Author: Chaltikian Arsine

IMPROVEMENT OF BANK RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESSES PROGRAM COMPLETED AT UNIBANK

arminfo
2008-02-13 15:18:00

ArmInfo. Introduction of ABN AMRO Bank program ‘Improvement of Bank
Risk Management’ at Unibank was completed on January 31 2008.

Unibank press-service told ArmInfo the program consisted of 9 modules
and was aimed at retail sphere mainly. The program’s implementation
took 13 months. Unibank Board Chairman Vardan Atayan said the
program is an important step to introduction of risk management
system meeting international standards and a possibility to get
international rating. ‘We have already created a special bloc of risk
management, revised and elaborated new internal legal acts meeting
relevant international standards, including ‘Risks Regulations’,
‘Risks Policy’, ‘Management Information System (MIS)’, ‘Operational
Risk Management Policy’ , ‘Corporate Loss Data Base Policy’,
Atayan said. The bank has also elaborated and activated plans of
credit products, edited the forms of credit applications and scoring
model. ABN AMRO bank representatives say the program was successfully
implemented and the results are positive. The key result of the program
is introduction of a new approach to revealing and neutralizing bank
risks, elaborating products and points to reveal and assess and manage
retail risks. Unibank was given the right to implement the program
through a contest in 2006 by Central Bank of Armenia and ABN AMRO.

PROGRAMS OF ARMENIAN GOVERNMEMT ARE REFLECTED IN PRE-ELECTION PROGRAM OF SERGE SARGSIAN, MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMEMT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 13, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The government’s programs are
reflected in the pre-election program of the Armenian prime minister,
candidate for RA presidency Serge Sargsian and these programs
mainly proceed from provisions of the 2008-2012 activities program
of the Armenian government, the RA minister of trade and economic
development Nerses Yeritsian said on February 13 when presenting the
economic section of S. Sargsian’s pre-election program at the Club
of Economic Journalists.

In the words of N. Yeristian, there are consensual points on Armenia’s
economic development in the pre-election programs of presidential
candidates. Among such consensual points are ideas of knowledge-based
economy, small and medium business, proportionate economic development
of the country, increasing the competitiveness of the Armenian
economy. "If we remove populist provisions from the economic sections
of these programs, it will become clear that they have similarities
to the pre-election program of S. Sargsian which proves that today’s
economic policy is on a correct way," the minister remarked.

He compared the process of choosing among the programs of the
presidential candidates to the selection of business programs for
crediting by a bank when the bank does not examine the program of
a businessman without a history if this program does not contain
know-how ensuring superprofits.

According to N. Yeritsian, unlike the programs of other candidates, the
programs of S. Sargsian and the government have such know-how. Besides,
the other candidates "have become absorbed in identification of
problems instead of presenting their solutions".

N. Yeritsian said that the economic growth indices envisaged by the
prime minister’s pre-election program are "conservative" and will
be exceeded. In the minister’s opinion, people are not afraid of
ambitious program, they are afraid that respective decisions will
not be made and the implementation of decisions may stop.

>From the viewpoint of implementation of the indicated programs, the
minister attached special importance to reforms of state governance
system, whose goals are "creation of a competitive business environment
in line with international standards, and adoption of corporate
management principles by the state governance system".

HERITAGE OPPOSITION PARTY DECLARES ITS OFFICIAL SUPPORT OF LEVON TER-PETROSYAN’S CANDIDATURE FOR PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-02-12 11:24:00

ArmInfo. Heritage opposition party has declared its official support of
Levon Ter- Petrosyan’s candidature for president of Armenia, Tuesday.

Press Secretary of Heritage party Hovsep Khurshudyan and
parliamentarian Vardan Khachatryan declared at Friday Club the party
made a relevant decision no Monday late in the evening.

RA MFA BELIEVES THAT U. S. CONGRESS WILL MAKE A DECISION SATISFYING ARMENIAN PARTY

DeFacto Agency
Feb 11 2008
Armenia

The adoption of the U. S. state budget is a routine process, which
takes place at the beginning of every year. The sum primordially
inquired by the U. S. President’s administration usually differs from
the one approved by the Congress as a result, RA MFA Spokesperson
Vladimir Karapetian stated while commenting, at DE FACTO request,
the information that, according to the draft state budget for 2009,
economic aid to Armenia would be reduced.

Answering a question if it could mean that in 2009 parity in
U.S. military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan will not be broken Vladimir
Karapetian stated the process of the budget’s consideration had just
begun: hearings, discussions of all the articles of the budget will
be held at the U. S. Congress, and, according to the results of the
talks, a decision that will satisfy all the parties, including the
Armenian side, will be made.

To note, a few days ago the Armenian Assembly of America circulated
a statement, according to which the U. S. President George Bush had
presented a draft state budget for 2009, which provided reducing
economic aid to Armenia. Besides, according to the draft, parity in
military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan is broken.

American supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan are engaged in ‘mail
revolution’

2008-02-08 17:23:00

ArmInfo. Thousands of citizens of Armenia began to receive letters from
the State of California, USA, which calls to vote for the first
Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the coming presidential
election. One of the letters reached ArmInfo News Agency.

The sender of the letter is a certain A. Saydaryan from Santa Clarita,
State of California, who states he is a citizen of Armenia. Addressing
to his recipient, who assures he never knew A. Saydaryan, the latter
characterizes the present authorities of Armenia as "Mongol-Tatarian
caddish regime". The characterization is followed by personal insults
against Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Armenian Prime
Minister, Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Serzh
Sargsyan, who is running for president. "Dear fellow citizens, the
Armenians of the USA sympathized Karen Demirchyan at the previous
election, and after his death they sympathized his son Stepan
Demirchyan. Now Demirchyan Jr. is standing beside our first president
Levon Ter-Petrosyan and we vote for him", the letter says. As ArmInfo
correspondent was told by reliable sources, letters with similar
content were also sent to many other residents of Armenia. Commenting
upon this fact, Mkrtich Minasyan, a member of the RPA faction, found
nothing illegal in such kind of campaign method. "Nobody can forbid
sending these letters, but one may perceive them as a foreign state’s
attempt to influence the election in Armenia", Minasyan stressed.

