Russia’s ex-finance minister predicts 2-3 more years of eurozone crisisFebruary 10, 2012 - 14:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union will continue to grapple with a debt crisis for the next two or three years, Russia's former finance minister Alexei Kudrin said on Friday, Feb 10. According to RIA Novosti, responding to a question from a Twitter user whether Italy would return to the lira in 2012, Kudrin said that would not be clear until after 2012. "The debt crisis in Europe will unfold over (the next) two or three years. This is why the fate of the Italian currency will be known after 2012," Kudrin wrote in his Twitter account. He said in late January that the currency crisis in Europe had already started and that he was 90 percent certain that one to three states would leave the eurozone. Greece, Ireland and Portugal have the largest debt problems, while Spain and Italy may enter the high-risk zone in the near future. As for gold, Kudrin wrote that it is overrated and gold prices might grow in the short-term but will decline after that. Prices for gold went up nearly 10 percent in 2011, an eleventh straight year of gains and the longest growth streak since 1920. Investors view gold as a safer alternative to unstable currencies and highly volatile shares amid debt crisis in the EU states and rising inflation in various countries. 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 | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |