Armenia’s SRC expects to collect much more revenues than projected

ARKA, Armenia

YEREVAN, May 24. /ARKA/. The head of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) David Ananyan expects his agency to collect much more revenues this year than projected.

Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet session today he said the fight against the so-called shadow economy over the past two years has been quite efficient, adding, however, that he could not describe it as ‘comprehensive."  According to him, the current circumstances contribute to a more thorough fight against this negative phenomenon.

"We will not be satisfied with positive progress and we would not personalize it. Our goal is to carry out structural reforms so that the system operates as efficient as possible," Ananyan said.

He said it is already certain that the Customs Service does not impose any artificial obstacles on importers, if they do not breach the law and have necessary documents.

The Armenia government’s revenue projection for this year is 1 trillion and 307 billion drams, and the spending projection is 1 trillion and 464.2 billion drams. The deficit is projected at 156.9 billion drams ($ 1- 482.48 drams). -0-


Armenia and Israel will not apply double taxation to business

Arminfo, Armenia
Armenia and Israel will not apply double taxation to business

Yerevan May 23

Alexander Avanesov. Armenia and Israel will no longer apply double taxation to business entities of the parties. On May 23, the Armenian Parliament approved a bill on ratification of the convention between the governments of Armenia and Israel on avoidance of double taxation on property and income.

According to RA Deputy Minister of Finance Armen Hayrapetyan, Armenia has similar agreements (already signed and already in force) with 46 countries already. Today such agreements with Israel and Denmark have been signed, but so far not ratified. During the current year, procedures will be completed with three countries: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and the Seychelles. Until the end of the year, the Ministry of Finance also plans to conclude negotiations with four more countries. Armen Hayrapetyan stressed that the trade turnover between Armenia and Israel is insignificant and amounts to about $ 9 million. In 2017, the export of Armenian goods to Israel amounted to $ 3.7 million, having decreased by $ 300 thousand in comparison with 2016. Import of Israeli goods to Armenia in 2017 was equal to $ 7.4 million, which is less than the indicator of 2016 for $ 2.2 million. In the export, the share of Israel is 0.2%. In 2015-2016 Israeli investments in Armenia totaled 1.3 billion AMD. Conclusion of the agreement will increase the volume of bilateral trade.

The purpose of these agreements is to eliminate double taxation in foreign trade between two states, to prevent tax discrimination against economic entities of the parties, to exclude double taxation on property and income, and to create a predictable and stable tax environment for business. The program of the Armenian government for 2017-2022 as part of a consistent increase in the potential for economic growth and ensuring macroeconomic stability, promoting interstate trade and cross-border operations in 2019- 2022. plans to conclude similar agreements with at least 5 countries.

Président Sarkissian: «Mon rêve, c’est une Arménie jeune, dynamique»

RFi, France
9 mai 2018
 
 
Président Sarkissian: «Mon rêve, c’est une Arménie jeune, dynamique»
 
Par Daniel Vallot Publié le 09-05-2018 Modifié le 10-05-2018 à 01:12
Armen Sarkissian, élu nouveau président par le Parlement arménien, assiste à une session parlementaire à Erevan le 2 mars 2018.Vahram Baghdasaryan / Photolure via REUTERS
 
Nikol Pachinian est donc depuis ce mardi 8 mai le Premier ministre arménien. Celui qui était jusqu’ici le chef de l’opposition a été élu par le Parlement après des manifestations de masse contre la corruption, le népotisme et les difficultés économiques. Une révolution sans violence, dont se félicite le président de la république d’Arménie Armen Sarkissian, lui-même investi il y a un mois.
 
RFI : Quel regard portez-vous sur le mouvement non violent qui a permis à Nikol Pachinian d’être élu Premier ministre ?
 
Armen Sarkissian : Je suis très heureux qu’après un processus politique dynamique qui aura duré moins d’un mois – manifestations, meetings, discussions, tout se soit très bien déroulé. Le gouvernement a changé, la direction dans laquelle va le gouvernement a changé et nous l’avons fait ici en Arménie en respectant la loi et l’ordre, et dans le cadre de la Constitution. Et je suis fier que le monde entier nous connaisse maintenant comme les auteurs – et nous avons le copyright –  d’un grand changement grâce à une révolution très, très pacifique. Une révolution à l’Arménienne !
 
