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HayPost officially becomes member of PostEurop
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During the PostEurop Plenary Assembly which took place on January 16-17, in Krakow, Poland, members of PostEurop elected HayPost as their 45th member, and its first member from the South Caucasus.

As part of its objectives of building HayPost into a world-leading postal and financial service company, HayPost formally signed and accepted its membership to PostEurop during the Assembly. This is truly an honor and a step forward for HayPost to be part of the PostEurop group. Being part of this network will help place HayPost and Armenia on the European map by ensuring cooperation and innovation, as well as operational quality and efficiency, stated Lara Tcholakian, Deputy Director General for International Relations during the Plenary.

PostEurop is the Association of now 44 European public postal operators and was created to optimize postal operations and postal services in Europe, and foster greater cooperation between its Members. It is working towards representing the entire European postal industry.

As official national postal representative of PostEurop, HayPost will have its interests represented by PostEurop by influencing and following-up on regulatory, social, operational and market development which have or may have an impact on the European postal Sector. HayPosts programs in the field of quality of service and postal operations will be improved by the support of PostEurop through lobbies to the European and international policy-makers, seminars, workshops, and technical assistances.

Public Radio of Armenia

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KfW TO GIVE 6 MILLION EURO MORTGAGE CREDIT TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS: Governor of Armenia’s Central Bank Tigran Sarkisian and Karapet Gevorkian, the representative of German KfW bank in Armenia, have signed a credit agreement today in Yerevan whereby the German bank will give a 6 million euro mortgage credit.
The loan is given at 0.75 percent annual rate and with a 49 year repayment period.
This will be second mortgage credit to the Central Bank from KfW. The first one, also in the amount of 6 million euro, was released in 2006.
Karapet Gevorkian said the first loan was distributed to 9 commercial banks and two crediting organizations. He said 75 percent of the first tranche were made available to 343 people. The second loan is supposed to be made available before 2009.
Armenian banks give mortgage credits at 11 percent of annual interest rate.

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BAMO TO FINISH RECONSTRUCTION OF CONCERT AND SPORT COMPLEX BY SEPTEMBER

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS: The Moscow-based construction group BAMO, owned by an ethnic Armenian businessman, Murad Muradian, said the reconstruction of the Karen Demirchian Sport and Cultural Complex, Yerevan’s largest and most imposing buildings, will be over by next September.
The company paid $5.4 million to become the owner of the complex in 2005. Vahagn Gevorkian, deputy director of the complex, told Armenpress that the renovated complex will have modern heating systems and all its infrastructure and facilities will be replaced by new ones. He said the complex will have also a skating-rink.
The Sport and Cultural Complex was built at the initiative of Karen Demirchian (late ruler of Soviet Armenia, killed in 1999 October 27 attack on the parliament) in 1983.
BAMO pledged to invest $10 million to get the building into shape.

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Rosfinmonitoring delegation to arrive in Armenia

Today the delegation of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring) will arrive in Armenia today, Press Service of the Central Bank of Armenia informed.

The delegation of Rosfinmonitoring will be headed by Chief of Service, President of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Oleg Markov.

On January 22 the Rosfinmonitoring and the Financial Research Centre of the Central Bank of Armenia will sign an agreement on cooperation.

On January 23 members of the Russian delegation will organize a seminar for representatives of the Central Bank and the law-enforcement bodies of Armenia.

Public Radio of Armenia

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Sitting of the Armenian-Russian Commission on Economic Cooperation held in Yerevan

Today RA Prime Minister, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Serge Sargsyan had a meeting with the Co-Chair of the Commission, Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin.

During the conversation the parties discussed a broad circle of questions related to the further development of economic cooperation. At the end of the meeting Serge Sargsyan and Igor Levitin signed a Protocol on the meeting of the Co-Chairs of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.

Later Serge Sargsyan and Igor Levitin participated in the sitting of the Armenian-Russian Commission on Economic Cooperation.

