Iranian parliament approves $462 billion budget bill May 17, 2012 - 12:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Iranian parliament on Thursday, May 17 approved state's total budget bill for the current Iranian year (started March 20) with a ceiling of 5,660,000 billion rials ($462 billion), state-run IRNA news agency reported. The bill was passed after 14 sessions in 8 days, with 123 votes in favor, 46 against and 14 abstentions. The budget is about 9% less than that approved in the previous calendar year. This is a result of the new official exchange rate of the U.S dollar, which has increased to 12,260 rials to the dollar. The Iranian currency has lost much of its value because of Western sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.   Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion.   Partner news |  Latest news Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty  Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty.Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza.Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations.Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |
