David Harutyunian relieved of his post as chairman of State Commission
for Protection of Economic Competition
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. By a February 25 decree of RA
President Serzh Sargsyan, David Harutyunian was relieved of his post
as Chairman of the RA State Commission for the Protection of Economic
Competition – in accordance with his application, the press service of
the Armenian president reported.
PASSENGER SERVICES QUALITY DUE TO IMPROVE
NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
February 23, 2010
At the NKR Government SessionChaired by Prime Minister Ara
Haroutyunyan, the Cabinet met in a planned session at the Office
of Government.
The Government has approved programme of activities of several
departments for 2010, proposed amendments to several laws of the NKR
and decisions previously adopted by the Government.
The Cabinet has approved documents submitted by the Ministry of
Finance. One of them concerns No. 130 decision of the NKR Government
adopted in 2004, according to which deposit repayment may receive
depositors born till 1964 inclusive in Artsakhbank CSJC. The Prime
Minister assigned Ministry of Finance to specify amount sum and finish
the first phase of deposit repayment till 2011.
The decision has been passed to amend standing Government decree
No. 173 from 2008, "On service machines of the NKR state bodies,
fuel and oiling expenses and on defining tenure of employment of
tires and accumulators".
The Executive has approved decisions concerning the education
system. It was decided to open classes in the secondary schools of
Goghtanik and Gandza of Qashatagh region for new pupils.
According to another draft proposed by Minister of education and
science V. Khachatryan the Government defined the order of working
and days off for employees of educational institutions.
The Government has also approved draft law on making amendments to
the NKR law "On civil status acts", proposed by the Justice Ministry.
It is foreseen to abolish contradiction inter norms of law and simplify
registration of acts, etc.
The other law draft has proposed changes in the NKR law "On local
self-governance". According to it new obligations and authorities
are conferred to the head of region in organizing defense.
The above-mentioned law drafts would be submitted to the NA for
discussion.
Under the amendments has passed the decision No.39 "On using unclaimed
property, material and financial values levied in favour of the state
by right of succession". The amendment defines that during the process
of property penalty in the name of state, with writ of execution, acts
the NKR Office of Prosecutor and in the exaction of dues, with writ of
execution, acts State Statistic Service adjunct to the NKR Government.
The Executive decided to define corresponding programme of measurements
for organizing May holidays and create governmental commission (head:
Defense Minister M.Hakobyan).
The Government has also approved the culture and youth programme of
activities to be carried out by budget means.
Concerned discussion enlarged on defining new order of holding a tender
for choosing organization for regular transportation of passengers.
Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan has noted that this problem requires
urgent decision.
At the session the Government approved state order of TV and radio
programmes broadcasting (by state budget means) in the territory of
NKR in 2010.
The executive also approved complex programme of real estate cadastre
development for 2010 to be financed by means of state budget.
By the end of the year it is supposed to carry out activities to the
total cost of AMD 34 million funded under State Budget expenditures.
FAR FROM HOME; CLOSE TO THE HEART IN IRAN
By Howard Levine
Cleveland Jewish News
010/02/26/news/local/doc4b86ea96bdbcf822969556.txt
Feb 26 2010
I recently had the opportunity to visit Tehran, Iran, as the guest
of honor at a sinus surgery meeting. My itinerary allowed me a short
but very memorable visit to Isfahan, an Iranian city of about 1.6
million people, all Muslim except for 6,000 Christians and 1,200 Jews.
In the past, the Jewish population of the region was quite large,
making it a center for Jewish life. Notably, Isfahan is near the
burial of Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai of Purim fame.
My travel was filled with some anxiety since my stay coincided with
"Student Day," the anniversary of the Dec. 6, 1953, killing of three
of University of Tehran students by the former Shah’s Iranian police.
At that time, the students were protesting the visit of U.S. Vice
President Richard Nixon. The observance while I was there sparked
countrywide student demonstrations protesting the current government,
largely in Isfahan.
