OPINION: RUSSIAN MAJOR CAPITAL’S COMING TO ARMENIAN MARKET MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF 2007

ARKA
May 22, 2008

YEREVAN, May 22. /ARKA/. Russian major capital’s coming to Armenian
markets is the most important event of 2007, Director of Caucasus
Mass Media Institute (CMI) Alexander Iskandarian said at international
conference "Caucasus-2007".

Major Russian players like "Troyka dialogue" and "Gasprom" came to
the banking field of Armenia in 2007.

On August 6 2007, Russian group of companies "Troyka Dialogue" in
the person of "TDA Holding Limited" fund became major stockholder of
Armimpexbank closed joint stock company.

On November 29 Gasprom open joint stock company, the third biggest
Russian bank, purchased 80.09% of the shares of Areximbank (Armenia).

In April 2007, the Russian VimpelCom (Beeline trademark) became
the sole owner of ArmenTel telecommunication company. In September
"Mobile Telesystems" open joint stock company purchased 80% of the
shares of K-Telecom mobile operator (VivaCell trademark).

The political scientist also stressed the quite important role the
parliamentary elections the presidential election campaign played in
Armenia.