ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 13 2005
Famous British conductor Paul MacAlindin to have only one performance
in Yerevan
RA Government provided 25 million AMD for provision of assistance to
citizens of Sri-Lanka suffered from tsunami
RF Minister of Defense: Armenia is one of the closest allies of
Russia
Restoration of transport communication is the main achievement in
Armenian-Georgian relations in 2004
The third annual international conference on Armenia to be held in
Washington on January 15-16
ARKA Agency presents ten key political events in 2004 in Armenia
according to Agency’s reporters
ARKA Agency presents 10 key economic events of 2004 in Armenia,
according to Agency’s reporters
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FAMOUS BRITISH CONDUCTOR PAUL MACALINDIN TO HAVE ONLY ONE PERFORMANCE
IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. Famous British conductor Paul MacAlindin
will have only one performance in Yerevan with State Philharmonic
Orchestra of Armenia. During the press conference in British Council
office in Yerevan MacAlindin said that he is for the first time in
Armenia and is impressed by the level of professionalism of the
Armenian orchestra. `I am familiar with the Armenian music, but I am
happy to use the chance to get more acquainted with it’, he said.
The concert is sponsored by the British Council. T.M. -0–
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RA GOVERNMENT PROVIDED 25 MILLION AMD FOR PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TO
CITIZENS OF SRI-LANKA SUFFERED FROM TSUNAMI
YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. RA Government provided 25 million AMD
for provision of assistance to citizens of Sri-Lanka suffered from
tsunami, RA Government press office told ARKA. 10 million AMD
provided to RA Ministry of Health for purchasing of medicines, 15
million AMD – to Emergency Department for purchasing of warm covers
and mobile generators. 2 million AMD of the assets provided to Chief
Department of RA Civil Aviation for provision of transportation of
humanitarian cargo. ($1 – 501.20 AMD). L.D. –0 –
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RF MINISTER OF DEFENSE: ARMENIA IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST ALLIES OF
RUSSIA
YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. Armenia is one of the closest allies of
Russia, as RF Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov stated during the
press -conference in the Russian Embassy in Washington, answering the
questions of reporters regarding the relations between Russia and
Armenia in the light of contacts with Turkey. `Both countries are the
members of the Organizations for Collective Security Treaty. The
largest Russian military unit is located in Armenia. We have very
close economic and cultural relations’, Ivanov said. In the meantime
he noted that `Russia will not push Armenia to any of the sides’.
`Armenia is a sovereign state and it will decide itself in what
direction to move, and it’s one of our principles’, Ivanov said,
according to RIA-Novosti. A.H. -0–
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RESTORATION OF TRANSPORT COMMUNICATION IS THE MAIN ACHIEVEMENT IN
ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS IN 2004
YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. Restoration of transport communication
is the main achievement in Armenian-Georgian relations in 2004, as
stated RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian during the
press-conference, summing up the results of 2004. According to the
report of RA MFA, in 2004, perspectives came forth for the two
countries to cooperate in the field of economy, energy,
communication, customs, etc. The economic issues discussed by the
sides mainly related to restoring `West-East’ and `North-South’
transport communication, signing three-sided
Armenian-Georgian-Russian agreement on launching Poti-`Caucases’
railway -ferry line, and the issues of energy supply to the region.
Armenian-Georgian relations in 2004 were quite active, according to
the report of RA MFA. Thus, mutual visits of the Presidents and other
officials took place. Also, issues related to the regional security,
processes of the European integration in the region, creation of the
environment for mutual trust in the settlement of the conflicts in
the South Caucasus through the development of the economic relations
between the countries were discussed. A.H. –0–
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THE THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARMENIA TO BE HELD IN
WASHINGTON ON JANUARY 15-16
YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. The third annual international
conference on Armenia will be held in Washington on January 15-16.
According to the Armenian International Policy Research Group
(AIPRG), the third annual conference will bring together over 200
Armenian and non-Armenian experts on social and economic affairs,
including senior officials from the World Bank, International
Monetary Fund, US and the Armenian government, international donor
organizations and academia institutions in Armenia and the US. The
conference will focus on the discussion of issues related to the
distribution of income and the system of social insurance in Armenia,
economic growth and reduction of poverty level, tax-budget policy,
reforms of public institutions, banking and financial sectors. Also,
participants will discuss issues related to the economic growth,
macroeconomic policies, trade and geopolitics, as well as
relationship between Armenia and its Diaspora.
AIPRG is a non-partisan, non-political association that researches
and encourages the discussion of public policy issues in Armenia and
the Diaspora. AIPRG aims to consolidate the existing Armenia-related
expertise by bringing together accomplished researchers and
practitioners who specialize in economics, political science, law,
and government affairs. A.H. -0–
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ARKA AGENCY PRESENTS TEN KEY POLITICAL EVENTS IN 2004 IN ARMENIA
ACCORDING TO AGENCY’S REPORTERS
1. Armenian opposition MPs began boycotting of the Parliament’s
sessions. The main demand of the MPs – holding of vote of confidence
to President, which was not supported by other MPs, particularly
pro-Government Coalition.
2. April meetings of the opposition: On April 9, 12, 16 and 21 the
opposition organized meetings with demand of President’s resignation.
On April 12, the meeting turned to unsanctioned march to the
presidential residence and the building of the Parliament. The
participants of the meeting were stopped by police, while on the
night of April 13 the police lunched a special operation for
dispersing the participants of the meeting, while the law enforcement
authorities recoursed to force after the protesters refused to leave
the roadway of the avenue. Police applied special means. Among the
detained were some journalists.
