Month: August 2008

Panorama.am

18:59 15/08/2008

`ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE’ IS TO START ON 17 AUGUST

On August 17 `One Nation, One Culture’ all Armenian cultural third
festival is to start and 947 representatives from 16 countries will
take part in it, said Tamara Poghosyan the director of the festival’s
foundation in a press conference. 239 representatives from Russia, 199
from Georgia, 91 from Turkey, as well as from Serbia, Bulgaria, Syria,
and USA are to participate in the festival.

According to T. Poghosyan the key frame of the festival is out on the
marzes of Armenia which is innovation compared with the previous
year. She said that only official opening and closing ceremonies and
an event named `Devotion’ are to be implemented in Yerevan. `Festival
Day in Marzes’ and `Festival Day in Artsakh’ will be implemented.

`Our participants have been always complaining that they wish to see
Armenia and not only Yerevan,’ she said. Davir Muradyan, the Deputy
Minister of Education who was present at the conference, said that the
mission of the festival is to fill the gap between Armenian youth and
youth of Diaspora.

Source: Panorama.am
From: Baghdasarian

Panorama.am

18:41 15/08/2008

EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC: JAZZ & ROCK ENSEMBLE

On 19 August Armenian-French jazz-rock concert is to take place in
Yerevan with the participation of guitarist Marcello Cordova, pianist
Wensan Buig, percussion instruments Ando Parseghyan and Armenian
musician guitarist Boris Andreasyan, said Boris Andreasyan in a press
conference.

`The concert is separated into several parts. Jazz and rock will be
presented ensemble, which is an extraordinary thing,’ he said.

The musicians said that they have had two experimental meetings but
they have felt they understand each other though they do have a
language problem.

Source: Panorama.am

Irish Times, Ireland
Saturday, August 16, 2008

Russia gets frosty response from former Soviet allies

Some of Russia’s closest allies in the former Soviet bloc have
distanced themselves from Moscow over its conflict with Georgia,
heralding a possible rift with the Kremlin.

Belarus, Kazakhstan and others in the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) remained silent for days after fighting erupted last week
as they scrambled to work out their positions.

As Russia grew uneasy over the silence, its ambassador to Belarus
chided Minsk for failing to offer open support. Belarus eventually
expressed condolences for the victims almost a week into the conflict
but kept it statements neutral.

Georgia then announced it was pulling out of the CIS – a Russian-led
grouping of former Soviet states – and urged others to follow suit.

Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has skilfully balanced
strong ties with both Russia and the US, broke the silence on
Wednesday, offering unusually strong words and saying CIS unity was
under threat.

"Complex inter-ethnic issues should be solved through peaceful means,
through negotiations. There is no military solution to these issues,"
he said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, due to actions by some CIS states, our community has
become weak and has no levers to intervene in such conflicts."

Armenia, Russia’s staunchest ally in the strategic South Caucasus
region, also expressed concern. "It has been noted that attempts to
solve existing problems through military means are fraught with tragic
consequences," the presidential press service said in a statement.

Russia-friendly Turkmenistan, courted by the West as a new source of
energy for Europe, likewise said "conflicts must be solved only
through peaceful, diplomatic efforts".

The conflict over South Ossetia has already given rise to further
disagreement between Russia and Ukraine, which has sharply criticised
Moscow’s military incursion.

In a gesture of support, Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko, with the
leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and Poland attended a mass
rally in Tbilisi this week.

Russia’s traditional allies were more restrained and some, such as
Uzbekistan, have preferred to stay out by saying nothing.

Azerbaijan, keen to regain control over its own rebel region of
Nagorno-Karabakh, avoided sharp words and called for peace.

"We support the territorial integrity of Georgia and support efforts
to avoid the escalation [of violence] in the region and restore
peace," a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated region of Azerbaijan, broke
away following a war soon after the Soviet Union collapsed in
1991. The region, backed by Armenia, claims full independence but is
not internationally recognised.

However, independent Azeri media have criticised the government over
its ambiguous position. The widely read Zerkalo newspaper described
Russia’s actions as "fascism".

Commentators in Russia said Moscow was caught off guard by this
reaction from its ex-Soviet neighbours. "Everyone in Moscow thought:
‘We are in the right and the enemy will be destroyed’, but in Minsk
and other CIS capitals everyone was in disarray," Nezavisimaya Gazeta
daily wrote.

"This has totally paralysed the CIS leaders including Belarus. Moscow
did not expect this from its closest ally."

– (Reuters)

© 2008 The Irish Times

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey

German Efforts for Georgia

Cenk Alican
Saturday , 16 August 2008

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her deep concerns regarding
the conflict in the separatist pro-Russian enclaves of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia in the run-up to her meeting with Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev in the Black Sea City of Sotchi ` a place just 35
kilometres far to the Georgian border and the expected venue of the
2014 Winter Olympic Games. It will be Medvedev`s 100th day in office
when Merkel arrives on Friday.

