Author: Topchian Jane

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PROPOSES PROVIDING 100 MILLION EUROS OF MACROECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 16, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Commission on October
14 proposed providing macroeconomic assistance to Armenia in the form
of a loan of 65 million euros and a grant of 35 million euros. The
aid to Armenia will support an adjustment program agreed between
the Armenian government and the IMF to help Armenia overcome the
consequences of the global crisis.

On the same day the European Commission adopted a draft decision,
by which it proposes providing macroeconomic assistance to Armenia –
a loan of 65 million euros and a grant of 35 million euros. The aid
will be allocated in two stages: in the first and fourth quarters of
2010 and will support the adjustment program agreed with the IMF. It
is allocated in addition to the IMF’s financial assistance to Armenia.

The proposed financing will increase the EU funds provided in budget
support to Armenia.

Since the last quarter of 2008, the global crisis has affected
Armenia. As the country’s economic performance and the external
conditions started worsening, the IMF approved a 540 million dollar
Stand-By Arrangement for Armenia in March 2009. A 15.6% decline in
Armenian GDP is forecast for 2009, the budget deficit will make up 7.5%
of GDP, while the current account’s deficit will reach 13.7% of GDP.

YEREVAN HOSTED "KARABAKH 2014" PROJECT BOOK PRESENTATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 21:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan hosted "Karabakh 2014" project book
presentation. The project, designed by Conciliation Resources
organization, aims to stimulate discussions on peaceful settlement
of NKR conflict. According to Conciliation Resources Caucasus Area
Manager Laurence Broers, for this purpose the organization addressed 6
(3 Armenian and 3 Azeri) experts. "We offered them to write articles
on possible 2014 development scenarios for NKR conflict," he said.

The book presented contains final versions of articles, providing an
idea of approaches adopted by countries in NKR conflict settlement
policy.

MADRID PRINCIPLES TAKE YEREVAN AND BAKU BACK TO 1991’S STATUS QUO

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 21:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Madrid principles take Yerevan and Baku back to
1991’s status quo, an expert at Armenian Center for National and
International Studies, Manvel Sargsyan told a news conference in
Yerevan. "The international community has to understand that the only
solution to NKR conflict is the acknowledgement of its independence,"
the expert noted, once again reminding of Baku’s uncompromising
position.

Dwelling on RA-Turkish relations, Manvel Sargsyan stressed that
NKR conflict settlement issue is not discussed within RA-Turkish
rapprochement frameworks. "We’re currently viewing the process
of intensified contradictions between Ankara and Baku. Should the
differences hold, Baku could turn to Russia with a request to station
RF peacemaking forces in Karabakh."

Manvel Sargsyan did not preclude the possibility of Turkey’s unilateral
recognition of Karabakh’s independence.

MEMORANDUM ON PROTECTING ECONOMIC COMPETITION SIGNED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 15:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A memorandum on the "Legal Protection of Small and
Medium Enterprises’ Economic Competition" was signed in Yerevan on
October 16.

The trilateral memorandum was signed by RA State Committee for the
Protection of Economic Competition, YSU Center for European Law and
Integration and Brave legal company.

The document is aimed raising society and business circles’ awareness
of protecting competition.

BAKU OFFICIALLY ACCUSED ANKARA OF SHOWING DISRESPECT FOR AZERI FLAG

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2009 20:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan’s Deputy FM Araz Azimov Thursday received
Nihat Civaner, Turkey’s Charge d’Affaires in Azerbaijan. During the
meeting, Azeri official expressed official protest against disrespect
for Azerbaijani flag during the October 14 Turkey-Armenia soccer match,
Trend News reports.

Local authorities in Turkish Bursa and Armenian Football Federation
prohibited fans to wave Azerbaijani flag during the match between
Armenian and Turkish teams. Nevertheless the flag sneaked into
stadium. It was seen there from time to time, but the fans hid it
quickly not to let police notice, a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent
reported from Bursa.

ARFD SEEKS TO FAIL RATIFICATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS IN PARLIAMENT

NOYAN TAPAN
OCTOBER 14, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. After holding several actions
of protest against Armenian-Turkish protocols ARFD will get down
to the next stage on its agenda, failing protocols’ ratification
in the parliament. ARFD Bureau member, NA ARFD faction head Vahan
Hovhannisian stated at an October 14 press conference. He said that he
"had an aversion" watching the live broadcast of signing ceremony of
Armenian-Turkish protocols on October 10.

