YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The "Karabakh Telecom" company and "ArmenTel" have come to a mutual agreement regarding a mutually advantageous cooperation. According to the Director General of the "Karabakh Telecom" company Ralf Yerikian–during a press conference in Stepanakert on February 12–said that the agreement was reached during the last eight months as a result of negotiations with "ArmenTel". According to Yerikian–the "ArmenTel" company should not worry about competition–as "Karabakh Telecom" will cover only the market of Artsakh–and cooperation with foreign countries will be realized through "ArmenTel".
Director General Yerikian said that according to the agreement concluded with the Nagorno Karabakh Government–during the first year "Karabakh Telecom" will invest a minimum of $10 million– and during the second year–a minimum of $5 million. According to Yerikian–equipment worth $12 million has already been installed.
According to Nagorno Karabakh Prime Minister Arnold Abrahamian–by decision of the Karabakh Government–"Karabakh Telecom" has been issued a license for telecommunication activities for a period of 30 years and has also been deprived of the right to monopoly in this sphere.
"The Nagorno Karabakh tax system is a safe guarantee for investmen’s and the development of our business," said Ralph Irakian–Director General of the "Karabakh Telecom" CJSC–a Lebanese businessman of Armenian origin. He also pointed out the fact that the results of the reforms implemented in the NKR economy during the past two years have been fixed in the investment programs of the communication system. According to Irakian–adjusting the legislation to the new market mentality in business predicts a rather promising future for businessmen for whom it is much more advantageous to make investmen’s in Karabakh than in other recognized countries.
According to Irakian–"Karabakh Telecom" aims to develop the telephone network in the NKR and adjust it to the international standards–as well as introduce novelties: satellite communication system–the Internet–paging system–audio and video network–fax–and other services.
Irakian said: "We work within the limits of normal and admissible incomes–that is why we will have a chance to work with such low tariffs." Regarding "Karabakh Telecom" he said no changes are expected in the charges for common telephone communication and no per-minute billing system will be introduced.