Some topics on the meeting agenda changed at a short term and most of
them will focus on the heavy fighting between Russian and Georgian
forces since late last week and will try to find satisfying
solutions. Chancellery Spokesman Thomas Steg said that Merkel called
for an end of the violence, the proper and unconditional withdrawal of
all forces from the crisis area and the search for a political
solution during a phone conversation with Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili on Monday.

Actually Merkel`s visit to Russia and her meeting with Medvedev were
planned to shape the frame of a relaxed and trustful friendship that
would deepen mutual relations and give Merkel the opportunity to
sightsee the Olympic sites. The chilled and smooth atmosphere between
both sides` predecessors Putin and Schröder was expected to
create an exemplary and fruitful basis for this meeting. But now, with
a crisis next door, international criticism on Russia’s
disproportionate military response and the fear of oil and gas
shortages through Georgian pipelines, Merkel will need to line up
intensive diplomacy in Sotchi. She already emphasized her respect for
Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Also, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made diplomatic
efforts this weekend. He had presented some solution proposals to the
Georgian Government and to the internationally not recognized
authority of the Abkhaz Region during his two-day journey to Georgia
in July. Steinmeier held talks regarding a 3-step-plan with Medvedev
and his Russian counterpart Sergej Lawrow at that time. Germany is
coordinator of a Friendship Group under the umbrella of the UN
Secretary and it participates the United Nations Observer Mission in
Georgia (UNOMIG) with military observers and sanitary troops. UNOMIG
has been monitoring the ceasefire between the conflict parties since
2003. Steinmeier`s efforts yielded fruits and he was able to establish
two direct contacts between Georgian Foreign Minister Eka
Tkeshelashvili and Lawrow at the weekend. Besides, the German Foreign
Ministry provided an immediate 1-Million-Euro humanitarian aid package
and enabled its supply to the civil population through two
humanitarian corridors. In the meanwhile, the German Embassy in
Tbilisi organized busses to transport its citizens out of the
country. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jens Ploetner made clear that this
action is not part of an evacuation plan, but helps Germans to leave
Georgia and to head for the Armenian capital of Yerevan voluntarily.

U.S.-backed Georgia called for ceasefire and signed unilaterally a
four-step peace plan initiated by French Foreign Minister and head of
the rotating EU Council Presidency Bernard Kouchner. Together with his
Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb he runs talks in Tbilisi and
Moscow. German Minister of State Gernot Erler appealed for Russia to
co-operate with international mediators and MP Eckart von Klaeden
criticized Russia’s attitude as provocative. EU Foreign Ministers will
hold a special conference after the return of Kouchner from the crisis
area.

Young, charismatic and ambitious Saakashvili desires to join NATO, but
he seems to have failed his election campaign promise to re-establish
Georgia’s territorial integrity. He also miscalculated Russia’s
military and strategic power that stands head and shoulders above the
Georgian capabilities. The western governments ` including Germany `
did not recognize the seriousness of the situation in time. The crisis
turns to become an internal conflict of the European Union how to deal
with Eastern neighbours, especially with Russia. Germany’s `gas
diplomacy’ through the direct pipeline connection with Russia `
initiated by former Chancellor Schröder- and the Baku-Ceyhan-Pipeline
that runs partly through Georgia and feeds the European consumers has
an outstanding significance, despite harsh words and warnings by
Merkel. She should be well aware of the situation.

RA President organized a conference of National Security Counsel

armradio.am
16.08.2008 17:11

The RA President Serzh Sargsyan held a sitting of National security
counsel during which the situation in the region during the last few
days was discussed. The Secretary of Counsel Arthur Bachdasaryan and
the Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandyan made announcements. The
RA President expressed his trouble about the situation in the region.
It was noted that the problem must not be solved by military way as it
can bring tragic consequences. The President stressed again that the
Russian Federation is the strategic ally of the Armenian Republic, and
Georgia is our friend. So Armenia is very interested in quick
regulation of the problem. Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia is ready to
show humanitarian help. During the conference the participants
discussed the problems of Armenia in such a situation. The RA President
commended to determine a temporary regime without entrance patent for
the transit trips of the citizens of the countries which are the
members of EU.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The third `One nation, one culture’ festival will be opened in Armenia

armradio.am
16.08.2008 17:29

The third Panarmenian cultural festival `One nation, one culture’ will
be organized in August 17-23 in Armenia. Cultural delegacies from
Armenia and other 16 countries will take part in it. During the
conference the RA Minister of Culture David Muradyan noted that the
chief aim of the festival is to gather the creative potential both from
Armenia and from Diaspora.

