OSCE: small and medium-sized businesses must be supported in crisisMarch 6, 2009 - 21:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An OSCE-supported conference focusing on Armenian and Russian perspectives on the global financial crisis took place in Yerevan today.The meeting, organized by the Armenian Russian (Slavonic) University of Armenia and the Russian Academy of Science Institute of Economics with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, looked at how the effects of the crisis can be reduced. The discussion paid particular attention to how the crisis affects Armenia following the decision on Tuesday by the country's Central Bank to return to a floating exchange regime. The Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, delivered a speech discussing the challenges facing Armenia because of the world financial crisis. "In a crisis situation, it is important to ensure competitiveness and to support to small and medium-sized business. Such measures in combination with effective economic policies may be decisive in overcoming the negative impacts of the crisis," he said. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan underlined the need to view the crisis from various perspectives, including as an opportunity. Several research papers were presented during the meeting. 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 | U.S. warns Georgia not to side with Moscow against the west Georgia has been warned by the U.S. not to become an adversary of the west by falling back in line with Moscow. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. |