is far easier for applicants to use. They will earn points for their qualifications, previous earnings, competence in English language and ability to support themselves and their dependents. They can calculate, before they make their application, whether their points add up to entry as a highly skilled worker. The system is also more straightforward, what was a two-stage application process now has only one stage - and the initial visa will be granted for three years not two. As Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said, "a points system has worked well in Australia and I think it will work well for Britain. This is a key part of the huge shake- up to our border security this year." The introduction of PBS follows a tightening of British border security arrangements. All visa applicants now have to submit their fingerprints for checking against government databases before visas are approved, severe penalties have been introduced for employers of illegal workers in the UK and a new unified Border force has been established. In addition, since 1 April, applicants who use false documents or deception when making a visa application will face a ban from the UK of up to ten years. 2008-06-16 17:30:00 The Swedish parliament rejected a draft law proposing recognition of the Armenian allegations regarding incidents of 1915. ArmInfo. The Swedish parliament rejected the bill while 245 votes against and 37 for the proposal. As the Turkish daily Hurriet reports, Turkey welcomed the decision. Turkish Prime minister's advisor Agemen Bagis is grateful to all the political parties represented in the Swedish Parliament for both their support to Turkey's EU bid and their decision rejecting calls for recognition of Armenian allegations. 2008-06-16 13:18:00 PACE co-reporters arrived in Armenia ArmInfo. PACE co-reporters on monitoring of commitments by Armenia to CE Georges Colombier and John Prescott arrived in Armenia with a two- day fact-finding visit. As the press service of CE headquarters told ArmInfo earlier, the co-reporters' visit to Armenia is purposed to assess fulfillment of PACE commitments on the Resolution N1609 'On Functioning of the Democratic Institutes in Armenia>. The source reports that during the visit, the co-reporters intend to meet RA President Serzh Sargsyan, Chairman of RA Parliament Tigran Torosyan, representatives of political parties, as well as representatives of the non-parliamentary opposition, including Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Moreover, the co-reporters will meet representatives of the presidential working group on coordination of actions for fulfillment of PACE Resolution N1609, the parliamentary working group on reformation of the Election Code, as well as the advocates of the arrested opposition activists. As the source emphasizes, 'if, upon the results of the visit to Armenia, the co-reporters conclude that the progress by Armenia is insufficient, the Assembly may set debates on the subject of Functioning of Democratic Institutes in Armenia, which in this case will be held on June 25 during PACE summer session. 2008-06-16 13:10:00 Representatives of Armenian youth to spend vacation at inter-culture summer camps of Turkey ArmInfo. Representatives of Armenian youth will be able to spend vacation at inter-culture summer camps of Turkey. As ArmInfo was informed from Young Women Association of Armenia, the Association and Volunteers Fund of Turkey invite Armenian young people to take part in the summer camps of inter-culture dialogue organized in the Turkish towns Edir, Van and Mardin. The participants will stay in the camps for two weeks. They will discuss the following topics: the inter-culture dialogue, social services, music and art. Young people at the age 18-30 will take part in the programme. 2008-06-16 13:04:00 Armenian foreign minister: There is no alternative to the Karabakh conflict negotiating process ArmInfo. 'If there is sincere aspiration for the conflict settlement, no "precedents" can become an obstacle on this way. Public opinion poll has been recently held in Azerbaijan as a result of which 29% of population were for the military way of the conflict settlement. This is a very dangerous tendency, which is the result of the militaristic rhetoric that always sounds in Azerbaijan', - Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said in an interview with Russian "Nezavisimaya gazeta". He also added he thinks there is no country in the world which would make boast of the tenfold growth of its military expenditure and every third citizen wanted the war. War cannot be an answer, it cannot be solution. There is no alternative to the negotiating process. 