ArmInfo. Ankara's decision to acquire the latest Russian S-400 air defense systems is proof of Turkey's slow drift from NATO. Anatoly Tsyganok, director of the Military Forecasting Center of the Institute for Political and Military Analysis (Moscow), expressed this opinion to ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. The parliamentary majority of the National Assembly of Armenia refused to include in the big agenda the bills proposed by the "Tsarukyan Bloc", aimed at mitigating the tax burden. In particular, the faction of the ruling Republican Party refused to include in the agenda the draft amendments to the Tax Code, according to at least 40% of Armenian farmers were exempted from land tax payments in case of damage from natural disasters. As the representative of the faction Vahe Enfiadjian noted in his speech, currently 35% of the country's citizens are engaged in agricultural production. At the same time, land is not being processed, because a strict tax policy is being implemented, and a non- competitive credit system is in place. As a result, farmers in unfavorable weather conditions and natural elements are in a crisis situation. Also on the agenda is not included the draft amendments to the law "On Income Tax", according to which it was planned from January 1, 2018 to reduce the rate of income tax from wages up to 150 thousand drams from 23% to 21%, and from 150 to 300 thousand drams - from 28% to 26%. Justifying the draft law, RA Vice-Speaker Mikael Melkumyan pointed out that wages and pensions have not been raised this year. According to the government's medium-term program, the MP continued, until 2020, the wages and pensions of the citizens of the country will also not increase.

ArmInfo.President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, dedicated to the results of socio-economic development for 2017 and  forthcoming tasks, announced his intention to continue strengthening  the army of the country.

ArmInfo. VTB Bank (Armenia) announces a promotion on loans in installments. According to the press service of the company, until January 31, 2018, customers are  given the opportunity to buy goods in the partner shops of VTB Bank  (Armenia) on favorable terms in installments. In particular, the  interest rate and prepayment - 0%, the maturity of the loan - up to 5  years.  

ArmInfo. On the eve of New Year's holidays, VTB Bank (Armenia) launches the latest in 2017. share in loans secured by gold, which will remain in force until January 31, 2018.

ArmInfo. Ankara is quite capable of abandoning the Russian S- 400 systems not only under the pressure of NATO, in particular the United States, but also having  achieved the results of its own policy of blackmail. Such an opinion  was expressed by ArmInfo director of the Institute of Oriental  Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Ruben  Safrastyan.

ArmInfo. In order to develop remote service channels for its corporate customers and private entrepreneurs, VTB Bank (Armenia) has launched a new opportunity to  replenish its banking / card accounts through TelCell payment  terminals, indicating the purpose of the payment.

ArmInfo. As of December 15, 2017, Armenia's loan obligations for a $ 200 million arms agreement amounted to $ 111.4 million. In other words, the weapons received by  the Armenian side two weeks before the deadline for the supply of  arms amounted to only 55% of the $ 200 million stipulated. This is  reported by the "Union of Informed Citizens".

ArmInfo.Together with the efforts of the Stepan Gishyan and Together Funds, a bakery was opened in Gyumri for the employment of socially vulnerable youth, which, in  the course of its work, can also acquire professional skills. This  was reported ArmInfo in the press service of the Bank ACBA-Credit  Agricole.

ArmInfo. ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank started public offering of non-documentary coupon AMD 1 billion bonds on December 21. As the press service of the Bank told ArmInfo, the yield was set at 9.2%, circulation period - 30 months, face value  of the bond - 100 thousand drams.

ArmInfo. Armenian Export Insurance Agency (AEIA) and Converse Bank CJSC signed a memorandum on cooperation to implement a program aimed at increasing the production of economic entities resident in Armenia, export development and  expansion of sales markets.

ArmInfo.In order to create more comfortable conditions for servicing its customers, from December 18, 2017 the branch of VTB Bank (Armenia) Nalbandyan 46, will operate in a new spacious office at  Pushkin 3/1 (in remoteness only 100m from the current branch). As the press service of the Bank told ArmInfo, the operating mode of this branch is from Monday to Friday inclusive from 9:15 to 17:30.

ArmInfo. Ardshinbank has signed a $25 million one-year Club Trade Finance Facility arranged by Citi with Asian Development Bank (ADB).  ADB is supporting a portion of the facility through their Trade Finance Program (TFP) in the form of a guarantee.

ArmInfo. The results of the "Organic Agricultural Development" 2017-2018 program jointly implemented by ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK and Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union in Germany (NABU) have been summarized.

ArmInfo. Converse Bank reconsidered the terms of the shares for the Lombard loans secured by gold, acting simultaneously with the new offer. As press service of  the Bank explained ArmInfo, the promotion is valid until January 31,  2018.

ArmInfo.At the initiative of Ameriabank and Golden State Bank in California, the Chairman of the Board of Ameriabank, Andrey Mkrtchyan, and the head of the Golden  State Council Robert Sedrakyan met with local businessmen. As the  press service of Ameriabank told ArmInfo, the Mayor of Glendale (USA,  California) Vardan Karapetyan participated in the meetings.

ArmInfo.VTB Bank (Armenia), taking into account the development of the mortgage market and the needs of customers, launched a new mortgage product with the option  to purchase real estate with a prepayment of only 3%. As the press service of the Bank told ArmInfo, this product acts both for the secondary market and for real estate purchased from developers even in case of unfinished construction.

ArmInfo.The leasing company ACBA Leasing (http://www.acbaleasing.am/) and the consulting company Semina Consulting (http://semina.am/) signed a memorandum on  cooperation in creating favorable conditions for winemakers in Armenia. As the press service of the company told ArmInfo, the document was signed by the general director of "ACBA Leasing" Arsen Bazikyan and the executive director of Semina Consulting Vahe Keushguerian.

ArmInfo."It is necessary to make clear demands, criteria, and those who do not really meet these criteria, say that they were going, were engaged in another matter.But to say that I came to bring their people is a disastrous approach.

ArmInfo. ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank held a two-day seminar for representatives of the hotel business in Tsaghkadzor. As ArmInfo was told in the press service of the Bank, the seminar covered such topics as "Marketing of hotel services", "Care for guests", "Conservation and motivation of cadres", "Provision of hotel services.