Nikol Pachinian veut réformer la loi électorale, est-ce que vous allez le soutenir dans cette démarche ?
 
Et bien je vais soutenir tout ce que le Parlement va décider. Et je vais soutenir aussi tout changement qui permettra à notre République de gérer le pays de manière plus équilibrée et moderne. Je ne parle pas seulement de la loi électorale, mais aussi du fait de préserver l’équilibre des pouvoirs entre le Parlement, le gouvernement et la présidence. Et aussi de créer les conditions pour que le gouvernement puisse travailler de manière dynamique. Parce que mon rêve, c’est une Arménie jeune. Une Arménie dynamique, inscrite dans le 21e siècle, et qui une fois de plus montre au monde que nous pouvons faire des changements à l’arménienne, mais aussi avoir, à l’arménienne, une économie moderne du 21e siècle.
 
Nikol Pachinian n’aura pas de majorité au Parlement, vous ne craignez pas une paralysie des institutions ? Une impasse politique ?
 
Monsieur Pachinian n’a pas la majorité au Parlement, mais comme vous l’avez vu il a été élu par ce même Parlement où il ne dispose pas de la majorité. Monsieur Pachinian a la majorité de la rue. Donc, maintenant il faut avoir au Parlement un dialogue politique qui fonctionne.  C’est ce que nous avons réussi à obtenir aujourd’hui : les sujets qui étaient débattus dans les rues, qui posaient problème à beaucoup d’habitants et de citoyens – les injustices sociales, la corruption, ce sentiment des jeunes de ne pas avoir d’avenir même s’ils ont fait de bonnes études ici en Arménie, le sentiment qu’il n’y a pas de réflexion sur leur futur. Tout cela a créé un mécontentement. Qui a abouti à ce que nous avons vu. Aujourd’hui, chaque citoyen arménien se sent fier et libre. Au final, quelqu’un va relayer son point de vue, et ce point de vue sera entendu.
 
Vladimir Poutine a félicité Nikol Pachinian mardi 8 mai. Est-ce un soulagement pour vous ? Cela veut-il dire que la Russie ne va pas s’ingérer dans ce qu’il se passe en Arménie ?
 
D’abord, ce n’est pas un soulagement, parce que je n’ai jamais douté que Monsieur Poutine appellerait le plus tôt possible le Premier ministre et qu’il le féliciterait. La relation avec la Russie est très importante pour l’Arménie, et je pense que l’Etat, que la Nation fera toujours preuve de bon sens sur ce point. Et fera en sorte que notre relation avec la Russie reste intacte. Comme vous êtes Français, je vous dirais bien que la relation entre l’Arménie et la France est également importante ! Mais vous le comprenez, je pense, la relation avec la Russie est vieille de plusieurs siècles, et les rapports avec nos autres voisins font de la Russie un partenaire important pour la République d’Arménie. Mettre en danger nos relations internationales ou quelque autre engagement international que ce soit ne serait pas sage.
 
Entretien avec le président arménien Armen Sarkissian 09/05/2018 – par Daniel Vallot Écouter
 

Armenia’s government says PM will represent country at EAEU summit in Sochi

TASS, Russia
 
 
Armenia’s government says PM will represent country at EAEU summit in Sochi
 
World
May 11, 11:53 UTC+3 YEREVAN
 
Armenia’s government has decided that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will represent the country at a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union
 
YEREVAN, May 11. /TASS/. Armenia’s government has decided that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will represent the country at a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in Sochi on May 14, and not President Armen Sarkissian, TASS reports from the government session.
 
Earlier, Pashinyan stated that he would like to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the May 14 summit and discuss with him development of Armenian – Russian ally relations.
 
 

168: Artsakh military releases new footage showing heavy Azerbaijani manpower, equipment mobilization in line of contact (video)

Categories
Artsakh
Region

The defense ministry of Artsakh released new footage showing Azerbaijani manpower and military equipment mobilization in different sections of the line of contact.

The Artsakh defense ministry also called on social media users to refrain from questioning official information released by the military.

