Author: Tumanian Talar

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORP PROVIDES LOAN FOR SMALL HYDRO PROJECTS IN ARMENIA

HydroWorld
x/display/article-display/6711686043/articles/hrhr w/hydroindustrynews/smallhydro/2010/02/internation al-finance.html
Feb 24 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. 2/24/10 (PennWell) — International Finance
Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has approved a
US$15 million loan to Armenian bank Ameriabank to help finance the
development of small hydropower projects in the country.

Most of the interest in development would include small hydro projects
between 2MW and 4MW in capacity, media reports indicate.

As well as the loan, IFC also will provide advisory services to help
Ameriabank assess and review projects, with a focus on environmental
and financial aspects, according to media reports.

Earlier this year, IFC provided the bank a US$5 million trade-finance
guarantee, allowing it to expand financing for the foreign trade
transactions of its clients throughout the country.

1650 ARMENIAN YOUNG FAMILIES APPLIED FOR AVAILABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2010 16:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a press conference held on February 23,
Arsen Karamanyan", RA Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Policy said ,
"The government’s target program "Accommodation available to young
people", which implies provision of mortgages to young families,
will start in March 2010"

According to him, the program beneficiaries will be young families,
where the gross income amounts to approximately AMD 300-400 thousand,
including the incomes of all family members, as well as families,
where the spouses’ cumulative age doesn’t exceed 60 and none of the
spouses is over 35. The families, where the age of the only parent
does not exceed 30 are also included.

Arsen Karamanyan believes that the approved government’s program
will contribute to the demographic growth in Armenia. "A program,
which will make it possible to decrease the mortgage rates and to
partially subsidize the mortgage payment of the young families having
2 and more children, may be elaborated," he added.

The deputy minister mentioned that 1650 young families have already
submitted applications for the purchase of available accommodations.

1100 families out of 1650 aim to buy apartments in Yerevan and 550 –
in regions. According to experts, about 500 young families are able
to pay the mortgage, including 300 residing in Yerevan.

The young families will be given the mortgages at concessionary terms:
the credits will be given with 10.5-11% per annum, including subsidized
2%, while the market rates come to 14-15%. Thus, the mortgage rate will
come to 8,5-9% per annum. Maturity period is minimum 10 years. The
cost for apartment, bought within the framework of the program,
should not exceed AMD 16 million.

The deputy minister mentioned that with the framework of the program,
a mortgage agreement has been concluded Armbusinessbank and Ararat
bank and within the nearest days, 8-10 more banks will be included
in the list.

"We’ll do our utmost to disappoint the opponents of the government’s
program," he said. A hot line will be operating for cases of possible
corruption, so that the RA Ministry of Sports and Youth policy will
be able to take proper steps to eliminate them," he said.

ORANGE SUBSCRIBERS CAN TOP UP AT HAYPOST SUBSIDIARIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2010 14:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ From now on, Orange subscribers can top up at
Haypost subsidiaries. The service, as well as "Let’s talk" prepaid
cards, is available at 500 post offices throughout Armenia.

With the expansion of Orange coverage area, prepaid cards will be on
sale in all 900 subsidiaries of Haypost, Orange Armenia press service
told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Orange Armenia, (France Telecom group brand), entered the Armenian
mobile communication and internet market on November 5, 2009. Over
the past 3 months, the company managed to gain about 7 per cent of
the mobile users market.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CHAIRMAN OF RA NA STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS ARAM SAFARYAN

parliament.am
Feb 24 2010
Armenia

He was born on October 3, 1962 in Yerevan.

In 1984 he graduated from the faculty of History of Yerevan State
University (YSU). In 1987 he became post-graduate of the same faculty.

He is a candidate of philological sciences (journalism).

1987-1992 he worked in the preparatory faculty of foreign citizens of
YSU as deputy dean, at the same time – professor of history, then –
senior professor. 1990-1992 he worked as an international commentator
in Hayk weekly. 1991-1992 he was political analyst of the Armenian
state television. 1993-1996 he was press secretary of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. 1996-1997 he was adviser on
Information and Cultural Communication of the Embassy of the Republic
of Armenia in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In 1997 he was director
of the State Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia. In 1998 he worked as a director of Lraber
news-analytical agency of the Armenian National Television.