3. The official Yerevan not intending to start the negotiations on
Nagorno Karabakh from `zero point’. Armenia insists on continuation
of the negotiations with Azerbaijani new President Ilham Aliyev from
the interrupted point with Heydar Aliyev. At the same time the
Azerbaijani side states that it wishes the process to start from
`bland print’.
4. Armenia was included on 16 poorest nations list whish will be
assisted by the Millennium Challenge Foundation for holding economic
and democratic reforms. The list mainly included African, Asian,
Latin American countries as well as two former USSR republics –
Armenia and Georgia. In the frames of the program Armenia expects US
support in the sum around USD 330 mln.
5. Closing of Verkhni Lars checkpoint on Russian-Georgian border for
more than a month caused negative reaction of the Armenian
politicians that considered that Russia while fighting terrorism,
does not take into consideration of its strategic partner.
6. Parliaments of some countries recognized the Armenian Genocide of
1915 in Ottoman Empire. Particularly Canadian House of Commons,
Slovakian and Netherlands Parliaments voted for recognition of the
Genocide. Also the European Parliament re-confirmed its resolution of
1987 on the Armenian Genocide in its new resolution `EU’s policy
toward the South Caucasus States’.
7. The UN General Assembly voted for inclusion of the issue
`Situation on occupied lands of Azerbaijan’ to the agenda of the 59
session. Armenian Foreign Minister states that in case of adoption of
the Azerbaijani resolution by the UN, Armenia will refuse to continue
bilateral negotiations on the Karabakh conflict.
8. On its extraordinary session, PACE passed a resolution on Nagorno
Karabakh on basis of the report on the Karabakh problem prepared by
UK MP David Atkinson. The resolution was including some points
unfavorable formulas for Armenia, because of which the official
Yerevan strongly criticized the report. Atkinson’s report was
included on the agendum of the PACE winter session and will be
discussed on January 25, 2005.
9. Court of Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea charged six Armenian
pilots with attempt of coup d’etait. The crew captain was sentenced
to 24 years of imprisonment, while the others to 14 years of
imprisonment. The official Yerevan said that it would make its best
to release the Armenian pilots.
10. The Armenian Parliament ratified memorandum on deployment of the
Armenian contingent to Iraq as a part of the Polish Delegation. The
contingent consists of 46 people, including doctors, sappers,
drivers. T.M. -0–
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ARKA AGENCY PRESENTS 10 KEY ECONOMIC EVENTS OF 2004 IN ARMENIA,
ACCORDING TO AGENCY’S REPORTERS
1. Russian Vneshtorgbank obtains 70% shares of Armsavingsbank.
Vneshtorgbank plans to service the trade turnover of the two
countries and assist Russian companies, intensively working in
Armenia, such as Gasprom, RAO UES of Russia, Sibir.
2. Agreement is signed on Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction. The
investments of Armenia will make about $90 mln. The deadline for
putting the gas pipeline in commission is January 1, 2007. The issue
of Iran-Armenian gas pipeline construction had been discussed since
1992. In 1995, Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental agreement was
signed, according to which the route of the pipeline was determined:
its length made – 141 km; 41 km to pass through the Armenian
territory and 100 km – through Iran.
3. World Bank approves the new four-year credit program for Armenia
to the amount of up to $220 mln. The previous Armenian support
strategy covered the years 2002-2004 and provided for a credit
program of $150 mln, however, WB allotted credits to the sum of $164
mln, given the successful implementation of WB programs.
4. Armenal foil-rolling factory and Achenbach German Company sign an
agreement on factory modernization to the sum of $70 mln. According
to the estimates of Russian experts, Armenia would get the best
foil-rolling factory in Europe after modernization. According to the
contract, the modernization process will take 18 months to reach the
planned production capacity. The first trial production in volume of
150 tones is planned to be produced already in the end of 2005.
5. The rate of Armenian dram equals the level of 1997 for the first
time in last 6 years. In course of a year, the Armenian dram
strengthened by 14,16% against US dollar. Among the causes for the
strengthening of the national currency, experts mention, in
particular, the economic growth, the tendencies on world currency and
financial markets, large inflow of private transfers into the country
from abroad.
6. For the first time in Armenia, long-term securities are issued for
a term of 7 years. According to the experts, that fact testifies to
the increased trust of the Armenian financial market participants
towards the government commitments. The first 7-year securities were
allocated to the volume of AMD 1,5 bln, given the maximal yield at
9,8%.
7. Synopsys, Inc. first-rate company, which is involved in
intellectual property and development of electronic design automation
solutions for integral schemes, purchases Leda Design and Monterey
Arset Armenian companies. `Synopsys Armenia’ OJSC is established on
the base of these companies.
8. The Armenian Government deprives ArmenTel Company of the exclusive
right for GSM services. According to the amendments made to the
license of the monopolist, ArmenTel is also deprived of monopoly for
mobile satellite communication services, special mobile
radio-services and permit of Internet traffic to Armenia.
9. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development obtains 25%+1
shares of Armeconombank for 887 thou. The participation of EBRD in
the capital of Armeconombank testifies to the increased confidence of
world structures to Armenia.
10. The RA Government makes a decision on privatization of Zangezur
copper-molybdenum combine (Armenia) for $132 mln. According to the
agreement, 60% shares of the combine are passed to Cronimet German
Company’, 15% are owned by Plant of Pure Iron, Armenian molybdenum
production CJSC and Zangezur Mining LLC get 12,5% of shares each.
L.V.-0–