ARKA News Agency
May 6 2005

RA Prime Minister congratulates the veterans of the World War II and
participants of Karabakh liberating war on the Victory and Peace

RA President to leave on working visit to Moscow on May 7

US Embassy in Armenia celebrates its house-warming

Armenian Deputies consider it to be necessary to convoke
parliamentary hearings on exchange rate fluctuations

25 thsd electors to participate in approaching elections of the
prefect of Malatia- Sebastia capital community on June 5

Two commemorative coins to be put into circulation in Armenia

The nominal exchange rate of USD to AMD set by the CIS grows by 15,45
% up to AMD 459,39 per USD

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RA PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES THE VETERANS OF THE WORLD WAR II AND
PARTICIPANTS OF KARABAKH LIBERATING WAR ON THE VICTORY AND PEACE

YEREVAN, May 6. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
congratulated the veterans of the World War II and participants of
Karabakh liberating war on the Victory and Peace. He noted that the
Victory in the WWII was also due to the heroism of hundreds of
thousands of Armenians – soldiers and commanders. “Let great
victories achieved due to our feat lead us in establishing peace and
due future” according to the message. A.H. –0–

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RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE ON WORKING VISIT TO MOSCOW ON MAY 7

YEREVAN, May 6. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan is to leave on
a working visit to Moscow on May 7 to take part in the arrangements
on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic
War. The RA President-led delegation is to return to Armenia on May
9. P.T. -0–

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US EMBASSY IN ARMENIA CELEBRATES ITS HOUSE-WARMING

YEREVAN, May 6. /ARKA/. The US Embassy in Armenia celebrated its
house-warming. As the US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans stated
during the ceremony, the construction is an evidence of long-term and
fruitful cooperation between the USA and Armenia. The huge size of
the new residence was explained by the Ambassador by the necessity of
ensuring safety from the standpoint of seismic security and
prevention terrorist attacks.
He especially noted the success of the cooperation between the USA
and Armenia for the last 15 years in the area of establishment of
democracy in the country and ensuring stable economic growth.
“Armenia today participates in “Millennium Challenge” program, so it
will answer the requirements of the program”, he said. Evans also
highly appreciated the joint efforts of the two countries in their
struggle against terrorist attacks and the mission of Armenian
peacekeepers in Iraq.
The construction of a new residence of the USA Embassy in Armenia
began I September 2002. The total area of the residence covers 90
thsd square meters, useful office area -20 thsd square meters. The
Staff consists of 70 people- Americans and about 400 employees –
residents of AR. The cost of the project is evaluated at $76
mln..A.H. –0–

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ARMENIAN DEPUTIES CONSIDER IT TO BE NECESSARY TO CONVOKE
PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS

YEREVAN, May 6. /ARKA/. Armenian Deputies consider it to be necessary
to convoke parliamentary hearings on exchange rate fluctuations. Such
an initiative was made by Orinats Yerkir party and National Deputy
group. According to the Leader of Orinats Yerkir faction Samvel
Balasanyan, the commission on state-legal issues should organize
hearings to give final groundings to abrupt fluctuations of the
exchange rate. “We should know the reasons of the fluctuations, i.e.
whether they are in speculations, interest of some groups or the
result of object processes” he said. According to him, the mechanisms
should e understood to anticipate the further processes, especially
if the revaluation of AMD causes problems for export.
To note, on May 5, there were abrupt speculative fluctuations of
exchange rate on the foreign exchange market of Armenia, causing
substantial margin between the purchase and sale exchange rate making
AMD 100, whereas in normal conditions the margin doesn’t exceed AMD
5-7. The market exchange rate fluctuated yesterday between AMD 450
and 550 per USD. A.H. –0–

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25 THSD ELECTORS TO PARTICIPATE IN APPROACHING ELECTIONS OF THE
PREFECT OF MALATIA- SEBASTIA CAPITAL COMMUNITY ON JUNE 5

YEREVAN, May 6. /ARKA/. About 25 thsd electors will participate in
approaching elections of the prefect of Malatia- Sebastia capital
community on June 5, according to Vox Populi Center for Studying
Public Opinion. According to the data, 50% of the participators
consider voting to be “their civil duty”, 20% of respondents
participate in voting “due to habit”, and 15% – in order to support
their candidate.
1069 citizens of the community participated in the survey conducted
from April 28 to May 1, 2005. A.H. -0–

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TWO COMMEMORATIVE COINS TO BE PUT INTO CIRCULATION IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, May 6. /ARKA/. On May 10, 2005, the RA Central Bank will put
into circulation two commemorative coins – one on the occasion of the
100th birthday anniversary of the painter Arshil Gorky, and the other
with the image of Gandzsar cathedral. The CBA press service reports
that the fist coin with a face value of 10,000 AMD was minted from
gold of 999 standard, “proof” quality. The a fragment of the
painter’s picture and the name of A. Gorky in Armenian and English,
the years of his birth and death, 1904 and 1948, are engraved on the
coin. A total of 1,000 coins will be put into circulation.
The con with the image of the Gandzasar cathedral was minted from
silver of 999 standard, “proof” quality. A total of 500 coins will be
put into circulation. The coin has a face value of 100 AMD. P.T.
–0–

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THE NOMINAL EXCHANGE RATE OF USD TO AMD SET BY THE CIS GROWS BY 15,45
% UP TO AMD 459,39 PER USD

YEREVAN, May 6. /ARKA/. The nominal exchange rate of USD to AMD set
by the CIS grew by 15,45 % up to AMD 459,39 per USD. According to
ARKA analytical service, it’s the result of abrut fluctuations on the
foreign exchange market for the last three days and the average
exchange rate formed by the end of May 5.
To note, on May 5 there were abrupt speculative exchage rate
fluctuations in the Armenian foreifn exchange rate. They resulted in
a substantial margin between the purchase and sale exchange rates,
making AMD 100, while in normal conditions the margin as a rule
doesn’t exceed AMD 5-7. To note, the market exchange rate ranges
between AMD 450 and 550 per USD. The majority of bank dealers were in
anxiety about such fluctuations, and banks mainly carried out
operations on USD purchase, avoiding to sale them. ($1 – AMD 459,39)
A.H.–0-

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