1998-1999 he was international observer of Zhamanak weekly. From 1998
he was docent of the Chair of International Relations of Yerevan State
University. 1999-2001 he worked as a head of Lraber news-analytical
programme of Prometevs TV Company, then – political analyst. 2001-2006
he was Deputy Director on news and public-political programmes of
Prometevs, then Armenian Second TV channel, political analyst.

2002-2006 he was a member of Yerevan Press Club Council. 2003-2006 –
member of Yerevan Press Club board. From 2003 till now he was a member
of the department of the Study and Solution of Conflicts National
Center. 2005-2006 he was the director of the Armenian branch of Moscow
CIS Countries Institute.

In 1994 he was awarded diplomatic rank of adviser. In 2001 he was
recognized Journalist of the Year by the Armenian Intellectuals’ Union.

He took part in the programmes of Journalists’ re-qualification in
France (1998), in the USA (2002), Israel (2004) and Austria (2004).

On May 12, 2007 he was elected a deputy of the National Assembly by
the proportional electoral system from the Prosperous Armenia Party.

He is a member of Prosperous Armenia party political board, secretary
of the Prosperous Armenia faction. From June 19, 2007 he was member
of RA NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public
Affairs.

On February 23, 2010 he was elected Chairman of RA NA Standing
Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs.

He is married, has two children.

IRAN MP CRITICIZES ARMENIA FOR "INVASION" OF AZERBAIJANI LANDS

APA
Feb 21 2010
Azerbaijan

An Iranian parliamentarian has criticized Armenia for "invasion"
of Azerbaijani territories.

A member of the Iranian parliament Seyyed Kazem Musavi said: "Nagornyy
Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan and will belong to Azerbaijan, everyone
is aware of this. And everyone is ware that Armenia is an invader.

Azerbaijan and its leaders have always demonstrated high humanism,
attempting to peacefully settle the conflict. Azerbaijan has many
successes. It’s not correct to compare Azerbaijan with Armenia. We
are a Muslim country and we always stand by our friendly, fraternal,
Muslim Azerbaijan. We are ready to make every effort to settle the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem. Justice is on the side of Azerbaijan".

TOTAL WEALTH OF 9 RICHEST ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA MAKES UP $4,8 BILLION

ArmInfo
2010-02-22 09:49:00

ArmInfo. Total wealth of the 9 richest Armenian businessmen of Russia
makes up $4,8 bln, according to the list of the richest people of
Russia in 2010, published by Finance magazine.

The richest Armenians of Russia are the brothers Daniil and Sergey
Khachaturov, being co-owners of Rosgosstrakh company, as well as of
a number of financial and immovable assets.

Total wealth of the Khachaturovs, divided into the even shares,
makes up $1,58 bln. The second place, with total wealth of $1,56 bln,
also divided into the even shares, is held by the brothers Nikolay
and Sergey Sarkisov. Sergey Sarkisov is president of the Board of
Directors of Reso and Reso Guarantees companies, and Nikolay Sarkisov
is vice-president of Reso Guarantees. The wealth of the Sarkisovs
over the last year increased by $60 mln. This list is followed by
president of the group of companies and main owner of Tashir Company
Samvel Karapetyan, with $0,58 bln of wealth. The wealth of the main
owner and president of the Board of Directors of Troika Dialogue
Ruben Vardanyan makes up $0,39 bln. His wealth over the last year
increased by $90 mln. The next in the list is the owner of the
multi-profile Borodino Holding Tigran Nersisyan, with $0,38 bln of
wealth. The wealth of owner of Zenith Bank and president of Center
Capital leasing company Igor Avanesyan makes up $0,2 bln. The last in
the list of the richest Armenians of Russia is Artyom Khachatryan –
co-owner of Sun Investments Partners company, with $0,11 bln of wealth.

Cyprus Mail
Feb 21 2010

Cyprus will suffer the same humiliation as Greece
By Loucas Charalambous
Published on February 21, 2010 +-Text size

GREECE’S precarious public finances, which have put the country on the
verge of bankruptcy, featured prominently in the world’s media over
the last week.

The decision to put the country under strict supervision was not just
a loss of part of her national sovereignty, as Prime Minister George
Papandreou maintained. It was an international humiliation, worse than
the one inflicted on the country 60 years ago when it was placed under
international economic monitoring.

Then, at least, bankruptcy was the result of Greece’s involvement in
six catastrophic wars ` including a civil war ` within a period of 50
years. However, Greece has not been involved in any war in the last 50
years. How sad that the country had to suffer this humiliation to make
the world news.

>From the look of it, our turn should be coming soon. The warning signs
have already started flashing. Former finance minister Michalis
Sarris, recently said: `If things are left as they are, in the form
and dimensions they have taken, there is a real danger that our
deficit will reach Greece’s levels.’

Economist Bambos Papageorgiou suggested the immediate adoption of
measures for reducing public spending. He suggested the gradual
reduction of public sector wages as well as civil servants
contributing to their own pension funds. His warning was starker: `If
we do not take drastic measures ourselves, by March or April we would
be put under supervision and have these imposed on us. If we want to
protect our pride, we should take the measures now.’

But what pride was he talking about? Who cares about our pride in this
crazy country? Not our government , who in these conditions decides to
waste ?¬100 million purchasing Russian tanks ` only God knows for what
reason. Is this government concerned about defending our national
pride when it has no qualms about increasing the public debt by close
to one billion euros linking Paphos to a coastal village with a
super-highway of US standards, because a few populist Paphite deputies
have been demanding it?

Were Yiannakis Omirou and Marios Garoyian concerned about our
`national pride’ when, in co-operation with President Christofias,
they agreed to waste ?¬35 million on bankrupt charter airline
Eurocypria? I quite enjoyed the justification given by Garoyian for
wasting the taxpayer’s money on Eurocypria. DIKO was in favour of the
?¬35m bail-out for two reasons: it would ensure that the breadwinners
of 300 families would not lose their jobs and the company would bring
to 300,000 tourists to Cyprus.

In other words, the taxes paid by citizens on annual salaries of
?¬30,000 or ?¬40,000 should be used to finance the salaries of ?¬100,000
and ?¬120,000 paid to the pampered Eurocypria employees. By the same
logic, the state should hire all the unemployed so that all families
have their breadwinners earning a wage.

As for the 300,000 tourists, are they seriously going to have trouble
finding a plane to bring them to Cyprus once Eurocypria is closed?
Does Garoyian think he is addressing morons or is he expounding
Armenian economic theory?

With such bright brains in charge of the country, neither will our
pride be saved nor will we be spared the humiliation currently being
suffered by Greece.

Argus Weekend (South Africa)
February 21, 2010
E1 Edition

There’s magic in the mix;
Take a Grammy-winning heavy metal star, add a full philharmonic
orchestra, shake and enjoy

by meg de jong

Tonight the Labia Theatre presents a screening of Elect the Dead
Symphony, the film of a live concert by Grammy-winning artist Serj
Tankian of System of a Down fame.

Tankian performs alongside the 70-piece Auckland Philharmonia
Orchestra in this intriguing fusion of rock, metal and classical
music.

The film, directed by Mitchell Hawkes, will be released in cinemas
worldwide this weekend, prior to the March 9 release of the DVD.

"Those who enjoy unconventional musical collaborations will find it a
very rewarding audio-visual experience," says Paul Blom, founder of
Flamedrop Productions, the organisers behind the Cape Town event.

The screening was set up as a global launch for fans to witness this
unique collaborative performance on the big screen. "Naturally, very
few people were lucky enough to attend this show, so this is a way to
bring people as close as possible to experiencing it in unison around
the world."

The unusual rendition of Tankian’s debut solo album, Elect the Dead,
was filmed last March during a one-off concert in New Zealand. The
concert is reportedly the fruit of conductor Hamish McKeich’s dream of
working with Tankian after being a long-time System of a Down fan.

Many of Tankian’s numbers have been specifically rearranged so that
they use only orchestral instruments, rather than using the orchestra
as an accompaniment to a band. Tankian has apparently used this as a
point to differentiate himself from other rock band- orchestra
couplings, such as Metallica’s 1999 performances with the San
Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

Tankian, 42,is an Armenian-American singer, songwriter, musician and
political activist, renowned for his operatic voice. He rose to fame
as the lead vocalist of metal band System of a Down, which won a
Grammy in 2006 for Best Hard Rock Performance. With five System of a
Down albums under his belt as well as a separate collaboration, Elect
the Dead is Tankian’s first solo album.

