It was found out that under the crisis conditions the Armenian small and medium enterprises (SME) have assumed the basic load of tax payments, as numerous complaints were received from them with respect to the increased number of inspections by tax services. The government’s image was undermined once again and it caused Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s concern. He addressed his discontent to the RA Ministries of Finance and Economy, which have not fulfilled their obligations properly. Thus, the reforms implemented by the government to minimize personal relations between tax bodies’ and business’ representatives have not yielded results. Is it possible that the reformers do not hurry to implement them, aiming to line their own pockets in the end?

In world politics a situation can develop in two possible ways: either badly or too badly. Moreover, these variants can be applied both to the strong side and to the weak side, given the fact that yesterday’s weakness is today’s power and vice versa. In terms of the “Armenian question” this can be interpreted in the following way: if Barack Obama dares to utter the word “genocide” it will be bad for the Armenians, and if he doesn’t – it will be too bad.

When Karine Mkrtchyan, 30, came up with an idea six months ago to bring Armenia’s hidden problems to the surface, she placed her thoughts on the backburner, thinking it could take years to realize her dream.

Yerevan will host National Gallery VI International Music Festival from April 21 to June 2. “Musicians from Armenia, Russia, Sweden and Slovenia will be participating,” Festival founder Mariam Shahinyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. The Festival will open with a concert of Youth State Orchestra of Armenia and honored artist of Armenia, pianist Svetlana Navasardyan. Duo Claripiano from Sweden will perform Sen-Sans and Shubert’s works on April 29. Swedish violinist Hugo Tizziati and Armenian pianist Hayk Melikyan will present modern classical music, including Tigran Mansuryan’s works, on May 5. Armenian State Chamber Choir (conductor Robert Mlkeyan) will perform on May 14.

Weightlifting: Armenia’s Smbat Margaryan, 17, (w/c 56kg) won the jerk gold at the European Weightlifting Championships going on in Minsk, Belarus. In snatch, clean and jerk combination, Margaryan won the silver medal, lifting 225 kg. The champion’s title went to Belarus’ Vitaly Derbenev. Arsen Tarmazyan, representing Russia, came 9th. On April 8, World Weightlifting Championships silver winner and Olympic Games bronze winner Tigran Martirosyan (w/c 77kg) entered the filed.

Main political events of last week started with April 5 interview of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Der Spiegel.

Saint Archangels (St Gevorg) Church was repaired and consecrated in the village of Tsira, Akhaltskha region. An Armenian church will be restored in Feodosia and one will be built in Malta. All three projects were initiated by Armenian communities. Meanwhile, both Armenian intellectual elite and ordinary people oppose the idea of building a church instead of Moscow cinema open-air hall.