Tbilisi At the sitting of the Court f Appeals on January 10, the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia will free ex-defence minister of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili from charges, according to which in 2008 Tbilisi City Court sentenced him to 11 year imprisonment. This fact was stated by head of the Department of  Illicit Incomes Legalization Criminal Persecution of the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia Temur Mikaberidze at the briefing on Tuesday, January 8.

Tbilisi From 2016 Georgian Armed Forces may transfer completely to the contract-based service, Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Alasania told journalists in Tbilisi on Tuesday, January 8.

 Baku. Petkim petrochemical complex has obtained a certificate for tax remissions as a part of the investment stimulation program from the Turkish Ministry of Economic Development. SOCAR bought the control amount of shares (50%+1 share) of Petkim in May 2008, reported Petkim's press office.

Baku. British Airways  has begun the year with special fares to Europe and North America. The sale, which runs until 31 January, allows for travel from 8 January until 31 May and is available across all cabins.

The status-quo in the Karabakh conflict zone is unacceptable and it was discussed at the EU-Russia summit, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy said when receiving credentials from Fuad Isgandarov, ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium and head of the Azerbaijani Mission to the EU, on Wednesday.

He also said the EU intended to contribute to the settlement of the conflict, APA reports.

 Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, who is on an official visit to Brussels, met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule on January 9. They discussed a broad spectrum of bilateral issues, the Armenian National Assembly press-service told ArmInfo.

H. Abrahamyan and S. Fule welcomed the progress in the negotiations for the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. Stefan Fule thanked Armenia for canceling visas for EU member-states. The two parties assigned high priority to the upcoming free and transparent presidential election in Armenia. 

During his visit, Speaker Abrahamyan had a meeting also with President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Belgium Sabine de Bethune and President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives is Andre Flahaut.  Perspectives of parliamentary cooperation, including at international structures, were discussed during the meeting. The sides touched upon the Karabakh peace process. In this context, Hovik Abrahamyan said that Armenia's stance is based on three basic
principles of the International Law: non-use of force of threat of force, the peoples' right to self-determination and the territorial integrity.  He said that Azerbaijan constantly impedes the negotiations with its policy based on the territorial integrity principle only. Abrahamyan said that such approach rules out any
compromises and drew attention at the fact that Baku distorts the core and the reasons of the conflict trying to involve other international organizations into the peace process, which torpedoes the conflict's resolution.

As regards the Armenian-Turkish normalization, the speaker said that Armenia has always come out with constructive initiatives and has been committed to the protocols signed in Zurich. Armenia is ready to fulfill its commitments without any preconditions, he said.

Today on January 10 Hovik Abrahamyan will meet with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, will visit an Armenian church and lay a wreath at the monument of the Armenian Genocide victims.

On January 10 the delegation led by the NA President Hovik Abrahamyan will return to Yerevan.

 The Caucasian Muslims Office (CMO) is insisting on a meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani religious leaders on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and not on the line of contact of the NKR and Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the Azerbaijani media report citing CMO.

As it was reported earlier, at the request of Catholicos of All Amenians Karekin II, Head of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan on behalf of Karekin II suggested Allahshukur Pashazadeh, who was on a visit to Georgia, to meet in Artsakh with participation of the two parties intellectuals.

In the period since May 5 2012 up to Jan 6 2013 the preliminary electoral registers in Armenia were replenished with 25,053 citizens, the press-service of the Armenian Police reports.

According to the source, during the parliamentary elections on May 5 2012 the number of voters totaled 2 485 844 people. A total of 60 645 citizens who receive passports, were demobilized, and achieved maturity were included in the electoral registers (including 29,986 are at the age of 18). At the same time, another 35 592 people were removed from the registers after death or for other reasons (including 15 572 died).

The presidential election will be held on Feb 18. Fifteen people submitted the necessary documents to the CEC for registration as candidates for president. The deadline for registration is Jan 14. The presidential campaign will start on January 21 and continue till the midnight of Feb 18. The incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan is the favorite candidate. The other candidates are the former prime minister Hrant Bagratyan from the Liberty Party. All the remaining are self-nominated candidates:  Leader of the Union for National Self-Determination Party Paruyr Hayrikyan, Leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian,  Advisor for Political Issues of the Refugees and the International Law Civil Society Network, ex-foreign minister of NKR Arman Melikyan, Leader of the Progressive Socialist Party Robert Aharonyan,  Director of Hay Radio Andreas Ghukasyan, unemployed ethnographer Vardan Sedrakyan, Head of Kashatagh NGO Robert Simonyan,
pensioner Pavlik Sargsyan, unemployed Mher Hayrapetyan, and head of the NAtional Press Club Narine Mkrtchyan. The elections will be held on Feb 18 2013.

Another two candidate, a member of Prosperous Armenia Party Ruben Ayvazyan and a non-party man Taron Abrahamyan have withdrawn their candidatuyres.

 As of 11:00am on January 10 roads in Armenia were still heavy going due to snow, the Emergency Situations Ministry of Armenia reports.