Flamedrop Productions hosts a variety of film festivals at the Labia,
including the annual South African Horrorfest over the Halloween
season, The X Fest eXtreme Film Festival, the Celludroid
Sci-Fi/Anime/Fantasy Film Festival and the forthcoming Daring Doccies
festival.

For more information see

The screening is at 8.30pm at The Labia, 68 Orange Street, Gardens.

13:16 20/02/2010 » Sport
Boxing: Vic Darchinyan vs. Rodrigo Guerrero on March 6

Showtime will be keeping boxing on the airwaves on March 6, bumping
Vic Darchinyan into the main event of what is now a "special" ShoBox
card, according to foreign media reports.

Darchinyan (33-2-1, 27 KO) will defend the WBC and WBA junior
bantamweight titles against Rodrigo Guerrero (13-1-1, 9 KO), a fringe
contender at best who has fought in a 12-round contest just once in
his career, beating Juan Alberto Rosas by split decision in 2008. His
best win came against Luis Maldonado (UD-8) last year. Darchinyan beat
Maldonado back in 2006, and before fighting Guerrero, the Mexican had
been stopped in back-to-back fights against Nonito Donaire and
Fernando Montiel.

So to say Guerrero is a bit of an unfit challenger on paper is
probably an understatement. On paper, he doesn’t belong in the ring
with Darchinyan. It wasn’t even a good co-feature, and it’s a terrible
main event.

Now in the co-feature, Australian Leonardo Zappavigna (22-0, 15 KO)
will meet Fernando Angulo (22-6, 14 KO).

Source: Panorama.am

EastsideBoxing.com
Feb 20 2010

Leva Kirakosyan Hammers A Brave Scott Lawton To Defeat Inside Three-Rounds

by James Slater –

Last night in Staffordshire, UK, Armenian-born Russian Leva Kirakosyan
proved way too powerful for local man Scott Lawton, as he crushed him
inside three one-sided rounds of action. Fighting for the vacant
European super-featherweight title, Kirakosyan’s withering power got
the job done in exciting fashion. The 36-year-old former European boss
at 130-pounds dropped Lawton in the opening round, forced the referee
to give the 33-year-old a standing count in the 2nd-round, and then
stopped him at 21-seconds of the 3rd..

Kirakosyan is now 32-5(22). Lawton, the former English champion up at
lightweight is now 27-6-1(6).

A very tough fight on paper for Lawton, many experts felt he’d
eventually succumb to the visitor’s punching power. As it turned out,
this thinking was absolutely spot on; and it didn’t take long for the
fight to turn into a nightmare for Lawton. Much the taller man, Lawton
attempted to box and move and pump out his jab, as the man with one
thing on his mind came forward. With less than a minute gone, a hard
right hand to the head dropped Lawton, and already things looked very
bad for him. Showing real heart by attempting to fight back as he was
backed up and hit to body and head with both hands, the 33-year-old
made it through to the bell.

The second round saw things go from bad to worse for Lawton. Boxing
okay in the first part of the round, if on the retreat throughout,
Lawton was caught with a succession of left hands to the head in the
closing half minute of the session. A final, brutal left to the head
had him sagging on the ropes and the referee, Soren Saugmann,
surprisingly decided to issue a standing count. The came the bell and
a wobbly Lawton went back to his stool.

The ending came quickly in the 3rd, as proven finisher Kirakosyan
wasted no time at all. Trapping Lawton on the ropes once again, the
shorter, older man let go with both hands. Covering up as best he
could, Lawton was there for the taking. Then, as the hometown fighter
tried to let go with a shot of his own, Kirakosyan blasted his head
back with a massive right hand. Lawton didn’t go down, instead
slumping once more along the ropes – and the ref had no alternative
but to dive in.

Lawton looked massively crestfallen by the defeat, while Kirakosyan
celebrated, knowing how his top-level career had been somewhat
resurrected. Retirement may be the best option for Lawton, while it
will be most interesting to see who the now two-time European champ
fights next. With his raw power, Kirakosyan could well win a few more
paydays yet.

Article posted on 20.02.2010
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