ARKA News Agency
May 24 2004

NKR President: Hai Data Commission to focus on NKR International
recognition

RA Minister of Foreign Affairs: Armenia is interested in developing
relations with the countries of Persian Gulf

On May 24-26, 2004 a meeting of auditors from central and national
banks of CIS and Baltic states to take place in Armenia

Armenian opposition must return in the Parliament and prepare for
next elections – Leader of Dashnaktsutyun Faction

RA Minister of Territorial Management receives the Ambassador of
Qatar to Armenia

RA President congratulates famous French singer Charles Aznavour’s
80th Anniversary

RA President meets representatives of parties and ruling coalition

The work of Armenian commercial banks regarded as successful on the
whole in 2003

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NKR PRESIDENT: HAI DATA COMMISSION TO FOCUS ON NKR INTERNATIONAL
RECOGNITION

STEPANAKERT, May, 24. /ARKA/. Arkadi Ghukasian, the President of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) received the Director of the Cenyral
Office of Hai Data Commission of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau Kenet
Khachikyan. According to NKR Press Service Department, Ghukasian
noted the necessity of more active work of the Armenian Diaspora for
NKR international recognition, when speaking of the importance of
work of Hai Data on propaganda and introduction of the Armenian issue
to international community. In regard with this, he emphasized the
importance of coordination of efforts of political organizations of
the Armenian Diaspora and NKR internal political and other structures
for Karabalh conflict settlement, attracting investments to Artsakh.
In his turn khachikyan noted that Hai Data Commission attaches great
importance to the final settlement of the conflict. He assured the
President that the organization will continue its work and defend the
interests of NKR. A.H.–0–

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RA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: ARMENIA IS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING
RELATIONS WITH THE COUNTRIES OF PERSIAN GULF

YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. Vartan OSkanian the RA Minister of Foreign
Affairs received Salekh Ibrahim al-Kuari, Quatar Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia (residence in Teheran),
who handed to Oskanian the copies of his credentials. According to RA
MFA Press Service Department, during the meeting close co-operation
and mutual understanding between Armenian and Arab countries was
noted, as well as the necessity to stimulate present relations
between Armenia and Quatar. Oskanian noted that Armenia is interested
in developing relations with the countries of Persian Gulf, and
especially with Quatar. The parties also discussed the present
situation in the region. A.H. –0–

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ON MAY 24-26, 2004 A MEETING OF AUDITORS FROM CENTRAL AND NATIONAL
BANKS OF CIS AND BALTIC STATES TO TAKE PLACE IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. On May 24-26, 2004 a meeting of auditors
from central and national banks of CIS and Baltic states to take
place in Armenia. According to CBA Press Service Department, this is
the third such meeting. In the course of the meeting some issues to
be discussed, in particular, the role, organization and the methods
of inner control in central banks, the tendencies of their
development, the systems of internal audit, ìthe methods of
management and risks evaluation, description of business processes,
the methods of conducting audit of central banks in specific areas,
the issues of interrelation between the external and internal audits.

According to the press release, a meeting between CBA Chairman Tigran
Sargsyan and the Heads of sub-departments of internal audit of
central and national banks of CIS and Baltic states. Sargsyan wished
fruitful work to the participants of the meeting and hoped that they
would discuss the concept of inner control of CBA. He noted that
during the last three years the role of CBA inner audit increased
significantly, as it studies and evaluates the risks of
sub-departments, submits reports to CBA Board, which allows having
more info about the activities of all departments of the bank and
differentiating their work according to risks levels. It was
mentioned on the meeting that the concept of inner control was
implemented in structural sub-departments of CBA last year, which
allowed bringing the activities of the bank in accordance with the
order of the bank.A.H.–0–

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ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MUST RETURN IN THE PARLIAMENT AND PREPARE FOR
NEXT ELECTIONS – LEADER OF DASHNAKTSUTYUN FACTION

YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. Armenian opposition must return in the
Parliament and prepare for next elections, the Leader of
Dashnaktsutyun Faction Levon Mkrtchian stated today. According to
him, “most of people did not go after opposition, because did not see
perspective or concrete programs”. “Armenian authorities are stable
and have serious programs, external and internal obligations. It is
preferably that opposition also participated in these processes,
using its constitutional rights”, Mkrtchian said and added that even
without opposition, the authorities will try to achieve its goals.
L.D. –0–

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RA MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF
QATAR TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Territorial Management Ovik
Abramian received the Ambassador of Qatar to Armenia Saleh Ibragim
Al-Kuari. The parties discussed establishment of bilateral economic
cooperation and process of realization of the agreements achieved
during the visit of RA President in Qatar.
The parties agreed on conduction of a sitting of Armenian-Qatar
interstate commission. L.D. –0–

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RA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES FAMOUS FRENCH SINGER CHARLES AZNAVOUR’S
80TH ANNIVERSARY

YEREVAN, May 24. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian congratulated
famous French singer Charles Aznavour of the Armenian descent on
occasion of his 80th anniversary. As RA President Press Service told
ARKA, in his message to the famous compatriot, President mentioned
that the Armenian people loves and is proud of him. “It is hard to
wish you more successes as you had in your rich artistic and public
activity. You are one of exceptional artist that were and continue
being idol for several generations”, the message says. T.M. -0–

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RA PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF PARTIES AND RULING COALITION

YEREVAN, May 24. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian met
representatives of parties and the ruling coalition. As RA
President’s Press Service told ARKA, the meeting was attended by
leaders of parliamentary factions United Labor party and MP group
“People’s Deputy. As it is mentioned in te press release, the
participants discussed issues related to agenda of parliamentary
three days session. Also, they touched upon the political situation
inside the country. The president also informed the participants on
his foreign visits. T.M. -0–

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THE WORK OF ARMENIAN COMMERCIAL BANKS REGARDED AS SUCCESSFUL ON THE
WHOLE IN 2003

YEREVAN, May, 24. /ARKA/. In 2003 the work of Armenian commercial
banks was successful on the whole, as stated by the Chairman of the
Armenian Banks Union (ABU) Samvel Chzmachyan during the 7th session
of ABU. He noted that the growth of GDP made 13.9% by the results of
last year, whereas the growth of capital of the banking system
amounted to 37.7%. At the same time, the sum of credit investments by
the banks increased by 28.6%, and the ratio of profitability to
capital made 19.6%. “This is a very high indicator for both Armenia
and some other countries”, according to Chzmachyan. He stated that it
should be taken into consideration that the results were achieved
because of reduction of the number of banks functioning in Armenia.
He noted the positive role of CBA in this, as the bank created a
positive environment for work of the banks. “The success achieved
testifies to the fact that the strategy pursued by CBA was right”, he
said. Chzmachyan also noted that in 2004 CBA was going to activate
its participation in arrangements aimed at creating a favorable
environment for banks functioning, to co-operate more closely with
CBA and RA Government to develop programs contributing to credit and
financial institutes development, and to co-operate in the issue of
implementation of new principles of corporative management in this
sector.
15 banks out of 19 banks functioning in Armenia are the members of
the ABU. A.H. -0–

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