On the way to Isfahan, my host asked if I would like to visit the
"knesset." When I gave a questioning look, he explained that, in Iran,
that term meant "synagogue," and then I remembered that while we think
of Knesset as the Israeli Parliament, its literal Hebrew translation is
"gathering place."
We began the day by "registering" my day’s activities at the police
department, where I had to show my passport and visa. This, my guide
explained, was so "the police would know where you are each minute
of the day."
My introduction to old Isfahan began in the Armenian quarter in an
Armenian church filled with frescoes depicting familiar stories from
the Old and New Testament. The church was beautiful, yet the visit
felt empty and foreign to me.
Immediately after, we drove into what was the former Jewish quarter.
There, in the midst of modern Isfanhan’s hustle and bustle, we came
upon a high stone wall abutting the sidewalk topped by a wire fence,
with a single large steel entry door. As I passed through into the
small courtyard, noisy Isfahan receeded into the distance, and I was
in a familiar old world. There, at the end of the courtyard, a glass
door delicately decorated in Hebrew with Stars of David welcomed me
into the old and sacred knesset.
An elderly man and woman who spoke no English greeted me. They showed
me around the typical Sephardic synagogue with a bimah in the center
and upstairs, the women’s gallery.
The synagogue walls were bare, drab, and in need of painting. Instead
of the sand often seen on Sephardic synagogue floors, the ground was
covered everywhere with astoundingly beautiful Persian rugs.
As awkward and uncomfortable as I had been feeling from my visit to
the police station and as alien as I felt in the Armenian church, I
immediately felt comforted and at home surrounded by the presence of
so many familiar Jewish artifacts and symbols. As the couple proudly
showed me their Shabbos candlesticks and tattered prayer books written
in Hebrew and Farsi, they proudly explained through my guide that
there is still a daily minyan.
After a quick look inside the aron kodesh (holy ark) to see their
single Torah, I noted my Hebrew name was Chayim, which brought a grin
to the tired face of my new knesset friend. He took both of his hands
and caressed my cheeks, kissed his fingertips, and placed them upon
his heart, repeating this gesture at least a dozen times.
Being thousands of miles from home in a politically unfriendly
land and being able to connect to these lovely, sweet people in a
surrounding that at the same time was both familiar and foreign,
I understood the testament to the power of the our heritage and the
commonality of all Jewish people.
Howard Levine is a physician practicing sinus surgery. He lives in
Lyndhurst with his wife Susan and is a member of The Temple-Tifereth
Israel.
DOMESTIC POLITICAL TENSION IN TURKEY MAY AFFECT ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS
news.am
Feb 26 2010
Armenia
RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s latest statement that Turkey could reopen
the border even before the protocols are ratified was a gentle hint to
the Turkish Government that it should not lay the whole responsibility
for the fate of the protocols on the Turkish Parliament, Vice-Speaker
of the RA Parliament Samvel Nikoyan, (Republican Party of Armenia,
RPA) told NEWS.am.
"By making that statement Serzh Sargsyan could have meant that the
Turkish Government can at least be responsible for its own steps
even if it is unable to guarantee the Parliament’s decision on the
Armenian-Turkish protocols. In this context, nothing prevents the
Turkish Government from making a political decision and reopening
the borders it itself closed before if, of course, Ankara is really
interested in normalizing its relations with Yerevan," Nikoyan said.
He also stated that, during his talk with the Turkish FM, the Armenian
leader reaffirmed Yerevan’s determination to withdraw from the
negotiations if Ankara continues delaying the ratification or linking
it to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. "The amendments to the RA
Law on International Agreements adopted by the Armenian Parliament
are another instrument for Yerevan to realize its plans," Nikoyan said.
As regards the impact the domestic political tension in Turkey may
have on the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Nikoyan said: "Bad." According
to him, the Turkish opposition forces are exploring every avenue to
pressure the authorities, which creates problems for the protocols.
"But I should note that it is not the domestic political situation
in the country, but the factor of Azerbaijan, that plays a more
important role in the Turkish Parliament’s delaying the ratification,"
Nikoyan said.