Public Radio of Armenia

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RUSSIA HAS INVESTED $1 BILLION IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Addressing an Armenian-Russian business forum in Yerevan today Armenian prime minister Serzh Sarkisian said the event was an important avenue for businessmen of both countries to seek new ways for boosting their ties.
He said Russian investments in Armenia’s real sector of economy since its independence have amounted to nearly $1 billion or one third of all foreign investments and about 900 ventures with joint capital have been opened.
The Armenian prime minister singled out, particularly, IT, machine building, tourism and some other sectors as areas in which both countries have huge resources to make progress.
The forum was attended by Igor Levitin, Russian transport minister who co-chairs together with Serzh Sarkisian the bilateral government commission for cooperation.
Igor Levitin for his part described Russia’s relations with Armenia as dynamic. He said trade between Armenia and Russia grows over 50 percent annually. For example, it grew 60 percent in 2006 and is expected to grow 63 percent for 2007.
The Russian minister also spoke about Russian investments in Armenia’s major sectors-energy, transport, mining and banking . He said removing transport obstacles will give a very strong push to bilateral trade.
Armenia has had no overland connections with Russia since 2006 July after Russia closed a border check point on its border with Georgia for a repair that was to end in several months. The trade is being carried out through ferry boats which join Georgian ports with Ukraine and Russia.
The Russian minister urged Armenian companies manufacturing building materials not to miss their chance and take part in construction of sporting facilities for southern Russian city of Sochi that will host 2014 Winter Olympic games.
Levitin reminded that Russia is ready to invest in prospecting of uranium in Armenia. An agreement to that end was signed in Yerevan last year.

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2007 State Awards to art and culture workers

Today the ceremony of presenting the State Awards 2007 in the field of art and culture was held at RA President’s Office today.

The Prizes were awarded upon President Robert Kocharyan’s decree of December 26, 2007.

2007 State Awards were conferred on:

David Hovhannes in the sphere of literature and publicism;

Ruben Sargsyan in the sphere of music;

Paravon Mirzoyan in the sphere of painting

Jim Torosyan, Roland Martirosyan, Henzel Hakobyan, Gagik Galstyan and Artsrun Sergoyan in the sphere of architecture and urban development.

Public Radio of Armenia

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Third cell operator to become known on 30 June
Cellphone

The name of third cell operator of Armenia will become known on June 30.

Armenpress was told from the Public Relations Department of RA Ministry of Transport and Communication that the Government of Armenia has already made the decision to create a tender commission presided over by RA Minister of Transport and Communication and prepare the documents for the organization of the tender.

Public Radio of Armenia

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US Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Visits Armenia

US Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Doctor Peter B. Lyons visited Armenia January 21-22 to familiarize himself with the status of the nuclear power plant at Metsamor and Armenia’s plans for building a new power plant to replace the Metsamor facility.

Dr. Lyons also explored with Armenian officials ways that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can help Armenia to develop the regulatory infrastructure needed in order to license a new nuclear power plant. During the course of his visit, the Commissioner met with officials from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Nature Protection and the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Agency. He also visited the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.

Public Radio of Armenia

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New Ambassador of Iran presented the copies of his credentials to RA Foreign Minister

On January 23 the newly appointed Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Seid Ali Saghaian presented the copies of his credentials to RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

Greeting the Ambassador, the Minister wished him success in carrying out his high mission and noted that Armenia attaches importance to the close cooperation both on bilateral level and within international organizations.

Turning to the current level of Armenian-Iranian relations, Minister Oskanian noted that Armenia highly appreciates the process of development of those relations and intends to reinforce and deepen the bilateral ties. The parties stated that the visit of the Iranian President to Armenia in 2007 was very important in this regard. It became a new impetus for the development of Armenian-Iranian relations.

During the conversation the newly appointed Ambassador also appreciated the active cooperation between Armenia and Iran and assured that he will spare no effort for reinforcing the bilateral relations.

Public Radio of Armenia

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UK Ambassador leaving Armenia with bright impressions

Today RA President Robert Kocharyan had a farewell meeting with outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Armenia Anthony Cantor, President’s Press Office reports.

Thanking the Ambassador for the productive cooperation, the President wished him success sin his future mission.

Robert Kocharyan assessed the current level of Armenian-British cooperation as stable and positive.

Ambassador Cantor said he is leaving Armenia with great impressions and intends to return in the future.

Public Radio of Armenia

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PM Serge Sargsyan received the President of the Governing Councilof “Gasprombank” OJSC

RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan received the delegation headed by President of the Governing Council of “Gasprombank” OJSC Andrey Akimov.

