Baku. Turgut Gambar, a board member of the civil movement NIDA, was summoned to the Narimanov district department of execution of court decisions today. He was ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 manat, an amount set by the courts as punishment for taking part in rallies on January 12 and 26 January in Baku.  These rallies were against the deaths of soldiers and in solidarity with the residents of Ismayilli region. Gambar was warned that in case of non-payment of the penalty, a lawsuit would be filed against him.  Turgut Gambar is the son of Isa Gambar, the leader of the "Musavat" party. Gambar and a group of young activists refuse to pay these huge fines set by the courts, as a matter of principle.  At the rally on January 12, twenty-two people were fined 10,500 manat; twenty participants of the January 26 rally were fined 14,700 manat.  Participants who were not levied can be punished under Article 306.1 of the Criminal Code, which permits imprisonment of up to three years.

Baku. Based in Berlin, the consulting and publishing company OpenOil with the Azerbaijani news agency Turan launched the Azerbaijan Oil Wiki project today. This is a unit in Azerbaijani and English languages of the OpenOil Wiki website existing for several years.  The project covers the countries that produce oil and gas, and today has a section of 11 countries, of which Azerbaijan will be the 12th.

Tbilisi. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey signed the final protocol during today's meeting in Batumi, Turan reports. According to Georgia Online, the protocol is aimed at ensuring close cooperation; Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, Elmar Mammadyarov, Maya Panjikidze and Ahmet Davutoglu announced on Thursday at a joint press conference.  The Action Plan for 2013-15 has been developed by authorities in the three countries and includes specific projects and initiatives. Topics including the economy, energy, environment, culture, education, sports and youth are addressed in the plan.  Ministers emphasized that enhanced cooperation can strengthen relations between the countries and establish a more intense relationship at the level of ordinary people. Regular trilateral Ministerial Council meetings will be held in Azerbaijan presumably in second half of 2013.

Tbilisi. At a  joint press conference in Batumi  the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, expressed the hope that another mosque will be built in Adjaria, Turan reports.

 British Candoco dance company will perform in Yerevan on Mar 30-31. They will present Three Acts of Play project.

The company was set up in 1991 and involves also people with disabilities.

On Jan 31 and Feb 1 a group of dancers from the company came to Yerevan to give master classes for children with disabilities.

They in Candoco believe that disability is not an obstacle to dancing. No coincidence that the very name of the group comes from Can Do.

The company?s tour has been organized with the support of British Council.

Armenia will be the 11th in the second semifinal of Eurovision Song Contest 2013.  The contest will be held in Malmo, Sweden, on May 14-18. The second semifinal is scheduled for May 16.

This year Armenia is represented by Gor Sujyan and Dorians rock band, who will sing Lonely Planet - a song composed by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi

 At the elections to Yerevan Elders' Council, the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) will use all its potential, Vartan Oskanian, ex-foreign minister of Armenia, MP from the PAP, says on his Facebook page.

He says that the PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan and all the candidates are thoroughly preparing for the elections. The politician stresses that these elections are formally considered to be municipal, however, given Yerevan's impact on the regions, the elections can be considered to be nationwide. These are political elections, as in case of victory of an oppositionist, he will become the second most important person in the country. In case of the opposition's consolidation, a counterweigh to the authorities will be created, and the citizens will benefit from that, he said and added that the public discontent has not subsided and may be displayed during the elections to the Elders' Council. He also thinks that the cooperation of opposition forces may be transferred to the Parliament and become a reason for formation of a new agenda.    

Oskanyan says that like throughout the country, there are numerous problems in the capital: water supply, transport, green areas, illegal construction, business atmosphere in the city, etc.    

He points out that the PAP is taking part in the elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan with the slogans "Let's Change" and "Let's Start from Yerevan".

The Ombudsman of Armenia has no obligations to the ruling party and has the right to criticize it if necessary, Human Rights Defender of Armenia Karen Andreasyan said at today's press conference when asked how much the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), which advanced Andreasyan's nominee for the
Ombudsman's position in 2011, is pleased with his activity.   

