Author: Nalchajian Markos

GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: IF TURKEY WANTS TO PLAY A BIG PART IN THE REGION, IT HAS TO DEMONSTRATE WILL AND TO RATIFY THE PROTOCOLS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

ArmInfo
2009-11-13 13:38:00

ArmInfo. If Turkey wants to play the bigger part in the region, than
before, it has to demonstrate will and to ratify the Protocols as
soon as possible, Germany’s Ambassador to Armenia Hans Johan Schmidt
said at today’s press-conference in Yerevan.

He also added that normalization of relations with Armenia is stemming
from the interests of Turkey as well. He said that quick ratification
of the Armenian-turkish Protocols may positively affect the whole
South Caucasus region.

PENSIONARY REFORMS KEY ELEMENT FOR ARMENIA’S FURTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.11.2009 19:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Pensionary reforms are key element for Armenia’s
further economic development, Troika Dialogue Board Chair Ruben
Vardanyan finds. "That requires serious and cautious steps, as the
impact is felt on vulnerable groups of population," he told journalists
after official opening of Ameriabank’s head office.

Vardanyan also highlighted the importance of refraining from mistakes
"not only now but also in 10-20 years’ time". "Long-term money
allocations are essential for any economy," he added.

Armenian will introduce two-phase pensionary system in 2011, CBA Chair
Arthur Djavadyan said November 10 in Tsakdzor, during the meeting of
CIS countries’ officials dealing with security market management.

Laws on "Investment Funds" and "Cumulative Pensions", are currently
at the stage of elaboration.

ARMENIAN MP SUGGESTS CITIZENS CONTRIBUTE TO RETIREMENT FUND

Tert
Nov 12 2009
Armenia

The 2010 Armenian state budget has allocated 239 billion AMD to the
social services sector. Compared with the 2009 budgetary amount, this
year’s allocation has been cut by 9 billion AMD. According to the
chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Social Affairs,
and member of the ruling Republican Party, Hakob Hakobyan, that’s not
too bad, and it still allows for all programs to remain as they are.

In Hakobyan’s words, the committee will present to the government
a number of proposals; in particular, securing 1 billion AMD for
compensation for investments. "The other proposals will be formulated
with the results from today’s committee meeting," said Hakobyan.

The MP also informed the press about changes in the social services
sector. In his words, the principle of "working children supporting
their parents" is at work today. "We are going to move forward to
an accumulative system, whose purpose is for each citizien to secure
his retirement while he is working," promised Hakobyan.

It is for this reason, it is suggested that all citizens, until the
age of forty, deposit 5% of their income into a retirement fund.

Simultaneously, the government, as a "interested party," will
contribute an additional 5%. Each citizen will be able to follow the
increase in the amount, and after reaching retirement age, he or she
will be able to access the entire amount.

PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF 3.65 MILLION DOLLARS CARRIED OUT AT NASDAQ OEMEX ARMENIA OJSC ON NOVEMBER 12

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 12, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Purchase and sale transactions of
3 million 650 thousand dollars at the weighted average exchange rate
of 388 drams per dollar were carried out at Nasdaq Oemex Armenia OJSC
on November 12. According to the press service of the Central Bank
of Armenia, the closing price made 388 drams.

RA NA SPEAKER RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF GERMANY TO RA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 11, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian
receiving newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Germany to RA Hans-Jochen Schmidt on November 11, expressed
the hope that the Ambassador will spare no efforts to develop the
Armenian-German partnership. He mentioned that the bilateral relations
are on firm bases and highly evaluated the current trade and economic,
political and cultural contacts, as well as programs implemented in
Armenia by GTZ.

According to the RA NA Public Relations Department, the interlocutors
agreed that they should further develop interparliamentary partnership
and use all possibilities given by the parliamentary diplomacy.

During the conversation the sides also discussed the process of
normalizing the Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions
paying special attention to the role of the two neighboring countries’
parliaments in it.

34 BILLION DRAMS ALLOCATED TO MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION UNDER 2010 DRAFT STATE BUDGET OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 11, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the 2010 draft state budget
of Armenia, 34bn drams (about 894.6 thousand USD) has been allocated
to the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication, as compared to
38.8bn drams in 2009. Minister of Transport and Communication Gurgen
Sargsyan said at the November 11 press conference that work on the
rehabilitation of rural roads and the construction of highways will
be done with these resources and loans next year.

Roads of 63 km will be rehabilitated with 2bn drams under State
Road Rehabilitation project. 430m drams will be spent on repairs
of 8 bridges. Under the Asian Development Bank-financed Rural Road
Rehabilitation project, rural roads of 120 km will be put into
operation next year, with about 4bn drams to be spent for this
purpose. The World Bank-financed Lifeline Road Improvement Project
will continue next year: allocations for the reconstruction of rural
roads of a total of 100 km amount to 11.8bn drams. G. Sargsyan said
60m dollars will be spent on the first stage of the North-South
Highway’s construction.