The Selim Pass, a section of Amasia-Ashotsk-Gyumri road, Toros-Bavra, Arapi-Haykavan-Voskehat, Gyumri-Tsogamarg, Talin-Artik-Aparan, Verin getashen-Madina, Alagyaz-Spitak, Hrazdan-Meghradzor, Zar-Sevaberd, and Meghradzor-Hankavan roads, as well as all the inter-community roads in Aragats and Aparan are closed for traffic.

Snow storm and poor visibility have made the following roads heavy going: part of the road in the village of Tigranashen, Yerevan-Gyumri, Berd Chambarak, Kuchak - Aparan-Spitak, Yerevan-Vanadzor, Gavar- Martuni-Vardenis, and a section of Yerevan-Meghri road called "Zanger," Yerevan-Sevan road and the
inter-community roads in Ashotsk, Amasia, Akhuryan and Ani.  Snow removal operation is continued. 

By data of the Georgian Interior Ministry Department for Emergency Situations, the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is closed as well.

 In compliance with the mandate of the OSCE CiO Personal Representative, the line of contact of the Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces near the populated area of Seysulan, Martakert Region, NKR, was be monitored on January 10. 

The NKR Foreign Ministry told ArmInfo, field assistants of the OSCE CiO PR, Jerzy Aberle and Christo Christov monitored the line of contact from the Karabakh position. Personal Assistant of OSCE CiO PR William Prior and field assistant Yevgeny Sharov monitored the area from the Azerbaijani positions.

No ceasefire breaches were registered during the monitoring. However, the Azerbaijani party did not lead the Monitoring Mission to its frontier positions and the monitoring groups were reluctant to observe the line of contact from long distance. Representatives of the foreign and defense ministries of NKR accompanied the mission.

 "The word "ally" usually applies to a country with whom you have mutual defense treaty obligations. Russia's long been a partner of the United States on a number of issues where we can work together. I think our overall approach remains to try to cooperate with Russia as much as we can on as many issues as we can that we share, whether they're bilateral issues, whether they're regional issues like Nagorno-Karabakh, or whether they're global issues like Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, et cetera," Victoria Nuland, Spokesperson, said at the Daily Press Briefing on Jan 9, the Voice of America cites.

"But we're also going to be very clear and very frank when we disagree, as we do with regard to human rights practices, quality of democracy in Russia, and as we have in the past on Syria and other things, as we have expressed our concerns about the decisions that they've made on AID and on adoptions, which, frankly, we think hurt Russians most of all. So we will continue to pursue a path of cooperation where we can, but being very frank when we disagree," she said.

 Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 407,3 drams for 1 dollar, 530 drams for 1 EUR and 13,4 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum  selling rates stood at 409 drams for 1 dollar, 534 drams for 1 EUR and 13,4 drams for 1 Russian ruble.

 The Upper Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border may launch 24-hour operation, says the report "On the results of joint control of the Supervisory Chamber of the Republic of Armenia and the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation over regulation of import and export of consumer goods between Russia
and Armenia, as well as government spending on safety of the given products."

The joint survey suggests establishing a 24-hour operation at Upper Lars checkpoint and enlarging the staff to create favorable conditions for import of excisable goods and to reduce costs. The report considers Upper Lars among the checkpoints allowing transportation of tobacco and alcohol (Decision No.782 of the
Government of Russia dated July 30 2012).

 Armenia's progress in the 19th annual Index of Economic Freedom released by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal means significant improvement of the business environment in the country. It is of high importance for deeper economic reforms, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said commenting on 2013 Index of Economic Freedom at the government, Thursday.  

The prime minister said that improvement of Armenia's positions inspires with optimism and makes the country more attractive to foreign investors. He said that in 2013 the government will work hard and fruitfully on the basis of the past year's achievements.

To recall, Armenia's score in the index of economic freedom is 69.4 (up 0.6 points). Ranking the 38th Armenia is among "moderately free" countries.  Georgia has the best index in the Caucasus - 21st.  It is among the "mostly free" countries. Azerbaijan's score is 59.7 (up 0,8 points), but it is still among "mostly unfree" countries.  Russia is in the same category with 51.1 (up 0.6points) - 139th.  Turkey is the 69th with 62.9 points (up 0.4 points) and is among "moderately free" countries like Armenia.  As for Iran, its score is 43.2 (up 0.9 points). The country is the 168th and among the "repressed" countries.

Armenia was ranked the 38th in the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom. "The global advance toward economic freedom has ground to a halt," according to the editors of the 19th annual Index of Economic Freedom, released by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, the Heritage.org reports.

Armenia's score in the index of economic freedom is 69.4 (up 0.6 points). Ranking the 38th Armenia is among "moderately free" countries.  Georgia has the best index in the Caucasus - 21st.  It is among the "mostly free" countries. Azerbaijan's score is 59.7 (up 0,8 points), but it is still among "mostly unfree" countries.  Russia is in the same category with 51.1 (up 0.6points) - 139th.  Turkey is the 69th with 62.9 points (up 0.4 points) and is among "moderately free"
countries like Armenia.  As for Iran, its score is 43.2 (up 0.9 points). The country is the 168th and among the "repressed" countries alongside with Zimbabwe, Cuba and North Korea.

Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand finished 1-2-3-4 respectively worldwide. Switzerland - the fifth, Canada finished sixth, despite slipping a half point, while Chile took seventh place and moved more than half a point toward greater economic freedom. Mauritius, the only Sub-Saharan country to rank among the top 10, was eighth with an overall score of 76.9. Denmark finished ninth, just ahead of the United States, which remains in tenth. North Korea is
ranked last in the world and Burma, the Solomon Islands, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Timor-Leste all rank 160th or worse.

Launched in 1995, the Index evaluates countries in four broad areas of economic freedom: rule of law; regulatory efficiency; limited government; and open markets. Based on its aggregate score, each of 177 countries graded in the 2013 Index was classified as "free" (i.e. combined scores of 80 or higher); "mostly free" (70-79.9); "moderately free" (60-69.9); "mostly unfree" (50-59.9); or "repressed" (under 50). There are 10 specific categories: property rights, freedom from corruption, fiscal freedom, government spending, business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, and financial freedom. Scores in these categories are averaged to create an overall score. The world's most-improved country is Georgia, which saw its score rise 2.8 points, giving it an overall score of 72.2 and a place among the world's "mostly free" economies. The Asia-Pacific region dominates both the top and the bottom of the rankings.

Europe, the second-freest region and the world's most improved, narrowed the gap with North America in the 2013 Index. The scores of 32 countries improved, while just nine lost economic freedom. Switzerland continues to be the only "free" economy in the region, which has only two "repressed" economies that score below 50: Ukraine and Belarus.

Five European countries had notable changes in status: Georgia, Norway and the Czech Republic became "mostly free" economies. Cyprus dropped 2.8 points into the "moderately free" category, while Italy regained that status. Estonia and Poland also were among the world's 10 most improved.  The world average score of 59.6 was only one-tenth of a point above the 2012 average. Since reaching a global peak in 2008, the editors note, economic freedom has continued to stagnate. The overall trend for last year, however, was positive: Among the 177 countries ranked in the 2013 Index, scores improved for 91 countries
and declined for 78. On the plus side, average government spending scores improved.  Unfortunately, this was matched by a decline in regulatory efficiency, as a number of countries hiked minimum wages and tightened control of labor markets.

 A total of 274 OSCE/ODIHR observers will monitor the presidential elections in Armenia. 

The website of the Organization says that the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, headed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, consists of 13 international experts based in Yerevan.  In addition, 24 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 16 January 2013.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM will assess the presidential election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with domestic legislation. Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies,
election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

The OSCE/ODIHR will request 250 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 18 February election. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the election, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed eight elections in Armenia since 1996, including the most recent 2008 presidential and 2012 parliamentary elections.

Social Democrat Hunchakian Party will support current President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan during the forthcoming presidential election.

According to the party, Sargsyan has carried out serious reforms in the last years and is strongly committed to fight corruption, to make the mass media freer, to stop political persecutions, to achieve social improvements and to ensure the security of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

"We will continue to be independent and to criticize the government in case of mistakes. We hope that if reelected, President Sargsyan will toughen his fight against oligarchs, will root out monopolies, will stop the emigration, will contribute to the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and will protect the interests of Nagorno-Karabakh," the party says.

In late 2009 Hunchakyan split into two wings, with either of them saying that the other is illegal.

Based on the South Caucasus Railway's statement, the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office has instituted a criminal case on asset misappropriation by an open joint-stock company via dismantlement of rail tracks, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office told ArmInfo.

It has been found out that the director general of the open joint-stock company, which cannot be named for legal reasons, was vested with the authority to sign agreements and was well aware that the rail tracks in the territory of his company were a state property. The rail tracks were 738.5 m long and cost 64,578,060 AMD. Over the period from 2006 till 2012 he dismantled the tracks, misappropriated the funds and inflicted a damage on the state in especially big amount.  

The criminal case has been instituted under Article 179, Part 3, Item 1. The chief investigative department of the Armenian Police is conducting the pretrial investigation.

 Karen Shahnazaryan has been appointed Acting Director General of ArmenTel CJSC (Beeline trademark), the press service of the company told ArmInfo. 

Earlier Shahnazaryan was the Chief Financial Officer of ArmenTel.

Karen Shahnazaryan was born in Yerevan in 1965. After graduating from the Finance Academy of Moscow, he started his work activity at the Armenian Finance Ministry in 1992.  Later he worked in a number of Russian investment companies and banks. In 2007 he joined VimpelCom Group as the Chief Financial Officer of ArmenTel CJSC.

The former director general of the company, Igor Klimko, left the company on December 28 2012. He had held this post since May 2009.

 The Armenian Finance Ministry reminds that the Road Police of Armenia will not fine the car owners for the lack of inspection stickers until January 12, the Ministry reports with reference to the statement of the Armenian Police. 

The Finance Ministry promises to provide further information on the problem with stickers on January 11.

To recall, on the New Year's Eve, the Armenian car owners came across the serious problem of shortage of inspection stickers provided by the commercial banks. ArmInfo's survey demonstrated that all the banks providing this state service lacked inspection stickers, whereas the Finance Ministry reported that the stickers were more than enough.