Andreasyan recalled that in March 2011 he was elected by the parliamentary majority: the then ruling coalition including the RPA, Prosperous Armenia Party and Orinats Yerkir voted for him, and if the National Assembly is discontent with the activity of Human Rights Defender, it can organize elections of a new ombudsman. "I am grateful to the ruling coalition for the confidence in me, but I have no obligations to it", he said.

To recall, in his annual report, the Ombudsman criticized the activity of the Municipality of Yerevan, which caused the negative response of a number of representatives of the ruling party.

In Apr Ardshininvestbank will start issuing loans to social package account holders.

The press service of the bank reports that the loans will be six times the amount of the social package, with its interest rate to range from 12% to 14% depending on a customer's credit story.

The loans will be given in all of the bank's branches and should be used for the payment of the services to be provided by the bank's partner organizations and the repayment of mortgage loans.

The money can be used for health insurance and rest in the territory of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to ArmInfo's Ranking of Commercial Banks of Armenia, as of Jan 1 2013 Ardshininvestbank's assets made up 204.5bln AMD (5th rank, 27.5% more than on Jan 1 2012), capital 36.4bln AMD (3rd rank, 15.6% growth), loans 135.6bln AMD (4th rank, 45.5% growth).

In his Facebook page the leader of the Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan has called "miserable" all those speculating on the Armenian Government's decision to give him almost $50,000 for medical treatment abroad.

Hayrikyan is already in Amsterdam. He has gone to a doctor and he told him that it was a miracle that he had survived.

"I know that some people flared up when they learned that the authorities are helping me to recover. None of them was by my side when I was suffering from pain, and now those miserable people have gone mad. Let them suffocate in their own poison and envy. I am already in the Netherlands. Now everything depends on how quickly I will recover.  I wish all the best to all of us," Hayrikyan says in his Facebook message.

While being presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan was attacked by unknown people and shot in the shoulder on Jan 31 evening. Despite surgery and treatment the pain persisted, so, the Armenian authorities decided to provide 20.5mln AMD for his treatment abroad. Another presidential candidate Vardan Sedrakyan has been arrested on suspicion of being the organizer of the attack.

The judicial power in Armenia reacts to the criticism of the Human Rights Defender extremely painfully, and this fact is depressing, as it minimizes all chances for the recovery of the judiciary system, Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan said at today's press conference when presenting his annual report.

Andreasyan said that among the state structures touched upon in the annual report the judicial power has reacted most vehemently. He said that the judicial power is trying to discredit the Ombudsman's Institute in every possible way but at the same time forgets that about 70% of the public does not trust the judicial power. "The representatives of the judicial power do not understand that due to their irresponsiveness towards healthy criticism they discredit themselves", he said.

According to Andreasyan, other problematic structures in terms of protection of the citizens' rights are the State Revenue Committee and the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition. "The Commission's random use of its powers with respect to economic entities, the demonstrative and minimal fines for violation of economic competition cannot contribute to the effective fight against monopolies", he said.

The Ombudsman said that the exemplary structures that perceive criticism well enough are the Police, Health Ministry, as well as Ministry of Labor and Social Issues.

The first Yerevan-Stepanakert flight may take place as early as the spring 2013, Nagorno-Karabakh's Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan told French journalists during his visit to Paris.

Le Monde quotes Harutyunyan as saying that the construction of the Stepanakert airport has already been completed, but the schedule of the flights has not yet been finalized.

"This problem needs humanitarian rather than political solution as each person has the right to move freely on the land and in the air," the NKR Premier said.

According to Le Monde, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan promised earlier that the Stepanakert-Yerevan flight would take place despite Azerbaijan's threats to shoot the planes down.

"If Azerbaijan opens fire, there will be a new war," Harutyunyan said, adding that Nagorno-Karabakh has air defense systems.

Areximbank-Gazprombank Group has launched international money transfers under the Coinstar Money Transfer (UK). The Bank told ArmInfo that the system provides an opportunity to make instant money transfers in US dollars, Russian rubles and euros to any point of the world via numerous service points in the USA, Europe and CIS countries.

Zhanna Sahakyan, Head of the international operations department of Areximbank-Gazprombank Group, expressed confidence that introduction of the new system will strengthen the Bank's positions in the market of international money transfers even more. "We are one of the few banks, where a diversity of international money transfer systems operate", she stressed and recalled that the Bank also makes transfers via the systems MoneyGram, Anelik, Bystraya Pochta, UNIstream, INTELexpress and Avers. Along with this, the Bank makes transfers from Russia to Armenia without opening any account.

 The ambassadors to Armenia do not have to be aware of the details of criminal cases investigated by the Armenian National Security Service, Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov told journalists on March 28, when commenting on the US and European ambassadors' calls to stop the criminal case against the Civilitas Foundation.  

To note, the US Ambassador John Heffern and German Ambassador Reiner Morell called the Armenian authorities to stop the criminal case against the Civilitas Foundation founded by ex-foreign minister of Armenia, MP from the Prosperous Armenia Party Vartan Oskanian. Heffern said that Civilitas and Civilnet are important partners of the US Embassy and make their important contribution to development of democracy in Armenia. He pointed out that three US projects
implemented by Civilitas are being investigated by the NSS, however, the Embassy had no questions on how the US taxpayers' funds were spent. Heffern thinks that there is nothing to investigate either by the NSS or any other body.

German ambassador to Armenia Reiner Morell said that the Civilitas introduces positive changes in terms of democracy. He noted that Germany has also funded the Civilitas programs adding that the latter acts in accordance with law. He says that in such cases the country's positive image is harmed amid political developments and ahead of the Association Agreement.

Swiss Ambassador Konstantin Obolensky said that the Embassy cooperated with the Foundation under a project in 2009-2010. He pointed out that the Embassy applied to an audit company to prepare an audit report and the Embassy has no complaints about Civilitas.   

Honorary Consul to Norway and Finland Timothy Straight, in turn, stressed that Norway thinks that Civilitas is a good way to promote development of healthy free press in Armenia. The Embassy has supported the Foundation from the very beginning and there were absolute no problems with implementation of projects by the funds of Norwegian taxpayers.

 British Airways, LOT and AirBaltic stopped flying to Armenia in 2012 for commercial reasons, Head of the Chief Civil Aviation Department of Armenia Artyom Movsesyan said during a briefing on Thursday.

"During our meeting with representatives British Airways, we asked if there were other reasons for stopping the flights, and they said that it was their commercial policy to close certain flights. One of the additional factors was the stoppage of the flights to Iran," Movsesyan said.

He said that the Polish LOT and the Latvian AirBaltic also had commercial motives for stopping to fly to Armenia.

"For the same reasons we have failed to organize flights to North America as they would not be very popular and would cause losses," Movsesyan said.

He said that the ban on Armavia's flights to Beirut was due to the Lebanese air authorities' request to audit the Armenian company. "The delay with the audit is due to some staff reshuffles in the Lebanese audit agency," Movsesyan said.

He recalled that several years ago the aviation authorities of Kuwait suggested serving flights in Al Kuwait Airport on beneficial terms and carrying out air communication between that country and Armenia.  Movsesyan said that Armenia is also interested in organizing air communication between the two countries, but these flights cannot be profitable yet, therefore, Armenia and Kuwait are quite careful in this matter.  "But I do not lose hope that we will gain progress
here, as the relations between the two countries' governments are quite actively developing, and the economic efficiency in other spheres will lead to establishment of air communication", he said. 

Besides the national air carrier Armavia, a number of Russian air companies make flights to Armenia, namely, Aeroflot, SarAvia, S7, Polet Airlines, UTair, Transaero. So do Lufthansa (Germany), Air France, Austrian Airlines, Aseman Airlines (Iran), Czech Airlines, Fly Dubai.

The Armenian Government is not going to obtain a stake in Armavia, Head of the Chief Civil Aviation Department of Armenia Artyom Movsesyan said at a briefing on Thursday.