At a reception held on the occasion of presidential inauguration in
Ukraine, Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu approached RA President Serzh
Sargsyan, and the two exchanged views. The Armenian leader stressed
that progress in Armenian-Turkish relations requires political will,
and Armenia believes the process must reach its logical end within the
shortest period. Otherwise, Yerevan will withdraw its signature from
the documents. The Armenian leader restated that Turkey’s involvement
in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process is out of the question, as
that country renders political assistance to one of the conflicting
parties, Azerbaijan, and has made repeated biased statements on the
settlement process.
"A country dreaming of a region without borders must first of
all remove Armenia’s blockade, which will enable the reopening of
communication in the region. If Azerbaijan’s pressure prevents the
Turkish Parliament from ratifying the Armenian-Turkish protocols -"
the Armenian leader said.
IS MARCH 1 OBSTACLES?
/25/march
08:02 pm | February 25, 2010
Social
Employees of Gold World market are going to stop their strike as they
think the protest has become a subject of political speculations. The
decision is also conditioned by a rally of the Armenian National
Congress (HAK) due on March 1.
"We have nothing to do with the March 1 events. They simply want
to smear our good name though they know that the strike pursues
no political aim. We shall resume the protest after March 1," said
the employees.
Former employees of the market Rafael Antonyan and Artashes Arakelyan
who were detained yesterday and released later tried to calm down
the protesters.
Artashes Arakelyan assured his former colleagues that they would face
no tax encroachments for 15 days.
"They will stop taking stock of gold jewelry as they came to realize
that they cannot pocket public property. They will no longer treat
us the way they used to," he said.
But the protesters believed none of his words. They promised to stop
the strike after they saw the government’s decision.
"March 1 is a mere pretence under which they want to disperse the
crowd and settle the issue," said a protester.
It is already a week the employees of "Vosku Ashkharh" (Gold World)
market are on strike protesting against the recent package of tax
"reforms". They refuse to pay the 11% of their annual turnover and
want to work with fixed payment.
DLA PIPER EYES SAUDI FOR GROWTH
Tom Gara
The National
Feb 26 2010
UAE
The law firm DLA Piper is opening a new office in Turkey and going
ahead with growth plans in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, after
laying off staff in Dubai.
The global firm, one of the fastest growing legal practices in the
Gulf in recent years, was forced to cut staff in Dubai after demand
slowed from key clients in the property and finance sectors. "When
you go through a shock, like everybody else you have to retrench at
some point," said Lord Clement-Jones, the co-chairman of DLA Piper,
during a visit to Dubai.
"We invested heavily and now we have consolidated and had to let
some people go. But where the growth is, we haven’t stopped the
pace at all." The firm recently made a high-profile hiring in Saudi
Arabia, recruiting Eyad Reda, a former general counsel at the Saudi
Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), which is the state
body overseeing the development of the kingdom’s multibillion-dollar
economic cities.
In Turkey, DLA Piper joined with a local firm to open its first
office in the country. Lord Clement-Jones declined to name the firm,
saying details of the deal were still being finalised. The firm is
still experiencing strong demand for its lobbying and government
relations services, which have become more important as governments
and regulators take larger roles in their economies.
In the Middle East, Africa and Asia, home to a larger proportion
of government-led economies and increasingly influential sovereign
wealth funds, demand is rising for more localised lobbying. Google,
the world’s largest internet company, is in the process of hiring
a regional lobbyist for the Middle East who will communicate the
company’s position on technology and internet issues with governments,
regulators and the public. The company is looking for an experienced
Arab political professional to fill the role, it said.
"It is about everything from engaging in policy discussions with think
tanks and industry groups to having a presence in debates taking
place around the region," said Joanne Kubba, the regional manager
for communications and public affairs at Google. "It’s always good
to have someone on the ground working on this type of thing."
While the practice of lobbying politicians is a regulated industry
in a number of countries, the informal and opaque political systems
of the region require a different approach, Lord Clement-Jones said.
"Conventional lobbying doesn’t really take place in most emerging
markets," he said. "Here, you just have to make sure that people are
meeting the right people, delivering the right messages. A lot of
it isn’t even lobbying, it is getting the right information to the
right places."