In his words, for decades ARFD had seeked to burst through the wall
of international silence towards Armenian people’s problems, issue
of Genocide, Armenian Cause. According to his estimation, on the day
of signing the protocols in Zurich "that wall was again hardened by
such forces for which the Armenian Cause is merely a playing card
for their political calculations."

"We will again burst through that wall," V. Hovhannisian assured
meaning failing the protocols in the National Assembly. In his words,
though protocols’ opponents in the parliament are few it will not
hinder them to fail protocols’ ratification. According to him, today
ARFD has 20-25% votes in the National Assembly, while "at heart"
that number of deputies reaches 90-95%.

V. Hovhannisian also said that ARFD’s October 16 rally, nevertheless,
will take place as the negative answer of the Mayor’s Office was not
within the law. He said that according to the law, the Mayor’s Office
was to have offered an alternative place, the same day, at the same
hour or in the same place on the other day. "It was not done, thus, the
negative answer is not within the law and we were only orally told that
another, children’s event is to take place there at the same hour,"
V. Hovhannisian said. He said that when in an oral talk they informed
the Mayor’s Office that they will hold the rally in another place the
latters said that "they will organize an event in that place as well."

AMERIABANK TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS ON SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS CONSTRUCTION AND SME CREDITING

"Armenians Today" publication is issued by "Noyan Tapan
14.10.2009

Ameriabank has completed negotiations with international financial
organizations on the credit programs for construction of small
hydropower plants and crediting of small and medium enterprises. The
bank plans to launch these programs in the 4th quarter of this year,
Ameriabank’s Director for Corporate Customers Levon Arevshatian
announced on October 13.

He said that two international financial organizations will finance
in two portions (15 million and 5 million dollars) a 20 million
dollar program envisaged for the companies which submitted bids
for credits on the construction of small hydropower or wind power
plants or their strengthening under the program on renewable energy
crediting. This measure will allow increasing the capacities of
Armenia’s small hydropower engineering by 15-20 megawatts through
construction of 5-7 power plants. The current capacities amount to
80-100 megawatts. In case of investment by the building companies as
well, these capacities will grow even more.

The credits will be provided at annual interest rates of 11% and over,
for a period of up to 8 years, with a 3 year grace period. The first
credits will be given in November-December 2009, which will enable
companies engaged in the energy sector to start construction in the
spring of 2010. Ameriabank’s representative expressed an opinion that
these conditions are quite competitive in terms of hydropower plant
construction, doing profitable work, and credit repayment.

According to L. Arevshatian, within the framework of the indicated
credit program, Ameriabank will cooperate with the RA Public Services
Regulatory Commission and some structures providing technical and
financial advice, and it will introduce an environmental risk
management system. He assured those present that the bank has
experience of crediting small hydropower plant construction with
its own financial resources. In starting the new credit program,
Ameriabank will ascertain whether the building contractor of the credit
borrower has experience in small hydropower plant construction and it
will also examine the existence of a design ensuring the hydropower
plant’s maxiumum efficiency and the conditions related to quality
and the sources of purchasing equipment.

As regards the SME crediting program, he said that it will open an
opportunity to improve the crediting conditions of medium business
– companies with up to 250 employees and an annual turnover of 15
million USD.

"We have conducted long negotiations with international financial
organizations with the aim of starting a program of crediting medium
business on preferential conditions," the bank official said, adding
that the program’s total cost will be 20-40 million USD, with loans
of up to 1.5 million USD to be provided. The crediting conditions
are the same as those of the renewable energy crediting program.

L. Arevshatian said that Ameriabank currently has a portfolio of
4-5 million USD for crediting small enterprises, with the share of
corporate crediting amounting to 35 billion drams out of the overall
crediting of 44 billion drams (about 114.3 million USD). The credit
portfolio grew by 41% in the third quarter of 2009. Credits for medium
enterprises make up 60-70% of the bank’s corporate portfolio.