The executive director of `One nation, one culture’ foundation Tamar
Pokhosyan thinks that this festival is politically, nationally and
culturally great event which has been able to achieve its aim since
1999. The festival is being financed by the state from 2003. To remind,
there are delegacies from 16 countries to take part in the festival.
The greatest delegacy is from Russian Federation (239 participants),
then Georgia (199) and Iran (172). Cultural groups from NKR, Turkey,
Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Macedonia, Syria, Holland, Hungary,
Serbia, Bulgaria and the USA will also take part in the festival. The
main genre directions are the music, dance and theatre. In the scopes
of the festival `Dprats das’ choir from Turkey will have private
concert. Today 350 people have already entered Armenia from Turkey,
Georgia and the USA. The festival will be opened in the National
Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The=2
0solemn ceremony of closing
will take place in the Republic Square. The organizers hope that the
festival will be passed with great attention and care.

To remind, the festival `One nation, one culture’ is being organized
under the high favor of RA President Serzh Sargsyan, RA Ministry of
Culture, RA Foreign Affairs Ministry and `One nation, one culture’
foundation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia won the 5th bronze medal

armradio.am
16.08.2008 17:32

Armenia won the 5th bronze medal in the summer Olympic Games in
Beijing. In the non official competitions table of 203 participant
countries Armenia is the 41st. In the first place is China which won
other 4 gold medals yesterday and now it has 26 gold medals. Except of
this China won 9 silver and 6 bronze medals. In the second place is
America which has 14 gold, 13 silver and 18 bronze medals.

Armenia harbored 8 Ossetians

armradio.am
16.08.2008 18:08

The RA Ministry of Territorial Governing informed the `Regnum’ agency
that during the last days 8 Ossetians and 16 Armenians (citizens of
Georgia) asked the Armenian authorities to give them a temporary
shelter.
Before this other two citizens of Georgia had applied to the RA
Ministry.

To remind, from the beginning of the counteraction between Georgia and
Ossetia 7, 5 000 citizens of Armenia and 3 000 foreigners have been
moved from Georgia to Armenia.

73,641 mln AMD transactions by means of plastic cards effected in
Armenia

YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. A total of 1,541,602 transactions worth
73,641mln AMD were effected by means of plastic cards in Armenia in the
2nd quarter 2008. The press service of the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA) reports that 5,846mln AMD noncash transactions were effected by
means of cards.

In the 2nd quarter of 2008, a 1.6-fold (26,780mln AMD) increase in the
volume of transactions was recorded as compared with the corresponding
period last year. The number of transactions increased 1.5 times
(493,244 transactions). A 29.7% increase in the number of noncash
transactions was recorded, their share in the total volume of
transactions being 7.9%.

A total of 509mln AMD Internet transactions were effected, with the
volume of e-transactions totaling 243mln AMD, and card-to-card
transfers 266mln AMD.

A total of 685,842 transactions worth 25,366mln AMD were effected by
means of local cards ArCa ` a 1.6-fold (9,424mln AMD) increase as
compared with the corresponding period last year. In the 2nd quarter of
2008, 184,918 more transactions were effected as compared with the
corresponding period last year ` a 1.4-fold increase.

A total of 508,834 transactions worth 30,788mln AMD were effected by
means of VISA cards in the 2nd quarter of 2008 – 10,993 more
transactions as compared with the corresponding period last year
(a1.5-fold incre
ase).

A 1.6-fold increase (2,751mln AMD) was recorded in the volume of
transactions effected in the 2nd quarter of 2008 as compared with the
corresponding period last year.

A total of 223,752 transactions worth a total of 10,094mln AMD were
effected in the 2nd quarter of 2008 ` an increase of 3,612mln AMD as
compared with the corresponding period last year.

By the end of the 2nd quarter of 2008, 183,745 local cards ArCa had
been effective ` 27,505 cards more as compared with the corresponding
date last year (a 1.18-fold increase).

The number of international cards increased by 23,975 ` a 1.13-fold
increase as compared with the corresponding period last year.

The number of VISA cards increased by 14,099 (a 1.11-fold increase) and
reached 147,142, and that of MasterCards by 5,222 (a 1.2-fold increase)
and reached 31,901. P.T. `0–

72 freight cars for Armenia delayed on Gori-Tbilisi railway section

YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. A blown-up bridge on the Gori-Tbilisi
railway section detained 72 freight cars for Armenia.

The bridge, which was blown up on August 16, is located 40km away of
Gori, the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication reports.

Susanna Tonoyan, Press Secretary of the RA Ministry of Transport and
Communication, said that Armenia is considering alternatives ways of
delivering the cargo.

She said that forwarding companies had delivered 62 carloads of cargoes
to Armenia before the incident.

Tonoyan also said that the damage is being estimated. P.T. `0–