The newspaper Zhamanak comments on the fact that President of Armenia Serge Sargsyan awarded the head of Gazprom Alexei Miller with the Order of Friendship ‘for his significant contribution to improvement of friendship between the Armenian and Russian nations’: “The award is symbolic against the background of a report on gas, which has recently been presented to the Armenian government by the timely commission on gas supply issues. According to the opposition MPs who participated in the discussion of the report, the presented document confirms the fact that in the gas supply sphere, costumers are robbed in Armenia.”
Obviously, Armenia is not an attractive country for investments. Ahead of Armenia entering the Eurasian Economic Union, some people hoped to start their business in the republic, today we cannot see this, Irates De Facto reports.
“It is interesting that Armenia’s membership in the EaEU has caused a big wave of dissatisfaction among Russian businessmen. They say that they used to see ‘the entrance’ to Europe in Armenia, and it used to be very beneficial for their business interests. However, Armenia has lost its opportunity. Another aspect is also interesting. One well-known Russian businessman intended to invest significantly in the Armenian economy before Yerevan’s decision to join the EaEU; however, after the decision on the EaEU, he shifted his project to Georgia,” the newspaper reports.
The editor of Aravot writes: “I think it is clear to everybody that we, residents of Armenia, will have to tighten our belts even further for the next several years. There are many grounds for such a forecast. According to some assessments, transfers from Russia have decreased by 30-40%. The reason for this is the difficult economic situation in Russia, which will continue for a long time, as far as I understand Putin’s words. However, the West’s support has decreased as well…
There are various reasons for this, as the kinds of support have been varied as well. Part of the aid used to be allocated to ‘overcoming poverty’; however, this goal hasn’t been reached, the poverty rate has actually increased. Another part was allocated to development of democracy, improvements in legislation, intensification of the society, training, and so on; however, there are no significant results in the sphere. The problem is not only in the absence of results or our sudden shift to the EaEU, but in the fact that it is impossible to make a drama of our situation in such a way that we would get money permanently,” the newspaper concludes.
The Central Bank of Armenia ended the year in profit due to the devaluation of the dram, 168 Zham reports. “The profit of 31 billion drams is a result of the devaluation of the dram. The Central Bank of Armenia ended 2014 31.844 billion drams in credit. For example, in 2013 the Central Bank had a deficit of 10.7 billion drams.
The Central Bank gained 30.384 billion drams due to fluctuations of the exchange rate. Another 5.5 billion drams were gained due to derivative financial instruments. The actual capital of the Central Bank at the end of last year was 30.9 billion drams,” the newspaper reports.
After the appointment of Major-General Vladimir Ustinov to the position of the commander of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, according to Zhokhovurd, large-scale checks began there. The order on checks was given by the Defense Minister of Russia Sergei Shoygu personally. “We also have found out that the Russian secret defense services and the Federal Security Service are providing their own checks at the base. Permyakov’s deed revealed many circumstances at the base,” the newspaper reports.
The Minister of Diaspora of the Armenian Republic is richer than Economy Minister of the country, Zhokhovurd writes. "According to the declaration of assets and income presented in 2014, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan's income last year amounted to 10 million and 442 thousand AMD. It is noteworthy that the Minister presented her salary in three different amounts to a total of 8 million and 222 thousand AMD. The remaining 2 million and 220 thousand Hranush Hakobyan declared as income from loans and interest on loans.It turns out that the RA Minister of Diaspora has a very solid estate: 31 million and 42 thousand AMD, 21 thousand and 827 euros and almost $27 thousand. We can say that Hranush Hakobyan is "from the old rich ones" and, according to the Declaration, even richer than the Minister of Economy Karen Chshmaritian. Of course, this is only in documents, because in real life Chshmarityan is one of the richest people in Armenia," the newspaper reports.The ruble is to blame for the reduction of exports from Armenia, the Zhemanak newspaper writes. "The decline in exports from Armenia due to the devaluation of the Russian ruble had resulted in the plight of small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly the producers of alcoholic beverages (wine, brandy), for which the Russian market is the main consumer market. For several months they have stopped production and are desperately trying to find ways to sell their products. Businessmen are waiting for the appreciation of the ruble, otherwise, as Zhamanak wrote yesterday, they will be forced to close factories," the newspaper reports.CJSC Yerevan Beer, known for its trademark 'Cilicia', this year hasn't not ceased deliveries to Russia, resulting in losses, Yerevan Beer's deputy general director, Armen Hayryan, said in an interview with the Zhoghovurd newspaper. He explained the current policy with the desire not to lose the Russian market. That is, if they stop delivery, after stabilization of the situation in the Russian market, it will be difficult and costly to return. According to Hayryan, in 2014 the volume of exports fell by 25% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, volumes of consumption in the domestic market also declined. "In the latter case, it is due to the social status of the population: people's purchasing power has decreased, which affects the sales of products," the deputy director of Yerevan Beer said.The Minister of Diaspora of the Armenian Republic is richer than Economy Minister of the country, Zhokhovurd writes. "According to the declaration of assets and income presented in 2014, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan's income last year amounted to 10 million and 442 thousand AMD. It is noteworthy that the Minister presented her salary in three different amounts to a total of 8 million and 222 thousand AMD. The remaining 2 million and 220 thousand Hranush Hakobyan declared as income from loans and interest on loans.
It turns out that the RA Minister of Diaspora has a very solid estate: 31 million and 42 thousand AMD, 21 thousand and 827 euros and almost $27 thousand. We can say that Hranush Hakobyan is "from the old rich ones" and, according to the Declaration, even richer than the Minister of Economy Karen Chshmaritian. Of course, this is only in documents, because in real life Chshmarityan is one of the richest people in Armenia," the newspaper reports.
The ruble is to blame for the reduction of exports from Armenia, the Zhemanak newspaper writes. "The decline in exports from Armenia due to the devaluation of the Russian ruble had resulted in the plight of small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly the producers of alcoholic beverages (wine, brandy), for which the Russian market is the main consumer market. For several months they have stopped production and are desperately trying to find ways to sell their products. Businessmen are waiting for the appreciation of the ruble, otherwise, as Zhamanak wrote yesterday, they will be forced to close factories," the newspaper reports.
CJSC Yerevan Beer, known for its trademark 'Cilicia', this year hasn't not ceased deliveries to Russia, resulting in losses, Yerevan Beer's deputy general director, Armen Hayryan, said in an interview with the Zhoghovurd newspaper. He explained the current policy with the desire not to lose the Russian market. That is, if they stop delivery, after stabilization of the situation in the Russian market, it will be difficult and costly to return. According to Hayryan, in 2014 the volume of exports fell by 25% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, volumes of consumption in the domestic market also declined. "In the latter case, it is due to the social status of the population: people's purchasing power has decreased, which affects the sales of products," the deputy director of Yerevan Beer said.