'For this reason we hope that the meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents on 6 June, which we consider positive and constructive, will make it possible for us to continue the talks to find the settlement ways on the basis of suggestions made by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs at the end of 2007 in Madrid', - Nalbandyan emphasized. He also said that when the OSCE MG co-chairs visit the region they always try to meet the leaders of Karabakh. Armenian president and foreign minister always hold consultations with the Karabakh leaders before and after meeting the Azerbaijani party, i.e. Karabakh indirectly participates in the negotiating process. 'But I don't think that direct participation of Stepenakert in the talks may make closer the conflict settlement', - Nalbandyan said. When commenting on the speaker of the Russian State Duma Boris Geyzlov's statements made in Baku that the Russian party has potential to affect the talks, Edward Nalbandyan said he is not aware of this statement but he thinks the word "affect" should be understood in the context of the negotiating process continuation, in which "we highly appreciate the role of Russia as well as two other co-chairs from the USA and France the efforts of which are directed not to imposing solution but to supporting the parties in the way of the compromising way out>, - the minister thinks. 'I am more optimistic and I hope that the negotiating process will have a result. Anyway, we should make as much efforts as we can not to allow the war actions restoration, this is Armenia's approach and we hope that Azerbaijan also understands this>, - Nalbandyan concluded. Economy 2008-06-13 17:27:00 A contest of mixologists to be held in Armenia ArmInfo. The Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) and the Armenian Association of Barmen will hold a contest "The Best ARARAT Mixologist 2008" on June 14, the YBC press-release says. During the contest, the barmen will present cocktails on the base of brandy Ani and the best authorial cocktail will be selected. Two best barmen will participate in the international competition of barmen in Puerto Rico. The goal of the event is to make new Ani brandy-based cocktails. World famous barman Marco Canova is a member of the jury. He will demonstrate a flaring show. Finance and banks 2008-06-16 13:33:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 305 drams for 1 dollar, 470drams for 1 EUR and 12,6 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 306,5 drams for 1 dollar, 472 drams for 1 EUR and 13,4 drams for 1 Russian ruble. 2008-06-12 12:17:00 European Bank intends to sell its share in capital of 'Shen-Concern' CJSC to another two company stockholders ArmInfo. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) intends to sell its share at the rate of 36,37% in the authorized capital of "Shen-Concern" CJSC to another two stockholders of the Company. As "Shen-Concern" CJSC told ArmInfo today, EBRD will sell 26,39% and 10,28% of its shares to the Company President Samvel Beglaryan and vice President Ara Hasratyan. As a result of the transaction, S. Beglaryan's share will grow from the present 45,48% of shares to 71,87%, and A. Hasratyan's share - from 17,71% to 27,99%. The remaining shares have been distributed among other small stockholders of the Company. "Shen- Concern" also informed that the agreement with EBRD on participation in the capital was signed in 2004, and in 2005, EBRD entered the Company's capital at the rate of 24% and then increased the share to 36,67%. The agreement was signed with the right of sale of the shares upon expiry of three years, which the bank took advantage of. Yesterday, RA Commission for Protection of economic Competition gave consent for the transaction fulfillment. According to the Commission, the transaction is being carried out within the frames of one company and it does not affect the competitive environment. To recall, upon the results 2007, the net profit of "Shen-Concern" CJSC, being a leader in production of building materials in Armenia, grew by 12,3% to 387809 thsd drams ($1,2 mln), as compared with 2006. Social 2008-06-16 12:54:00 'Sharemetyevo' laid air bridge to Armenia ArmInfo. The new partner of 'Sheremetyevo', airport 'Armavia' Air Company, opens regular flights to Yerevan. As the Russian mass media report, the first regular flight of "Armavia" started today at 7:05 AM from "Sheremetyevo" airport. The flights to Yerevan will be carried out by safe and modern aircrafts Airbus 319. The flights will be daily from the new comfortable terminal C. Air Company is a leader of the Armenian air market and the national air carrier of Armenia. The Company has been founded in 1996 and is an active member of the International Air Transport Association IATA. 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