In the past, the firm has lobbied US politicians on behalf of Middle
East governments, representing Turkish interests in a heated debate
over recognition of the Armenian genocide, and working on behalf of
the UAE in the lead-up to a vote on a nuclear power accord.
"There’s this idea that lobbying is all about taking people to play
golf," said Lord Clement-Jones, who was made a lifelong member of
the UK’s House of Lords in 1998. "It looks as though we have such an
easy life.
"But a lot of it is about advocacy; it’s just showing what you are
all about and what you can deliver. Call that lobbying if you like,
but I call it good government relations, good communications."
BAGRATYAN POINTED OUT 10 STEPS OF THE PROGRAM
s16948.html
16:21:00 – 24/02/2010
Former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan pointed out 10 steps of the
economic program of the Armenian National Congress, "100 steps".
First, in his opinion, the tax field should be equally distributed.
Second, the natural resources are to be sold to those who exploit them,
the third – market mechanisms in the distribution of profits are to
be strengthened, dram should not be let evaluate, which could harm
exports. A country can develop only through exports. In social and
fiscal policy the rich should be made pay, capital outflow is to be
prohibited. Decentralize construction, tax up to 15% of construction
in the center of Yerevan and subsidize the construction in the
periphery. The emphasis in agriculture is directed to small farms,
to provide them with the primary right to purchase land, to let the
question of irrigation to farmers, says Hrant Bagratyan.
NKR PRESIDENT VISITS STEPANAKERT AIRPORT
Panorama.am
16:43 24/02/2010
Economy
On 24 February President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
visited Stepanakert airport, central information department of NKR
President’s office reported.
The President got acquainted with construction of the airport passenger
complex. Bako Sahakyan expressed satisfaction over the quality of the
carried out activities, noting the importance of putting the airport
in commission in accordance with the set timetable.
NKR PM Ara Haroutyunyan, minister of municipal engineering Anahit
Vardanyan and other officials accompanied the President during
the visit.
ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES US, BRITISH EXPERTS
Panorama.am
15:24 24/02/2010
Society
Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan received the US and
British experts who are in Armenia within the framework of the Defense
Strategic Review Process, defense ministry press office reported.
Greeting the guests Seyran Ohanyan stated with satisfaction that
great advisory work has been done by the experts especially in making
the international experience in the spheres of long-term military
planning and cost accounting available for the senior officer staff
of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.
Touching upon the Defense Strategic Review Process, the Minister
stated that the order to regulate the work regarding the military
element of this process has been approved, which will contribute to the
realization of the 3rd and 4th stages of the Defense Strategic Review.
At the end of the meeting the experts showed the outcomes of the
discussions and meetings in Armenia. They also came up with their
suggestions and evaluations over the Review Process.
EUROPEAN BANK READY TO PROVIDE SYNTHETIC LOANS TO ARMENIAN BANKS
By Lilit Aslanyan
ArmInfo
2010-02-24 11:01:00
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is expected
to provide up to 100 million EUR to Armenia in 2010 versus last
year’s 83 million EUR. The 1/3 of total financing will be provided
through local banks. Besides traditional financing the European
Bank is expected to offer new products to the Armenian financial
market. Mr. Valeriu Tazlog, Head of the EBRD Office in Yerevan,
tells about further details in an interview with ArmInfo.
Mr. Razlog, the EBRD is expected to sign the first loan agreement with
a local bank in February 2010 as part of the power saving program. At
what stage is currently the program and have you already selected
the companies to implement it with?
We have resolved to wait a little and launch the program in late Q1 or
in early April 2010. At present we are studying specific directions
to provide funds to. We are not in a hurry since many international
organizations have already started providing credit resources to the
sphere of energy and we would not like to duplicate them.