According to the Prime Minister, the entry of “Gasprombank” – a leader in the banking system of Russia – into the Armenian financial market will become a new impetus for the development of cooperation between the financial and banking spheres of the two countries. Serge Sargsyan noted that the reciprocally beneficial cooperation with large and renowned financial structures like “Gasprombank” is one the priority directions of RA Government’s economic policy. He assured that our country is trying to make the business atmosphere more attractive for large investments and is taking steps in the direction of improvement of the field. The Prime Minister underlined that this is furthered by the steady economic growth over the past years and the growing volume of investments into Armenian economy.

Expressing gratitude to RA Government and the Prime Minister for the support, Andrey Akimov said he considers the cooperation with Armenia attractive and prospective. He assured that the entry of “Gasprombank” into Armenia will be targeted at the development of the country’s banking and financial system. According to him, there are good opportunities to cooperation and investments in different branches of economy, particularly the filed of energy.

At the end of the meeting the Prime Minister wished success to the activity of “Gasprombank” in Armenia and noted that the Armenian Government is ready to discuss any suggestion and initiative directed at the development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Public Radio of Armenia

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Preparation of the “Rubezh 2008” military exercises discussed in Yerevan
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According to the program of preparation of the “Rubezh 2008” military exercises and the joint operative and military preparation program for 2008 of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), January 22-25 the working group of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization headed by Major-General Sergey Zuvakin visited Armenia.

The schedule of the “Rubezh 2008” was developed during the working consultations in Yerevan, an agreement on creating an information centre of the military exercises was reached.

Members of the working group of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization were received by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, Colonel Artak Davtyan. Issues of preparation of the joint military exercises were discussed.

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Planning conference of the Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 08 kicked off in Yerevan
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The initial planning conference of the Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 08 to be held in Armenia in autumn within the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program kicked off in Yerevan today. The conference features 110 specialists from 20 countries including Turkey. Azerbaijan does not participate although it has received an invitation.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, Colonel General Seyran Ohanyan noted that the military exercises to be held in September will become the most extensive among the exercises NATO has ever conducted in the South Caucasus.

Seyran Ohanyan declared that Armenia highly appreciates NATO’s role in the ensuring security in Europe and the efforts of the alliance to guarantee stability in the South Caucasian region.

The chief of the Staff of the Heidelberg United Land Forces of NATO, Brigade General Brigade General Claudio Ernesto Vercellotti informed that more than 1 000 servicemen will participate in the military exercises. He noted that these exercises are among the most important arrangements NATO intends to organize in 2008.

Public Radio of Armenia

Edited by Ashot, 29 January 2008 - 06:41 AM.

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New Ambassador of Iran presented his credentials to President Kocharyan

The newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seid Ali Saghaian presented his credentials to RA President Robert Kocharyan.

Congratulating the diplomat on assuming office, President Kocharyan assessed the Armenian-Iranian relations as brilliant and said that the newly appointed Ambassador has inherited a good legacy in this regard.

According to Robert Kocharyan, the bilateral cooperation has been effective especially over the past years and has been dynamically developing in all directions.

Ambassador Saghaian conveyed to Robert Kocharyan the warm greeting of the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The diplomat also appreciated the active cooperation between Armenia and Iran and noted that it has developed especially during Robert Kocharyan’s tenure in office. He assured he will spare no effort to expand the existing ties.

Another Famous Armenian!!!
Public Radio of Armenia

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DM Michael Harutyunyan received the newly appointed Military Attaché of Canada

On January 30 RA Defense Minister Michael Harutyunyan received the Honorary Consul of Canada in the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Artashes Emin and the newly appointed Military Attaché of Canada, Colonel Michel Marcos.

At the beginning of the meeting, the guests congratulated Mr. Harutyunyan on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of formation of the Armenian Army.

During the meeting the parties spoke about the reforms implemented in RA Armed Forces, particularly the implementation of special civil service, civil oversight and non-participation of the Armed Forces in political processes.

The parties attached importance to the necessity to launch cooperation between the National Strategic Research Institute of RA Ministry of Defense and that of Canada in the field of exchange of information.

Speaking about the Karabakh conflict settlement, the emphasized the importance of resolving the issue in a peaceful way.

At the end of the meeting the interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to regional security and stability and exchanged views on the reforms implemented in the Armed Forces of Armenia.

Public Radio of Armenia

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Esi kartaluts marmins pshaqaghvets!!!


