Author: Tumanian Talar

NEW TAXATION PACKAGE PROVIDES FOR NEW INSTITUTES IN ARMENIA

ARKA
June 16, 2009

YEREVAN, June 16. /ARKA/. The new taxation package provides for
new institutes in Armenia, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan told
reporters.

"It is natural that the process of introducing the new institutions
should arouse concern," T. Sargsyan said. He pointed out that the
Armenian parliamentarians and the RA Government are discussing the
package.

Sargsyan said that some remarks made by parliamentarians gave rise
to qualitative changes.

As regards such issues as excise tax, advisability of storing
products, the Armenian Premier said that they are actively being
discussed because the management of the process can, in some cases,
be a serious obstacle to business development.

"All corruption risks have two aspects: if we admit tax administration
problems, we should also admit problems in business. Both sides’
interests must be taken into account," Sargsyan said.

The RA Premier also reported that the sides continue their discussions,
making rather ambitious proposals. It is yet early to speak of
submitting a revised package to the RA Parliament.

At the RA Parliament’s sitting on June 10 the Armenian Government
proposed postponing the vote on the controversial package of amendments
to the Armenian tax laws, particularly to the Code of Administrative
Offences, laws "On excise tax", "On taxes", On VAT", "On Profit tax".

The amendments reduce taxes for small-to-medium businesses and set
stricter tax administration requirements for big businessmen. The
package is based on the principle of separation of small, medium and
big business. Some of the amendments only deal with big business.

Specifically, the institution of permanent tax representative
immediately concerns big businesses with an annual turnover of more
than 4bln AMD having over 500 employees.

The intended amendments to the Armenian tax laws stirred heated debate
and discontent among the parliamentarians.

MIKA BEAT HOSTING BANANTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.06.2009 23:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 17, hosting Banants (Yerevan) rivaled Mika
(Ashtarak) in the 11th tour of Armenian Football Championship.

The match ended in Mika’s 1:2 victory over Banants. Mika has scored
29 points to become tournament leader along with Pyunik.

Pyunik-Ararat, the second 11th tour match, will take place on July
7 at Republican Stadium.

RECTOR OF BAKU MUSIC ACADEMY: THE NEXT MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES OF NAGORNO KARABAKH LIKELY TO BE HELD IN JULY

Today.Az
3199.html
June 17 2009
Azerbaijan

"We want the next meeting with Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh
to be held in the neutral area.

This is very important for us and talks are being held now," rector of
Baku Music Academy, people’s artist Farhad Badalbayli told APA. He said
that the meeting is scheduled for July. Badalbayli said the principles
of coexistence will be discussed after the problem is solved.

"We should know how our people will live there, who will ensure their
security, which peacekeepers will be deployed in the region. Our
people will return there without weapons. This is very important. Of
course this is not a one-day work. Discussions will be held on the
restoration of the houses knocked down in Karabakh. There are many
problems, they should be discussed," he said.

Badalbayli said it is not exactly known who will represent Azerbaijan
at the meeting.

"Polad Bulbuloglu, or Kamal Abdullah may represent Azerbaijan, I
may also be invited. Of course, heads of executive powers of Shusha,
Aghdere should attend the meeting from Azerbaijani side," he said.

Farhad Badalbayli said talks with the ordinary people living in that
territory are also important for the solution of the problem.

MURR PLANS TO CONTEST METN ELECTION RESULTS
By Nicholas Kimbrell

Daily Star
June 17 2009
Lebanon

MP challenges ‘irregularities’ in Armenian vote

BEIRUT: MP Michel Murr announced Tuesday that he plans to contest
election results in the Metn district due to alleged irregularities
in the Armenian vote. Murr, a powerful independent aligned with the
victorious March 14 coalition during the polls, said a sizable increase
in ballots cast by Armenian voters and the presence of forged ID cards
"raised suspicion" over the legitimacy of the Metn’s results.

"When we have all our evidence and proof ready, we will challenge
the results and call on the Constitutional Council to annul votes
from suspicious polling stations and correct the results," Murr said
during a press conference.

"Six MPs from the March 14-Independent Salvation List should win in
the Metn District," he added.

Despite the March 14 majority’s national victory, Murr and the Phalange
party’s Sami Gemayel were the only candidates to break the opposition’s
Metn list in the June 7 parliamentary polls. The six remaining seats
went to Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement or its allies, including
the popular Armenian Tashnag party.

Citing estimates by the Tashnag’s Metn MP Hagop Pakradounian, Murr
said Armenian participation in the polls increased from the 2007
by-election from 9,200 votes to 13,700, despite an increase of only
500 registered voters.

He also said his staff had discovered a collection of forged ID cards
and alleged that opposition supporters had used them to vote. He
presented one of the cards at the press gathering and said some had
been sent to the Interior Ministry. He did not specify whether the
IDs were forged for Armenian voters.

In the 2005 parliamentary elections, Murr had been aligned with Aoun
and the Tashnag party, but that alliance broke before June, with Murr
deciding to run on the March 14-Independent list. The Tashnag, having
strong ties to both Murr and Aoun, opted to support the opposition
list with the addition of Murr.

But following the election, Murr questioned whether he received the
full support of the Armenians as arranged. The accusation sparked an
exchange with Pakradounian last week with each claiming responsibility
for the other’s electoral success.

Speaking Tuesday at a meeting between members of Aoun’s parliamentary
bloc, Pakradounian, who ran uncontested in the election, said Murr
"is free to file complaints about this issue."

He called Murr an "old friend" and said 2,200 Tashnag supporters
voted for him, a lower number than Murr would have liked.

"People crossed him out for reasons that both the voters and Murr
know," he said, adding: "We are citizens and no one determines how
we elect and who we elect … Whoever wins thanks us; and whoever
loses curses us."

Pakradounian also criticized those parties in Lebanon which "don’t
consider Armenians as Christians or Lebanese."

"The Armenians are a basic pillar of this nation whether they like
it or not," he said.

Murr is not the only MP who has vowed to challenge the Metn results
through the Constitutional Council, the only body with the authority
to adjudicate post-election disputes. Aoun has also promised to lodge
an official complaint targeting Murr.

"We will file a contestation before the Constitutional Council against
MP Michel Murr on charges of intimidation and threats," the FPM leader
said last Wednesday in his first public appearance following the polls.

The Metn was one of the most fiercely contested districts ahead of
the polls and post-election challenges were not unexpected.

The turmoil, however, has extended beyond the political class.

Murr said on Tuesday that he hoped the judiciary would deal decisively
with Syriac priest Elias Akari, who he referred to as "the ungrateful
father."

OTV, an Aoun-run television station, aired an audio tape in which
a voice said to be Murr’s threatened Akari over the elections and
a loan, reminding the priest of his son’s position as the defense
minister. On Monday, Murr announced that he would sue OTV.

The Syriac Orthodox Church has also gotten involved, filing a law
suit against Akari and accusing him of embezzling funds, forgery
and bribery.

Apart from his decision to challenge the Metn results, Murr
endorsed Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri for the post of prime
minister and Amal chief and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri for
the Speakership.

ANNUAL MEETING 2008 OF ARMECONOMBANK OJSC HELD ON JUNE 12, 2009, AT ‘TIGRAN METS’ HALL OF ARMENIA-MARIOTT HOTEL

ENP Newswire
June 15, 2009 Monday

The outcomes of Armeconombank’s accounting year evidence the Bank’s
steady position as a system builder in Armenian banking circles,
and the 24.3% growth of average market price of bank shares against
the previous year is one of the vivid proves to this fact.

The efficient strategy of the bank’s development in accordance with
corporate governance principles, was marked by a number of important
achievements, essential qualitative movements and significant expansion
of cooperation with International financial Institutions.

Among notable events of the accounting year the most important are:

EBRD recognized the Bank as the most active issuer Bank in the Republic
of Armenia in the sphere of documentary operations under EBRD’s TFP.

AmRating/GlobalRating rating agency assigned the Bank a ‘BB+’ credit
rating by presage of ‘possible rise’.

For the first time in the Republic of Armenia The Bank along with
ArmenTel opened a customer phone service centre (call center).

A specialized microfinance centre was opened.

‘Zeytun’ branch began functioning.

Armeconombank joined ‘Blizko’ payment system.

The Bank and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank signed a USD
5.0mln. Loan Agreement, which was on-lended to small and medium-size
business.

As during the previous 5 years this year too the bank has paid
dividends to its shareholders. In accordance with the bank’s adopted
dividend payment policy implies dividends payment from 2008 annual
proceeds by 10% profitability per annum.

During 2008 the bank’s key development indicators in their average
have grown against the same of 2007:

Total equity by 12.2%, amounting to AMD 8.6bln.

Loan investments by 10.1%, amounting to AMD 26.5bln.,

Net income from rendered services by 4.9%, amounting to AMD 969.3mln.