Given the big potential in the power saving industry and production
of pure green energy, the EBRD is expected to get actively involved
in the crediting of this sphere. Alongside with establishment of a
specialized fund, the European Bank is expected to direct $25 million
to the energy sector through Armenian commercial banks. Till the end
of 2010 the bank is expected to make a $15 million contract with the
local banks. In addition, EBRD is studying the possibility of direct
financing of power generating enterprises. Nearly $10 million direct
financing may be provided to the sphere. Relatively not large loans
will be provided through the local banks as part of the given program,
whereas directly and via the fund loans will be provided to the HPPs
with over 5 MW capacity.
Does the European Bank plan to support SME?
We are currently studying a project of financing to local banks in
the current year for issuing letters of credits to vendors. We want
to help commercial banks get involved in growing trade and supplies
on a letter of credit basis.
As regards lending to SME, we have resolved to finance also small and
medium-sized business in Armenia after we had several meetings with
our partner-banks. Within 2010 we are going to provide Armenian small
and medium-sized companies with 25-27 million EUR. The money will be
placed with commercial banks and non-bank organizations. The loans
will be provided in AMD as well. Last year we did not participate in
lending to SME since local banks had surplus liquidity and needed no
additional borrowings. But local banks now need liquidity in terms
of the national dram and the EBRD is able and willing to provide
such loans. However, local banks consider loans in terms of national
currency expensive. The first such loan agreement will be signed in
Mar 2010. The currency risk will be undertaken by a foreign hedge
fund wherein EBRD has a stake.
Such loans are called synthetic, i.e. the loan itself is provided in
USD or EUR, but their exchange rate depends on the AMD exchange rate.
He added that EBRD is implementing such a project in Armenia for the
first time. Each loan provided as part of the given project will be
considered individually with due regard for the needs of the local
banks and their clients. EBRD convinces banks of the fact that loans
in AMD are more profitable for them since risks are minimized.
May EBRD loans to SME affect financing of big business?
We are lending to big business on the program of co-financing with
HSBC Bank Armenia, Anelik Bank, Armeconombank, Araratbank, Byblos Bank
Armenia. In early Mar 2010 EBRD and Ameriabank are expected to sign a
$10mln agreement for co-financing big business. Nevertheless, I’d call
this program co-financing of medium-sized rather than big business.
International organizations are involved in development of mortgage
market in Armenia. Even the authorities are concerned about the
situation in this market. What are the plans of the European Bank
regarding this segment?
We are attentively following the processes in the mortgage market. In
the period of crisis we believe it is important that the government
has focused on the social mortgage. I’d like to highlight that the
European Bank and the IFC are rendering technical assistance to the
Central Bank in introducing and amending legislation on mortgage
lending. We are studying the local legislation to reveal differences
between local and international standards of mortgage lending. We want
to help Central Bank of Armenia fully use international experience. We
hope that the package of relevant legislative initiatives will be
ready by the summer and will be discussed by Central Bank and other
participants in the market, including by construction companies and
commercial banks. Afterwards, it will be submitted to the parliament
of Armenia. Mortgage lending is a complicate sector, indeed. It
requires long-term resources that, we hope, will be in terms of the
national currency, since it was the currency factor that led to crisis,
especially in the Central Europe. As regards mortgage lending by the
European Bank, we are going to provide loans to that sector in the
current year.
Refinancing rate in Armenia is gradually rising. What are your
forecasts? Will refinancing rate affect market rates?
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development forecasts upward
trends of refinancing rates in Armenia in 2010. This tendency is
already being observed in Central Europe, where countries are gradually
transiting from economy support to enhanced stability efforts. Today,
many central banks are showing a more balanced approach to economy
support as this policy creates an environment fostering inflation. It
is difficult to foretell how the interest rates will be formed in the
commercial banks of Armenia. EBRD expects some restraint or reduction
in market rates due to fiercer competition between the banks with due
regard for high-level liquidity. At the same time, having resources to
invest in the real sector of economy, the Armenian commercial banks
are currently trying to attract the best clients, and this rules out
raising of interest rates despite risks.
Will EBRD increase its share in local commercial banks in 2010?
We do not rule out such possibility, though we have not received any
requests yet because, as we think, the level of capitalization of
local banks is high enough.
Thank you for the interview.