In his words, the assets of Ameriabank made 93 billion drams at the
end of the third quarter of 2009 as compared to 86 billion drams at
the beginning of the same quarter.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED A DELEGATION OF KALOUST GULBENGYAN FOUNDATION, LED BY GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND AND ARMENIA COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT HEAD, INSPECTOR OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARTIN YESAYAN.

Tue sday, 13 October 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received a delegation of Kaloust
Gulbengyan Foundation, led by Great Britain, Ireland and Armenia
Community Department Head, Inspector of Board of Directors Martin
Yesayan.

Greeting the guests, the Prime Minister said Kaloust Gulbengyan’s
contribution is highly thought of in Armenia, and his philanthropic
mission is a source of experience for all of us.

The head of the executive highlighted the Armenian dimension in
the Foundation’s efforts by appreciating its valuable contribution
to the cause of preservation of the Armenian identity and Armenian
studies. Tigran Sargsyan asked about the current activities of the
Foundation and discussed possibilities of assistance on the part of
Armenia with a focus on such projects as are in process or may be
implemented in both Armenia and the Diaspora.

The Prime Minister suggested looking at cooperation opportunities
between the National Competitiveness Council of Armenia which draws on
public-private sector collaboration and the Foundation in the field of
education, in particular. In this light, the guests were introduced
to the educational programs carried out in cooperation with Luys
Foundation, aimed at supporting the Armenian students studying at
best international universities.

Reiterating his government’s high opinion of the efforts made by
Kaloust Gulbengyan Foundation, Tigran Sargsyan stressed the fact
that sizeable assistance has been provided to Armenia over the past
18 years of independence.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister expressed hope that this visit
will promote bilateral cooperation fostering continued efforts for
the sake of the Armenian nation.

FATIH TERIM: WE PLAYED AGAINST ARMENIA AS AGAINST ANY OTHER TEAM

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2009 16:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s coach Fatih Terim after the World Cup
2010 qualifying match against the Armenian team said that it is not
easy to leave the team he succeeded with: "I am not easy to leave the
national team. I thank all the players for the evening. We missed a
chance to get to the championship, but this is football, and anything
might happen. "

One should not politicize this match, they played especially their
usual football in the match against Armenia, not different from
matches with other teams, the Turkish coach said. "We do not want to
politicize football. We played against Armenia as against any other
team with a purpose to win. This match was not easy, as the first
match in Armenia, but both matches were very interesting, " he said.

AS THE EU GROWS – WHO’S NEXT?

penki.lt
10/15/2009

The commission’s annual report on countries aspiring to EU membership
says Croatia has entered the final stage of accession negotiations. It
urges the country to pursue efforts to meet the EU’s conditions for
joining, particularly its fight against corruption and organised crime.

The Balkan nation of 4.4 million was on track to become the 28th EU
country in 2011. But a border dispute with EU member Slovenia stalled
talks for more than a year. The negotiations resumed recently after
the two countries agreed on a procedure for resolving the dispute.

Since last year’s report, three countries – Albania, Montenegro and
Iceland – have applied to join the 27-nation EU. Iceland cleared a
first hurdle soon after applying, when EU foreign ministers asked
the commission to evaluate the North Atlantic island’s suitability
for membership.

Albania and Montenegro join three other western Balkan nations as
potential members: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the former
Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (FYROM). On the whole the region
made progress towards integration with the EU despite the global
downturn. But much remains to be done.

The report says that the recent parliamentary elections in Albania
and Montenegro measured up to required standards, but both countries
still need to strengthen the rule of law. It recommends the EU
activate a provisional trade agreement with Serbia and urges Bosnia
and Herzegovina speed up key reforms.

Although their bid for membership still faces many hurdles, Serbia,
FYROM and Montenegro are expected to gain visa-free travel to the EU
in January.

Concerning Turkey, the report says the EU is encouraged by new momentum
for political reform. It also praises Turkey for resuming relations
with Armenia after a century of hostility and for efforts to end the
long conflict with Turkey’s Kurdish minority.

Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in
February 2008, is still in an ea ey policy areas for Kosovo to address
and ways the EU can help.

At present, only three countries – Croatia, Turkey and FYROM – have
been officially accepted as candidates for EU membership.