The accounting year was more efficient for expansion of plastic card
services. With significant niche in the ArCa plastic cards’ market the
Bank has extended its customers around 20.150 local and International
cards, thus the aggregate number of extended cards reached 62.895. As
to current year development trends of the Bank the Bank management
states with pleasure that nothwithstanding the International
Financial-economic crisis and the tension of the country’s political
and economic environment, the confidence of customers towards the Bank
continues to grow, and this is evidenced by significant increase in
a number of the Bank’s indicators recorded during the first 5 months
of 2009. Particularly the following indicators have increased:

Time deposits attracted from Individuals by 8.3%, forming AMD 5.4bln.,

Deposits attracted from legal entities by AMD 1.5bln. or 54.8%,
forming 4.3bln.,

The number of local and International plastic cards by 6,370n or 10.1%,
forming 69.265 cards,

As a result of above mentioned developments the number of customers
has increased by 18,501 or 34.8%, forming 71.680 customers, against
53.179 at the end of 2008.

[Editorial queries for this story should be sent to
[email protected] ]

SARGSYAN, AL-ASSAD TO OPEN ARMENIAN-SYRIAN BUSINESS FORUM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.06.2009 11:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is arriving in
Armenia Wednesday on invitation of RA leader Serzh Sargsyan.

Tete-a-tete presidential meeting will be followed by expanded talks.

Mr. Al-Assad is also expected to meet with National Assembly Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Catholicos of All
Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II. He will also attend Matenadaran,
the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.

On June 19, Presidents Sargsyan and Al-Assad will open Armenian-Syrian
business forum, the RA leader’s press office reported.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: "I AM AWARE OF THE SITUATION CREATED AROUND THE ENVISAGED PRIVILEGES FOR THE REPRESSED"

National Assembly
June 15 2009
Armenia

On June 15 President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
received the members of the board of Memorial Human Rights,
Historical-Educational and Charitable Society. Chairman of the NA
Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs,
deputies Mrs. Goharik Yenokyan and Mr. Viktor Dallakyan participated
in the meeting.

Welcoming the guests the President of the Armenian Parliament noted
that on June 14 was the 60th anniversary of sending thousands
of repressed Armenian families into exile to Altay by Stalin
regime in 1949. He noted that from 1955 the USSR had tried to
restore their rights, and in 1994 the newly independent Armenia
passed a law, by which it tried to provide some privileges to the
repressed. Mr. H. Abrahamyan told his guests that he had received their
letter and was aware of the situation created around the privileges
envisaged for the repressed. He highlighted the legislative initiative
of NA deputies Mr. Viktor Dallakyan, Mrs. Goharik Yenokyan and
Mr. Vardan Bostanjyan, which had already been sent to the Government
and NA relevant standing committee.

During free discussion the participants expressed their
viewpoints around the problems of the protection of rights of the
repressed. Mr. Abrahamyan proposed to continue the discussion of this
problem, involving authorized representatives of the government and
the repressed. He stressed that it will be possible to create a draft
law, complying with the interests of the public and the repressed
through dialogue.

BANANTS DEFEATED ARARAT 12 TIMES DURING CHAMPIONSHIP

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.06.2009 15:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the 12th round of Armenian football championship,
Banants defeated Ararat 0:2, and Kilikia and Gyumri’s Shirak exchanged
1 goal with each other ending the game in a draw. Thus, defeated 12
times after 12 rounds, Ararat remains the only team having no single
score in championship list. On the first day of the championship,
Pyunik and Gandzasar played 0:0, and Ahstartak’s Mika defeated Ulis
1:2

GAS FLOW TO BE SUSPENDED

A1+
01:44 pm | June 15, 2009 | Economy

Gas flow to Armenia will be suspended for six days.

Georgia’s Gas Transportation Company has officially informed
ArmRusGasArd about the suspension of gas supply.

>From June 16 to 21 the Georgian Company will be busy connecting a
new 3,6-km section of Khazakh-Saguramo gas pipieline.

Meanwhile, Armenia will use reserve gas stored in Abovyan’s underground
storage.

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
June 9, 2009 Tuesday

SWEDEN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ALLEGED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Baku 9 June

The article titled Karl Bildt: Sweden does not recognize Armenian
genocide has been published in the daily newspaper The Armenian News
(Les Nouvelles dArmenie) in Paris.

According to the article, asked by Swedish Liberal People’s party
offical Cecilia Wikstrom about the so-called Armenian genocide, Karl
Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, said Sweden doesnt
officially recognize it. According to the minister, it is
responsibility of historians to examine this question carefully. The
minister stressed that official recognition of the so called Armenian
genocide may cause problems for Sweden and groups supporting 1915
allegations will be put in a quandary.

Even if the 1915 events occurred, Turkey is not responsible for what
had happened in the past, and therefore, that there is no legal ground
for that issue, the minister added.