ARMGATE SPOTLIGHT


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Issue #54, December 6, 1999


PETAR STOYANOV: BULGARIA IS READY TO OPEN THE WAY TO EUROPE FOR
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1. (SNARK). The Armenian President Robert
Kocharian is satisfied with today's negotiations with the
President of Bulgaria Petar Stoyanov, who arrived to Yerevan with
official two-day visit. According to Robert Kocharian, the
negotiations has been conducted in a good atmosphere and it
should be stated that relations between Armenia and Bulgaria are
tend to deepening. The President stressed that the geographic
location of Bulgaria opens for Armenia way to the Europe. In this
light Robert Kocharian stressed about the existence of wide
prospects of Armenian-Bulgarian cooperation within the TRACECA
program. Petar Stoyanov confirmed the readiness of Bulgaria "to
become the very door which will allow Armenia to enter the West
Europe", and stressed the importance of development of bilateral
economic and trade relations.

MAYOR GENERAL MANVEL GRIKORIAN ELECTED A HEAD OF ADMINISTRATIVE
BOARD OF "YERKRAPAH"
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4. (SNARK). Mayor General Manvel Grikorian
elected Chairman of the administrative board of the "Yerkrapah"
volunteer union (YVU) during the Dec 3-4 4th Congress of this
organization. Deputy Minister for Defence of Armenia, Mayor
General Astvatstour Petrossian and Head of the Staff of the YVU
Ara Ketikain were elected vice-chairmen of the administrative
board. There is a vacancy for 3rd vice-chairman, as Mayor of
Yerevan Albert Bazeyan refused to accept the position. Today, the
new board was formed; it now consists of 45 members and was
increased by 20 men. Among its members are: the younger brother
of Vazgen Sargsian, Armen Sargsian (don't confuse with Aram
Sargsian, the new Prime Minister of Armenia: SNARK), leader of
the Republican party Andranik Markarian, Minister for Social
Security Razmik Martirosian, Minister for State Incomes Smbat
Ayvazian, Minister for Coordination of Industrial Infrastructures
Vahan Shirkhanian, MPs Ghoukas Ulikhanian, Armenak Mkhitarian,
Rouben Gevorkian, and others.

ARMENIA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM
YEREVAN. DECEMBER 3.(SNARK). Today, at the extraordinary session
of Armenia's National Assembly the social-economic program for
2000 presented by the Armenian government was approved without
resumption of consideration. No objectives were received by 10:20
am of local time, i.e 24 hours later after report of Armenia's
Prime Minister Aram Sargssian. It proves the vote of confidence
to the Armenian government. The discussed document has an
indistinct character, representatives of business circles said in
to the Snark correspondent, however they expressed assurance that
it will be improved by the time of state budget's presentation in
the parliamentary hearings.

ARMENIAN WILL POSSIBLY ENTER WTO WITHIN TWO MONTHS, ARMENIAN
ECONOMY MINISTER CONSIDERS
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2. (SNARK). Negotiations on possible membership
of Armenia to the World Trade Organization are in the final
stage, the Armenian Economy Minister Armen Darbinian stated in
his interview to the Armenian National TV from Seattle. According
to the Minister, Armenia not only managed to bring the acting
legislation on fixing the highest rate of the custom duties at
10% rate to the demands of the WTO but also managed to secure the
right of Armenia for increasing this index up to 15%. Darbinian
mentioned that in case the necessary package of laws is prepared
as a result of joint work of the Armenian Government and National
Assembly, the full membership of Armenia to this international
organization may be possible within two coming months.

TURKISH CITIZENS APPEAL TO GREAT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY TO
RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS OF 1915
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30. (SNARK). The "Union against Genocide", a
public-political organization, which acts in Frankfurt and
comprises 10,000 Turkish citizens, appealed to the Great National
Assembly of Turkey to recognize the Genocide of Armenians of 1915
in the Ottoman Turkey. The latter particularly says that the
recognition and the realization of the committed Genocide are of
vital importance to the Republic of Turkey. Despite the fact that
the Genocide, the massacre, and the annihilation during
deportation of Armenians, Assyrians, Syrians, and Ponthos Greeks
in the Ottoman Empire are a historical reality, it nevertheless
has not been admitted by Turkey and this is a disgrace to the
country.

EXTERNAL DEBT OF ARMENIA KEEPS GROWING
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29. (SNARK). According to Finance Ministry's
report on social-economic state of the Republic for the period
from Jan to Sept of 1999, on Oct 1 1999 the external debt of the
country made $818.22 mln. $598.132 mln out of the above mentioned
sum had been received by the Government of Armenia, $181.992 mln
- by the Central Bank, and $34.236 mln by various Armenian
organizations against the guarantees of the Government and the
Central Bank, $3.662 mln had been spent within the framework of
construction programs of Lincy and Huntsman, which earmarked the
means upon favourable terms. Over the nine months of 1999 $7.619
mln was spent to service the external debt.


During the last week subscribers of SNARK News Services could
also read (to learn subscription details visit www.snark.am or
send mail to snark@arminco.com):

- ARMENIA'S PRESIDENT REACTED TO ANNOUNCEMENT OF MINISTER FOR
COORDINATION OF INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURES ON NECESSITY TO
CONDUCT NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS CALMLY AND COMPOSEDLY
- RUSSIAN PARTNERS OF AREXIMBANK ARE STILL INTERESTED IN
ARMENIA'S NON-FERROUS METALLURGY
- ARMENIA IS TO RETURN CULTURAL VALUABLES, BROUGHT TO REPUBLIC
AFTER WORLD WAR II, TO GERMANY
- GUARDING ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER, RUSSIA FIRST OF ALL PROTECTS
ITS OWN SECURITY, HEAD OF HEADQUARTERS OF RUSSIA'S FEDERAL
FRONTIER SERVICE STATED
- RUSSIA AND GREECE: EXAMPLE OF PERFECT COOPERATION (ON THE VISIT
OF THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER PAPANDREOU TO MOSCOW) SNARK's
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH GREECE's AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA, H.E.
DYMITRIOUS KYPREOS By Arman JILAVIAN, Moscow
- CORRUPTION THREATS NATIONAL SECURITY OF ARMENIA
- UKRAINE AND BELARUS ARE READY TO INCREASE CONSUMPTION OF
ARMENIAN BRANDY
- WHAT IS VLADIMIR PUTIN GOING TO SAY TO ARAM SARGSIAN IN MOSCOW?
- UN IS READY TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA FOR PARTICIPATION
IN MAY 2000 LONDON BUSINESS FORUM


Meanwhile on our site WWW.ARMGATE.COM you will find:

- Armgate News Center. Updated on daily basis Armenian news from
different sources
(http://www.armgate.com/news)
- brief Travel Guide to Armenia
(http://www.armgate.com/travel)
- more than 100 photos of beautiful Armenian churches and views
(http://www.armgate.com/churches)
- constantly updated information about Armenian Enterprises &
Organizations from SPYUR Information Service
(http://www.armgate.com/spyur).

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