With launch of the Amulsar Gold Project in Southern Armenia, Lydian International Limited will be able to change the 'bad reputation' of the mining industry in Armenia, Lydian International Limited President and CEO 
Howard Stevenson said in a press briefing in Yerevan on 16 October.

He suggested that the negative attitude to mining in the country is the result of the past legacy with improper observation of environmental standards in the past. Stevenson said that Lydian International is actively cooperating with the Project adjacent communities where people generally support the Company.  

"We are able to change the bad reputation of mining activities in the country. The Amulsar Gold Project will bring technologies that are new for Armenia and much safer environmentally," Stevenson said. He 
explained that the Company will be applying heap leaching technology, which means zero industrial discharge water, soil or air and no need for tailing dumps.  

Howard Stevenson said that he participated in various mining projects in the world and those projects were implemented properly, in order not to create negative attitude among people. International Finance Corporation (IFC) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), who are the shareholders of Lydian International Limited and potential lenders for the project, are implying high environmental standards for the projects they finance. Lydian International strictly observes these standards.  

Geoteam CJSC launched large-scale geological exploration for gold and silver at Amulsar resulting in the discovery of the deposit in 2006.  It is the only new gold deposit found in Armenia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. 

Lydian International listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) on the 10th January 2008. EBRD and IFC are shareholders of the company and hold by 6.9% stake each.

The upcoming meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Paris was discussed at the meeting of the mediators and Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.  

In this context, Minister Nalbandian said that Azerbaijan has intensified ceasefire breaches ahead of the meeting, as it usually does ahead of high-level meetings.  

He said that Azerbaijan declares its commitment to the development of a peace treaty, but still attempts to discuss the issue at other international organizations, which torpedoes the work of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. "With its non-constructive steps Azerbaijan shows that it is not ready to settle problems," the minister said. 

He drew the attention of the co-chairs at the statements Baku has made on behalf of the mediators claiming that the OSCE MG, allegedly, suggested to start negotiations around the elements meeting the interests of Azerbaijan. "This once again shows Azerbaijan's dalliance with the upcoming meeting of the presidents in Baku," Nalbandian said and reaffirmed Armenia's commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict under the aegis of the OSCE MG.

The Minister of Culture of Armenia Hasmik Poghosyan received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Mohammad Raiesi. 

As press-service of the Ministry reported, welcoming the guest, the RA Minister of Culture expressed her satisfaction and gratitude to the Armenian-Iranian cultural relations, as well as work carried out by Iran for the conservation of Armenian cultural heritage. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of cultural heritage preservation and willingness of the two sides to continue this process. They stressed the importance of joint applications on the conservation of intangible cultural heritage in the framework of the UNESCO projects. Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan said that progress has been made towards the implementation of cooperation in the field of film 
production.

The parties touched upon the joint projects, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. RA Minister of Culture said that in 2015 Armenia schedules to participate on a high level in various undertakings to be held in Iran - festivals, exhibitions, book fairs, etc. Ambassador Mohammad Raiesi expressed his gratitude for the reception and said that soon Yerevan will host "The Iranian film week". He added that the dance ensemble and chorus, which operate in the structure of Atrpatakan Diocesan Council have expressed wish to perform in Armenia. Their tour is planned in Syunik Region. Hasmik Poghosyan highlighted the importance of the project, 
as it will contribute to the development of cultural life in bordering areas. At the end of the meeting RA Minister of Culture expressed the hope that bilateral relations will continue on the high level.

 Love for chess is in  Armenians' blood, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said while  opening Chess in Schools international conference in Yerevan on  Friday.

The conference involves delegations from 30 countries, with the  opening ceremony attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and  high-ranking guests.

"Recently I was in Mexico. They showed me their national school  curricula and said that they were going to follow Armenia's example  and to make chess a compulsory subject in schools. The same is true 
for Paraguay, Mongolia and Thailand. And it was Armenia who initiated  this program," Ilyumzhinov said.

He noted that for most Armenians chess is life. "Armenia is the only  nation that managed to win three Olympiads within just six years.  Even big nations were unable to show such a result," the FIDE 
President said.

Heritage Party condemns the de facto signing of the agreement on Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union and regards this step as non-constitutional.  

 INECOBANK and Rostelecom have issued a joint credit card allowing the Rostelecom subscribers to use a credit line on favorable terms. The press service of INECOBANK has told ArmInfo that the favorable terms concern the interest rate, 40% discount at over 100 partner outlets of trade and servicing, and provision of the loan without any income certificate.        

"The Draft concept paper is a good and valuable basis for the preparation of a concrete package of proposals for the reform of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, which would strengthen democratic principles and establish the necessary conditions for ensuring the rule of law and respect for human rights within the country. It is based on a comprehensive and consistent analysis of the situation in the country," says the Venice Commission in its conclusions on the draft concept of Constitutional reform in Armenia. 

Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan has tendered his resignation, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said in the Government, Thursday. According to him, Armen Geovrgyan will continue his activity in the private sector, but will keep cooperating with the Government.

Deputy Friendship Group with Nagorno Karabakh has been set up at the European Parliament to support development of democratic values, civil society and implementation of European values in NKR.

Cronimet Mining Company plans $200 million investments in the construction of mine tailings disposal facility at the Zangezour copper and molybdenum combine (ZCMC) in the south of Armenia 

 Eurasian Economic Union  (EEU) is a good opportunity for economic development of Armenia, Khosrov Haroutiunyan, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party of Armenia, MP from the Republican Party Faction, told reporters, Thursday.

 56% of the family business entities in Armenia are pessimistic about the business environment prospects in the country, according to the survey conducted by the Corporate Governance Center. The survey findings were presented on October 10 by Narine Melikyan, Director of the Corporate Governance Centre. 
The survey says that 26% of the respondents think that by 2017 the business environment in Armenia will deteriorate, and 4% believe that it will deteriorate to a tangible extent. Another 26% of the respondents think that the business environment in the country will undergo no changes within the next 3 years. "Given that most of the polled family enterprises believe that the further development of their business chiefly depends on improvement of Armenia's business environment, one can say that they are pessimistic about the business climate inalterability", said Melikyan. She added that only 22% of the respondents are optimistic. They hope the business environment will improve by 2017. Another 22% abstained from any forecasts. 

The secretary of the parliamentary group of Prosperous Armenia Party Naira Zohrabyan has refused to comment on the statement by MP from Heritage Party Zaruhi Postanjyan that Prosperous Armenia has not broken its links with the ruling Republican Party.

Development of the Amulsar gold-bearing deposit project will be launched at the beginning of 2015, Minister of Economy Karen Chshmarityan told reporters, Wednesday. 

 If the opposition four wants to succeed, its members should finally break all the links with the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, a member of the parliament from the Heritage party, Zarui Postanjan, said at today's press-conference. 

 The tailing dumps in Armenia meet no standards, Karine Danielyan, Head of the Association for Sustainable Human Development NGO, says in an interview with ArmInfo.