The defense ministry’s footage was filmed from 07:42 – 10:01 in the morning of April 23 in different parts of the line of contact with Azerbaijan, showing heavy enemy mobilization.

“The defense ministry of Artsakh calls on all Armenian social media users, and generally news media, to refrain from questioning the official information of the republic’s military-information system and therefore from the criminal temptation of spreading disinformation fraught with shortsighted and dangerous consequences, because it can undermine our pan-national vigilance”, the statement said.

Packed timetable for Armenian Cultural Days in Malta

Times of Malta

Aram Khachaturian

The European Foundation for Support of Culture endorsed by the Culture Ministry of Malta, the Culture Ministry of Armenia, Arts Council Malta and the Valletta-2018 Foundation will hold the Armenian Cultural Days in Malta from April 18 to 30.

The cultural events will start with the concert dedicated to the world-famous composer Aram Khachaturian on the occasion of the 115th anniversary of his birth. The programme includes the Violin Concerto in D minor performed by the Rector of the Kazakh National University of Arts Aiman Mussakhajayeva accompanied by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of the Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia Sergey Smbatyan.

The programme will also include an unprecedented concert by the prominent Armenian pianist Nareh Arghamanyan playing with the Maltese musicians.
In order to better acquaint the public with Armenian cinema, special screenings of selected movies by talented Armenian filmmakers will be held.

Exhibitions dedicated to the great Armenian composers Komitas and Aram Khachaturian will be presented.

For anyone interested in knowing more about Armenia, this festival provides a great opportunity to do so: The “Khachkars” and “The Mystery of Stones” exhibitions are designed to draw the viewer closer to Armenia, its mountains, its secrets and its spirit.

An unforgettable highlight of the Armenian Cultural Days promises to be the collaboration between the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra for the premiere performance of “Images of the Great Siege”, the symphonic cycle for two orchestras by composer Alexey Shor, which is dedicated to the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.

Talented children from Malta and holders of scholarships from the “Art and Culture” Foundation from Armenia will present an exceptional concert programme.

Among the participants is an Armenian dance ensemble “ARAXE” which combines traditional Armenian dances with the elements of modern choreography.

With the support of the Public Broadcasting Service, the best Junior Eurovision contestants from Armenia and Malta will perform.

The world-famous Khachaturian Trio will also perform a concert programme within the festival. The Armenian Cultural Days in Malta will close with “The Magic Cello” concert. Winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition Narek Hakhnazaryan will perform accompanied by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Tigran Hakhnazaryan.

Turkish Press: Spanish Parliament committee rejects proposal over 1915 events

Daily Sabah, Turkey
APril 12 2018


DAILY SABAH
The Spanish Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Thursday voted down a proposal to recognize the 1915 events as Armenian "genocide."

The proposal tabled by the leftist, pro-independence Catalonian ERC party in 2016 also asks for the Spanish government to initiate talks with Turkey to recognize the events as genocide.

The proposal was defeated by 17 votes with the majority of them coming from the ruling People's Party against the support of nine lawmakers along with nine abstentions from the remaining members of the committee.

It was the third attempt in the last three years over the Armenian claims, all of which resulted in failure. Spanish upper and lower houses also rejected similar bills regarding the issue in recent years.

The 1915 events occurred during World War I when a part of the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with the invading Russians and revolted.

The relocation of Armenians by the Ottomans in eastern Anatolia following the revolts resulted in numerous casualties.

Turkey does not dispute that there were casualties on both sides, but rejects calling the events "genocide." Instead, it calls for a joint commission of historians to be established and archives to be opened in order to study and uncover what happened between the Ottoman Empire and its Armenian citizens.

Decade of establishment of IT field: Armenia exports over half of its IT products

ArmenPress, Armenia
Decade of establishment of IT field: Armenia exports over half of its IT products



YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. The World Congress on Information Technologies 2019 will be held in Armenia. During those days Yerevan will become the world’s IT capital, reports Armenpress. On the sidelines of the Congress Armenia will host more than 2000 businessmen, public officials, investors and renowned scientists. This Congress would be impossible to hold in Armenia without the state assistance and attention. In 2008 the Government adopted new, IT development 10-year strategy, setting main priority the development of the field, the strengthening of Armenia’s competitive potential and formation of leading information society. Staring from 2008 funds from the state budget were provided to respective state bodies coordinating the IT field.