UC RUSAL in partnership with UNDP Armenia Awards winners of the “10 Best School Projects” Contest

UC RUSAL in partnership with the UNDP Global Compact Armenia has announced today winners of the “10 Best School Projects” contest. For the first time in Armenia, schoolchildren from twelve educational institutions received grants of 1 million drams each to implement socially beneficial projects.

UC RUSAL on 24th of October, 2007 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNDP Global Compact Armenia for 50,000 USD to implement a project named “10 Best School Projects.” The project was designed to provide schoolchildren from different schools of Yerevan with an opportunity to submit creative solutions focused on the school life improvement and compete for the funding of 1 million drams per school to realize the project.

Forty proposals from thirty two educational institutions were submitted to the evaluation committees for the grading purposes. As a result, 10 best and 2 special projects were selected to be financed. The grading was done by “Supervisory Board” and “Children Committee” according to the system developed by UC RUSAL. These committees consisted of UNDP experts, Armenal’s management, representatives of the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, State University, NGO and Armenal’s and UNDP’s employee kids.

The following schools were recognized as “10 Best School Projects winners:” №5 named after M. Ishkhan, №7 named after V.Mayakovski, №65 named after Leo, №155, №177 named after G.Staravoytovoy, №184 named after S.Khanzadyan, №200, №11, Gymnasium named after Oganyan and M.Sebastatsi. Special awards are given to the schools go to №55 named after A.Chekhov and school №77. The implementation of the best projects is planned for year 2008.
The Minister of Education Mr. Levon Mkrtchyan in his speech welcomed UC RUSAL’s and UNDP’s joint initiative and emphasized an importance of corporate world involvement in the educational sector - “UC RUSALs project is essential for current Armenia and will serve as a bright example of corporate social responsibility for others.”

The UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Consuelo Vidal told the audience that it is very important to cultivate the culture of social responsibility among children and youth from school ages. It will help them to become more responsible citizens later. Project also stimulates creativity and self-confidence, as well as helps adults to better understand the importance of children’s’ participation and contribution to the solution of issues related to their own educational environment or neighborhood.

UC RUSAL ARMENAL Director Mr. Georgy Avetikyan said that this project is a first step of the UC RUSAL’s long term social commitment in Armenia and cooperation with UNDP. “Based on demand, UC RUSAL recognizes the success of the project in Armenia. This is a very good project to teach kids the basics of the corporate citizenship and implement project useful for the society.”

Public Radio of Armenia

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Armenia and Mauritania establish diplomatic relations

On January 30 the official ceremony of establishing diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania was held at RA Permanent Representation in the UN in New York, Press and Information Department of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs.

The memorandum on establishment of relations was signed by Armenia’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Ambassador A. Martirosyan and the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Auld Hadrami.

Public Radio of Armenia

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Alcatel willing to launch programs in Armenia

President Robert Kocharyan today received Serge Tchuruk, President of the “Alcatel-Lucent”- one of the leading companies in the sphere of information technologies, and President of the “Night Bridge” Holding, ex-Prime Minister of Armenia Armen Sargsyan.

Serge Tchuruk concisely presented the activity of “Alcatel” and stressed their will and readiness to launch certain programs in Armenia.

The interlocutors spoke about scientific and research programs, application of innovative technologies in the economy, cooperation in the field of ensuring high-quality Internet connection.

Attaching importance to mutually beneficial cooperation, Robert Kocharyan said the Government has declared the information technologies one of the economic priorities, and considerable progress has already been achieved in the field. He said the primary objective of the coming years will be the progress from programming to the production to high technologies.

Public Radio of Armenia

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National Competitiveness Council of Armenia holds its first sitting

The first sitting of the National Competitiveness Council of Armenia chaired by the Chairman of the Council Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan was held on February 1st.

The National Competitiveness Council of Armenia, established in November 2007 by the decision of the Government, is aimed at promoting Armenia's sustainable economic development and enhance global competitiveness of the country.

Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan stressed the importance of the Council, noting that it was a direct outcome of the adopted policies and programs of the Government. He emphasized the need for identifying the potential of the nation for promoting the sustainable development of the country and enhancement of the public-private partnership.

A package of strategic documents presented by the Executive Director of the Council Ms. Gayane Afrikyan was approved by the Council. It included the mission, vision, strategic goals, the 2008 work program and the principles of the draft National Competitiveness Strategy of Armenia.

It was decided to continue discussions on next steps during the next meeting. At the end of the sitting PM Serge Sargsyan gave certain instruction.

Public Radio of Armenia