Azat Artsakh Tert, Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Feb 8 2008

CENTER OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ESTABLISHED UNDER THE NKR MFA

State Center of International Cooperation has been established under
the NKR MFA by the government’s decision. Former MFA Secretary
General Zhanna Krikorova was appointed director of the center. The
newly-founded center’s activity will be directed to the
establishment, development and deepening of the republic’s
international relations. The center’s goal is also a many-sided
propaganda of Nagorno Karabakh abroad. A council of experts would be
established, which is to involve diplomats, scientists and experts.
The center will be headquartered in Shushi.

RF PM MEETS WITH HEAD OF ARMENIA CHURCH AT EJMIADZIN

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Feb 6 2008

EJMIADZIN, Armenia, February 6 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Prime Minister
Viktor Zubkov had a conversation at Ejmiadzin on Wednesday with head
of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin II. The meeting
wound up the prime minister’s official visit to Armenia.

"The visit is over," Zubkov said, addressing Garegin II. "I arrived
here yesterday. We put in a day’s work today with the Armenian prime
minister and the parliamentary speaker. I also had a meeting with
the president and with you."

"We are glad to welcome you at Ejmiadzin, which is the spiritual and
administrative centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church," Garegin II
told the Russian premier.

He presented Zubkov with an Armenian cross and an album with
photographs. Zubkov presented the Catholicos of all Armenians with
twelve silver medals with the image of St Nicholas the Miracle-Worker.

Garegin II showed to his guest a unique relic of the Armenian Apostolic
Church – a stone cross, executed in 1308. The premier was also shown
the Armenian alphabet and an Armenian cross made of gold in 1973.

Then Zubkov went to the Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church
built in the 15th century. Chiefs of the Armenian patriarchate took the
premier on a unique tour to the alter-space where even high-ranking
guests are rarely taken. Zubkov saw the cathedral’s treasure house
that contains such relics, as part of Noah’s ark from Mount Ararat,
a fragment of the cross of Christ, silver crosses dating from the
10th – 14th centuries, ancient Armenian icons, and the spear with
which the body of the crucified Christ was pierced.

Zubkov was also taken to the excavation site of the first, ancient
tier of the cathedral where St Gregory founded this temple on the
site of a pagan shrine.

V.ZUBKOV: RUSSIA AND ARMENIA TO REACH COMMODITY CIRCULATION VOLUME UP TO 1 BLN DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT YEARS

arminfo
2008-02-06 13:16:00

ArmInfo-RBK. Russia and Armenia to reach commodity circulation volume
up to 1 bln dollars over the next years, Russian Prime Minister
Viktor Zubkov said in Yerevan today when meeting Armenian Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisyan. He also added that "1 bln dollars is the
minimum programme". Russian premier mentioned positive dynamics of
development of the trade and economic cooperation between Russia and
Armenia and expressed hope the relations will develop better in this
direction. For his part, Serzh Sarkisyan said that the two states have
a good potential for the bilateral relations development. He recalled
that commodity circulation between the two states grew by 65% in 2007.

ALI HASANOV: "INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS IS STILL NOT ABLE TO RELEASE ORDINARY CITIZENS OF AZERBAIJAN"

Today.Az
05 February 2008

Azerbaijani government are displeased with the activity of the
International Committee of the Red Cross.

The due announcement was made by Ali Hasanov, chief of public
and political department of the Presidential Administration,
Novosti-Azerbaijan reports.

At the same time, he noted that Azerbaijani side respects human rights,
as well as the activity of all international organizations, operating
in Azerbaijan.

"As is known, hundreds of Azerbaijani citizens have been held captive
by Armenians for several years. These are not only war prisoners,
but also civilians, captured during occupation of Azerbaijani lands
by Armenians.

We are not satisfied by the fact that though over 15 years have
passed since the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by the Armenian
armed forces, the International Red Cross is still not able to or
has not undertakeÑ~B due steps for release of ordinary citizens of
Azerbaijan", Ali Hasanov said.

In particular, he announced that Azerbaijan is not displeased with
the actions of the International Red Cross, which were demonstrated
during the recent release of Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mamedov,
handed over to a third country on January 31.

He also added that the government currently holds talks with the
International Red Cross to eliminate clashes between the countries.

–Boundary_(ID_NsXrzSBRXRdDwqwgi8d0vw) —

NO RAILWAY TARIFF REDUCTION BY GEORGIA, ARMENIAN RAILWAYS

ARMENPRESS
Feb 6, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: A senior official of the Armenian
Railways Company denied today media reports claiming that the
neighboring Georgia will increase railway tariffs on transit of
Armenian cargo.

Vladimir Marutyan, head of cargo and commercial department of the
Armenian Railways company, said the Georgian company did not notify
them officially about its plans to raise the tariffs.

He said according to an agreement signed by two companies the Georgia
side is to notify about its plans to revise the current tariffs one
month beforehand.

Reports in Georgian media said railway tariffs for transit of Armenian
goods were to increase from March this year. ? Irakli Ezugbaya,
director-general of Georgian Railway, was quoted as saying that
reduced rate on transit of Armenian cargo will be annulled from March
1. He said this would concern, first of all, a 17% discount tariff
on transit of liquid cargo and 22% tariff of dry cargo.

The Armenian official, however, described this statement as politically
motivated aimed against Russia.