The growth rates of the field were so fast that soon the ArmTec international forum was held. In line with development the DigiTec Expo is being organized in Armenia.

Over the past ten years a number of international agreements both with states (Egypt, India and etc.) and international leading companies (Microsoft, Alcatel, HP, INTEL, IBM, Simens, Oracl, Cisco) were signed. The Presidential Award was defined. Since 2010 this award is being bestowed to people whose investments in IT field led to information developments and positively affected the humanity. This award brought Armenia specialists such as Steve Wozniak, Mario Mazzola, Eugene Kaspersky. They not only visited Armenia, but also presented investment programs later in the future.

The President constantly awards distinguished students and school-children in the IT field. During 2016-2017 Armenia introduced the legislative package on state assistance to the IT field. Thanks to this law the tax privileges became available for new economic entities.

In 2014 Armat engineering laboratory establishment program launched by the initiative of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises and assistance of the government, local and international companies. There are already 220 laboratories in Armenia and Artsakh.

Thanks to the rapid growth of the field, the IT sector became among the fields in the labor market where the quantitative and qualitative demand of the labor force surpassed the supply by several times. Thanks to the development of the field Sam and Sylva Simonian founded the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies in 2011 which today has branches in Gyumri, Dilijan and Stepanakert.

It is accepted to say that Armenia is an exporting country in the IT field. More than 50% of products and services is being exported. Most of the exports, 60%, is directed to the USA, Canada, 18% to Europe, 16.6% to Russia-CIS.

The field of telecommunication also took the development path where there are 33 companies. In the recent years the number of jobs also increases annually by at least 10%, surpassing 15.000 in 2017. The average salary is over 1000 USD. The productivity also increased, reaching nearly 50.000 USD per employee in 2018 compared to 29.300 USD of 2008.

The ongoing active steps in the field already left their traces on the overall economy. Since 2008 20% growth in the average annual turnover was recorded in the field. In 2017 it reached 30%, surpassing 760.000.000 USD. In 2008 this number was just 111.300.000 USD.

The number of companies increases annually by 10%. The number of actively operating companies surpassed 600 in 2017, but their total number including the newly-established companies surpasses 1000. In 2017 only 110 new companies were registered.

Such IT growth also solves a serious demographic issue. The field not only provides new jobs to solve the daily issues, but also forms an intellectual middle class which can have its great contribution to the country’s development. The average salary of employees working in the field is 2000-2700 USD.

Among the Armenian IT achievements in international platforms was the deployment of Joomeg in Armenia which enables the world’s more than 300.000 publishers to create digital, interactive magazines, catalogs, e-books and etc. Picsart app today has more than 100.000.000 active users across the world. Soft Construct opened offices in 14 countries of the world, participates in more than 120 exhibitions annually.

Among the steps outlined for 2018 are to reach the computer equipment of educational institutions, state and local self-governance structures 100%, increase access to internet 90%, make the share of online services in services provided by state bodies 80%, the revenues of the IT field – 1 billion, exports – 700.000.000 USD, involved venture capital – more than 700 million USD.

Future belongs to technological progress, and Armenia, judging from the aforementioned facts, is moving forward in the IT field.

English –translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan

Serj Tankian To Appear on Armenia Episode of ‘Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown’

Loudwire

Sports: Mkhitaryan: “I want to write my name into Arsenal’s history"

Panorama, Armenia
April 5 2018
Sport 14:40 05/04/2018 World

Armenian national football team and Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has told FourFourTwo that he is determined to turn Arsenal’s ailing fortunes around and become a Gunners legend.

“When I heard I could swap Man United for Arsenal, I said, ‘Yes, I want to do that’, I didn’t think twice. It’s important for me to play in an offensive team,” Mkhitaryan said.

“I couldn’t have imagined a better start. I'd missed playing offensively. I joined Arsenal because Wenger wanted me, not because he wanted to replace Sanchez. We are different players and characters, with different abilities and skills, so I'll try my best to do everything for the club.”

“I want to write my name into Arsenal’s history and have my name as a legend here,” says the midfielder. “I want to score goals, make assists and win trophies to make the fans happy.”