The minister said 400m drams will be provided to the communication
sector: this sum will be allocated to the Republican Center of
Telecommunication state noncommercial organization for implementation
of such activities as monitoring of aired programs, provision of
advisory services to technical radio communication users, and control
of television broadcasting.

Speaking about the Iran-Armenia railway project, G. Sargsyan noted
that a program of the Asian Development Bank includes grants for a
feasibility study. "The remaining actions depend on it, that is, if
we do not receive some financing, there is no point in speaking about
the other steps. We have reached an agreement with the Iranian side
that in case of the program’s launching, they will provide 400 million
dollars for the railway’s construction in the territory of Armenia,"
he said. He told the reporters that in case of approval of the grant,
the first stage of work is likely to begin next year.

ARMENIAN FOOTBALL YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM TO PLAY WITH TEAM OF ESTONIA ON NOVEMBER 14 AND WITH TEAM OF IRELAND ON NOVEMBER 17

Noyan Tapan
Nov 11, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. An Armenia-Estonia match will
be held on November 14 in Yerevan Republican stadium under the 2011
European Youth Championship elimination tour’s group tournament. It
should be mentioned that Armenia’s team has been twice defeated
by Switzerland’s and Turkey’s teams. Team’s staff has been already
announced. Players of the national team Henrik Mkhitarian, Karlen
Mkrtchian, and Hovhannes Goharian are also included in the team.

TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO RATIFY PROTOCOLS IN DECEMBER-JANUARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 13:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish parliament will ratify protocols in
December-January, according to Stepan Grigoryan, head of analytical
center on globalization and regional cooperation (ACGRC).

"Turkey will ratify the protocols without waiting for progress in
Karabakh talks," he said, adding that the border will be opened within
terms envisaged by the documents.

PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN ADDRESSES ARMENIAN HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY CONGRESS IN SAN JOSE

ArmInfo
2009-11-09 12:45:00

ArmInfo. Arm Tech – 2009, the Armenian high-tech industry congress
started in San Jose (USA) as attended by a Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan-headed delegation from Armenia, the governmental press-service
told ArmInfo.

The Prime Minister addressed the congress. He said that over the three
days of the forum he has learned several useful lessons. First, such
meetings and discussion create an exclusive opportunity to correct the
economic strategy of Armenia. "One of the spokesmen at the forum made
the following phrase "The past is created today, and the present will
come tomorrow", which reflects the idea of the rapidly changing world.

We must be ready for such changes," the prime minister said. He
mentioned that after the visit to the Silicon Valley it has become
clear that government programs on information technologies need
changes. "Our programs became outdated while we were trying to
implement them. We must "recharge" them. In addition, during our
meetings with the representative of one of the big companies the
following idea was announced i.e. it is not Armenia that should apply
to big companies, but big companies must apply to Armenia. This idea
surprised me at first. The world is becoming smaller and smaller and
competition between big companies is stiffening. No free place has
been left," the prime minister said. He highlighted that transnational
companies are competing for a position not in the present and even not
in the perspective markets since all the positions are occupied. "Deep
ocean strategy" comes to the fore. "We are late and we should find our
"ocean," our territory of relevant prevalence. No big company will
make a decision especially for us. Big companies care for their own
business. Only ArmTech will make it possible for us to chose our way
to develop," Tigran Sargsyan said. In his speech, the prime minister
also touched upon the issues of Armenian Genocide, Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation , Armenian-Turkish relations, the official stand of Armenia
and the president’s initiative on settlement of the Armenian-Turkish
relations. Those present warmly welcomed the prime minister’s speech.

The first ArmTech Forum was held in 2007. This annual forum is held
in Armenia and Diaspora by rotation. ArmTech ’09 took place November
5- 8 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California. The Armenian
delegation comprise nearly 80 people.

NATO representative defends the opening of Turkish-Armenian border

YEREVAN, November 7, /ARKA/. A senior NATO representative said today
in Yerevan that the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border will have a
positive impact on the economic situation in Armenia not only in terms
of bilateral trade but also in terms of new markets for Armenia to
export its goods and services.

Speaking at a news conference Robert Simmons, a special representative
of NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus and Central Asia,
said despite the closed border there is nevertheless a very active
Armenian-Turkish trade.

`If Armenia and Turkey normalize their relations not only their
bilateral trade will surge but Armenia will have more opportunities to
sell its goods and services beyond Turkey,’ he said.

According to official figures of Armenia’s National Statistical
Service, Armenian-Turkish trade slashed by 34.7% in January-September
2009 to $120.7 million.

On October 10 Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers signed in Zurich,
Switzerland, two protocols on the establishment of diplomatic
relations and development of bilateral ties, which need to be ratified
by both countries parliaments.

The two neighbouring countries have no diplomatic ties, the border was
closed by Turkey in 1993 and there is a history of animosity that
stems from the mass killing of Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman
Empire. -0-