He said that the company's current credit standing may push it to bankruptcy.  Movsesyan said that the company's ten-year contract with the Government expires on Apr 22 2013. "I don't think that a new contract will be signed as Armavia does not have enough funds for meeting its obligations. We are not inclined to leave this problem unresolved, so, unless by Apr 22 we sign a contract with another air carrier, the contract with Armavia will be prolonged for just a few days until we find a new operator," Movsesyan said.

He said that the Armenian authorities are considering how to further develop civil aviation: to create a state-owned air company, to invite a private operator, to liberalize the market or to adopt the open sky policy. "All of this scenarios have both good and bad aspects," Movsesyan said.

He said that no single foreign air company has yet applied for the right to provide civil air services in Armenia. "The interest is low but not because of the high prices at Zvartnots Airport. The prices are not high considering the difference of our service package from the variety of services provided by other international airports and keeping in mind the problems with air fuel imports," Movsesyan said.

He said that after the crisis many air companies began saving money and giving preference to more profitable destinations.

Ameria CJSC expects food, beverages and tobacco in Armenia to grow in price by 19%, 46% and 27% respectively in 2013-2015. This forecast is based on the survey of the Armenian food industry conducted in 2012. According to the results of the survey, 49% of foodstuff, including drinks and tobacco, falls on Yerevan. 13% of the foodstuff falls on Ararat region, 13% - on Kotayk region, 8% - on Shirak region, 4% - on Lori region, 3% - on Aragatsotn region, 3% - on Armavir region, 2% - on Gegharkunik region, 2% - on Syunik region, 2% - on Vayots Dzor region, and 1% - on Tavush region.

In 2012 the share of food industry in the processing industry of Armenia was 36%, the share of beverages was 14%, and the share of tobacco was 4%.

In the structure of foreign trade, the share of Armenian export to Georgia is the most diverse though it is not big (7.5%). Georgia is the main buyer of certain items of Armenian goods. For instance, meat and meat products, as well as the waste products of food industry and ready-made feeds for cattle are exported to Georgia only.  99% of sugar and sweet exports also fall on Georgia. Only 1% of exports of this group of goods falls on the USA. 79% of wheat, flour, starch and
dairy exports fall on Georgia.

The National Statistical Service of Armenia says that in 2012 Armenia's foreign trade turnover grew by 3.9% as compared with 2011 and totaled $5.695 bln (2.3 trln AMD). Exports totaled $1.428 bln (574.3 bln AMD, 7% growth versus 2011). Imports totaled $4.267 bln (1.7 trln AMD, 2.9% growth versus 2011). The food production output totaled 250 bln AMD, having declined by 0.3% versus 2011. The output of beverages grew by 14.3% to 100.8 bln AMD, and tobacco - by 57.1% to 25.4 bln AMD.

Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 418 drams for 1 dollar, 535drams for 1 EUR and 13,4 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 419,5 drams for 1 dollar, 539 drams for 1 EUR and 13,5 drams for 1 Russian ruble.

25-year-old Vrezh Galstyan, who was arrested for bursting into the Armenian Parliament's building with a knife on March 25, may be transferred to a psychiatric hospital and freed from punishment, Zhoghovurd (People) newspaper says.   

Gor Glechyan, Head of the PR and Media Division of the Penal Execution Department of the Armenian Justice Ministry, told the newspaper that Vrezh Galstyan, who received a gunshot wound, is still undergoing treatment. He is under the doctors' control. The newspaper says that the measure of restraint against Vrezh Galstyan is 2-month imprisonment in Nubarashen penitentiary. However, if the expert examination says that Galstyan has mental disorder, he will be transferred to a psychiatric hospital and freed from punishment.

The rates of influenza and acute respiratory tract infections are diminishing in Armenia, the Health Ministry reports. 

A total of 114040 cases were revealed in the country on March 11-17 against 10180 on March 18-24. In addition, the number of ambulance call-outs concerning respiratory tract infections has also dropped. As regards the lethal outcome of a 7-year-old child in Tavush region, the laboratory analyses revealed influenza A.     

Earlier it was reported that 3 people have died of H1N1 (swine flue) since early 2013. Given the rates of the flue and acute respiratory tract infections among the pupils, the spring holidays at schools have been prolonged till March 31.