Wednesday 12 May 2010

Armenian News

ARMENIAN DEPOSITORS PREFER U.S. DOLLARS
news.am
May 5 2010
Armenia

As of this March end, the balance of physical persons' deposits with
Armenian commercial banks totaled 313.8bn AMD - an annual increase
of 39.3%. The population's savings in banks increased by 88.6bn AMD
or 28.2% of the total deposited amount by the end of March, 2010.

Of special interest is the structure of deposits in terms of currency.

Compared with same period last year, as of March end, the population's
deposits in commercial banks in Armenian drams increased by 11.5bn AMD
(21.5%), and in foreign currency -- by 77.1bn AMD (44.9%). Thus, the
population's foreign currency deposits register both the outstripping
growth rate and multiple index of absolute growth compared to deposits
in national currency.

As a result, the domestic currency to total amount of deposits showed
a 3% decrease, making 20.7%. In contrast, the share of the population's
foreign currency deposits boosted to 79.3%.

The U.S. dollar has shown 7.8% revaluation against the AMD since last
March, when the RA Government adopted a floating dram rate policy.

As for the total amount of the household deposits with commercial
banks, the ratio of the retail trade turnover to charged services,
that is as of the 2009 end the deposits totaled 291.6bn AMD - 15.8%
of the annual retail volume and charged services.
REAL ESTATE PRICES UP IN ARMENIA
news.am
May 5 2010
Armenia


A price rise was registered in Armenia's real estate market this
January-March as compared with the 4th quarter of 2009.

Specifically, housing prices showed a 2.8% rise in Yerevan, and a 1.5%
rise in the Armenian regions. The prices for private houses showed a
2.9% rise in Yerevan and in Armenian regions, Arman Petrosyan, Head of
the Immovable Property Assessment Department, RA Real Estate Cadastre,
told reporters. He pointed out a lower number of rental businesses.

Petrosyan reported that the number of real estate businesses, as well
as prices, started showing a rise last September. A 22% rise in the
number of real estate businesses was registered this January-March
as compared with the corresponding period last year, with a 32% rise
registered in Yerevan. The highest rise in the number of real estate
businesses was registered in Kotayk and Ararat.

The devaluation of the Armenian dram did not have any serious impact
on the real estate market.

OVER 5000 PEOPLE COME OUT AGAINST CONSTRUCTION OF
A CAFE IN STUDENT GARDEN
ArmInfo
2010-05-06 15:29:00


ArmInfo. Over 5 thsd people have signed the open letter against
construction of a cafe in the Student Garden.

The letter says that the garden has been created to ensure calmness for
library victors and students' leisure. "The large-scale construction
launched in the given territory was not agreed with the students
and persons living near the garden, which violates the Armenian
legislation. Moreover, the construction permit was issued with
due regard for certain persons' benefit. The appropriation of such
common areas by the Yerevan Municipality is inadmissible and leads
to destruction of the parks in Yerevan. We demand stopping the
construction in the Student Garden, restoring the initial image of
the area and returning it to the Yerevan residents",- say the letter's
authors. To note, the letter will be sent to Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, Speaker of Armenian Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan, Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan.

According to the Association of Consumers of Armenia, 20 trees
were cut for the cafe, the fact is proved by relevant photos
and video-materials. While the Municipality of Yerevan and Nature
Protection Ministry of Armenia are trying to find out who should be
responsible for the illegal timber extraction, a youth group "We are
city's owners" consisting of over 2600 people has been set up in the
Facebook social network. It was this group's initiative to address
the relevant open letter to the Armenian president.

Artur Avtandilyan, administrator of the group, told ArmInfo
correspondent that the signature collection may be prolonged. To
recall, it was envisaged to complete the action on May 7. "We are
not going to restrict our action to signature collection. The main
action plan will be coordinated within the next few days",- he said.


TATEV TOURISM CENTER ESTIMATED $40MLN
TendersInfo.com
May 5, 2010 Wednesday


The works for reconstruction of Tatev tourism center are rapidly
progressing. Construction of aerial tramway proceeds within the
schedule and will be finished by October 16. It will be the longest
aerial tramway meeting all international standards, executive director
of the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia Bekor Papazyan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Tourism products, including organization of walking tours and
establishment of an oil mill, will be launched. Paths will be laid
towards the cave of Khndzoresk, where national dishes will be offered
to the tourists, he said.

The investments have totaled $20mln, with the whole project estimated
$40mln. $10lmn was invested for the aerial tramway construction
and $10mln for the reconstruction of the monastery. A part of extra
expenses will be covered by the government, Mr. Papazyan said.
ARMENIAN POET TAKES PRIZE IN ISTANBUL POETRY FESTIVAL
Panorama.am
16:31 07/05/2010


International Istanbul poetry festival iiristanbul (Poemistanbul)
has been organized for the fifth time this year, April 19-26, Armenian
poet Artem Harutyunyan, a festival participant, told reporters Friday.

He received prize for "Reflecting the century in poetry". Note that
the festival has been held since 2006. This year Istanbul has been
declared a center for the world culture.

The poet said he presented his poems on the Armenian genocide.

These, of course, were not accepted unilaterally, though, the poet
said, Turkey has changed. The participation and prize of the Armenian
poet have been covered by the Armenian and Turkish media.

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