Month: September 2008

95 TRANSACTIONS WORTH AMD 889.8 MILLION EFFECTED IN 2ND Q

ARKA
Sep 2, 2008

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. National Statistical Service of Armenia
reports that 95 transactions worth AMD 889.8 million were effected
in the second quarter of this year.

The report says that transactions worth 860.5 million were effected
in the previous quarter.

According to the statistical report, transactions on corporate bonds
amounted to AMD 685.5 million, deals on government bonds AMD 195.6
million and stocks AMD 8.7 million.

13 companies underwent listing in the second quarter.

Armenian Stock Exchange (Armex) was established in 2001 as
self-regulating merger of 21 broker (dealer) companies.

In November 2007, Armex was reorganized into open joint stock company.

In January 2008, OMX (now NASDAQ OMX) is the sole owner of Armex and
Central Depository. ($1=AMD 302.44).

BORDIUJA: NATO CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SITUATION TO SPEED UP PROCESS OF UKRAINE’S ACCESSION

ARKA
Sep 2, 2008

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. The NATO can take advantage of the
current situation to speed up the process of Ukraine’s accession
to the Alliance, said General Secretary of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolay Bordiuja.

According to him, the situation is clear now, and masks are thrown off.

"Now we see who is who and I understand now why the NATO does not want
to cooperate with the CSTO in organizational format in particular,"
Bordiuja said adding that before false explanations were being given
for this.

"Now everybody understands why our initiatives were being blocked,
including those on problems of joint measures against drug trafficking
from Afghanistan," he said adding that the reasons came up only
now.

ARMENIA SHOULD MAKE ACTIVE ITS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH GEORGIA, NA DEPUTY HAYK SANOSIAN IS CONVINCED

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia should make active its
diplomatic relations with Georgia, as today they are at a very low
level. Hayk Sanosian, a RA NA deputy, the Co-chairman of the Union
of Georgian Armenians NGO, expressed such an opinion at the September
2 press conference.

According to him, the diplomatic relations between the two
countries are only on the economic plane. "That is, if we have
no economic interest, we do not communicate with each other. While
historic-cultural values should be the basis of Armenia’s and Georgia’s
diplomacy," H. Sanosian said.

The NA deputy also said that two dozens of schools have been repaired
with nearly 200m drams (about 667 thousand USD) allocated from the
RA state budget this year. He expressed the hope that this process
will be permanent.

Meanwhile H. Sanosian said that schools in the same number have been
also fundamentally repaired by the Georgian authorities.

Touching upon the construction of Kars-Akhalkalak-Baku railway,
H. Sanosian said that there are rumors that allegedly the construction
will be stopped.

"As warming of Armenian-Turkish relations is expected, naturally,
I think the Turkish and Georgian governments leaving the existing
railway will not make new expenditures," he said.

RAISING OF ISSUE OF JAVAKHK AUTONOMY TODAY IS NOT IN ARMENIA’S INTERESTS, NA DEPUTY HAYK SANOSIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Today it is not urgent and topical
to raise the issue of Javakhk’s autonomy. Hayk Sanosian, a RA National
Assembly deputy, the Co-chairman of the Union of Georgian Armenians
NGO, reported at the September 2 press conference. According to him,
raising such issues in Javakhk is not in Armenia’s interests. "Such
issues cause great shocks and I do not consider that Armenia is
ready to resist them. "The events in Javakhk have a direct impact on
Armenia’s foreign policy, as well as economy," H.

Sanosian said adding that "Armenia-Georgia-Javakhk" is an interrelated
system, therefore we should treat such issues very delicately. Besides,
the NKR problem is not solved yet and we should not let one issue
incomplete and pass to the other.

In response to the question of why information was spread by Russian
media that allegedly Javakhk is going to raise the issue of its
autonomy, the deputy said: "Maybe Georgia’s having a problem with
other national minorities is beneficial for the Russian side."

In H. Sanosian’s opinion, Armenia’s position over the latest regional
events should not be neutral. "Armenia should be active and call the
two states for sitting at the negotiations table," he said.

NZP CALLS RA AUTHORITIES FOR REFRAINING FROM ADVENTUROUS POLICY IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. "In case of making a one-sided
and turning change in the course of Armenian-Turkish relations
Serzh Sargsyan, besides superficial and ambiguous judgements, should
point out to the deep motives of these changes." The Nor Zhamanakner
(New Times) party made such a statement on September 2. The party,
in particular, expressed the hope that President S. Sargsyan and
the other coalition forces exactly realize the lack of prospect in
Armenian-Turkish relations, "as in that sphere they rather come across
insuperable obstacles than outline positive factors."

Calling the RA authorities for refraining from short-sighted and
adventurous policy, NZP warned that otherwise Armenia can finally
tangle in the vortex of clash of regional challenges and mutually
contradicting interests and become an unprotected and vulnerable state.

"Before establishing good-neighborly relations with our immediate
neighbor be should take into consideration historic experience and
memory. Over the centuries Armenia has concluded rather successful
alliances with Assyria, Persia, Roman Empire, Russia, but all attempts
of establishing close political relations with Turkey as a rule have
had a bad outcome," the NZP statement read.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF BIRTH OF LATE CATHOLICOS VASKEN I TO BE HELD IN U.S. WESTERN DIOCESE

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

LOS ANGELES, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The special
Centennial Celebration of the Birth of the Late Catholiocs Vasken I
will be held at the U.S. Western Diocese on September 17, 2008.

Vasken I was born in Bucharest in 1908. His Holiness led the Armenian
Holy Apostolic Church from 1955 to 1994 as the Catholicos and
Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians. During the Communist regime, the
Armenian Church endured persecution and financial hardship. Despite
the numerous challenges, His Holiness was able to successfully lead
the Church through those difficult times.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LILIT MKRTCHIAN DRAWS IN FIRST GAME OF SECOND ROUND AT WORLD KNOCKOUT CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

NALCHIK, SEPTEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. First games of the 2nd round of
the Women’s World Knockout Chess Chapionship were held in the city of
Nalchik, Russia on September 1. Armenian GM Lilit Mkrtchian drew with
Anna Gasik of Poland, while US-based Katerina Rohunian was beaten by
Inna Gaponenko (Ukraine).

Second games of the 2nd round are scheduled for September 2.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVON ARONIAN TO PLAY AGAINST MAGNUS CARLSEN AT START OF GRAND SLAM IN BILBAO

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

BILBAO, SEPTEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. A Chess Grand Slam started in
Bilbao, Spain on September 2. Armenian GM Levon Aronian will play
against Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the first round.

The Grand Slam with the participation of Viswanathan Anand (India),
Vasily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and Teymur
Rajabov (Azerbaijan) will end on September 13.

165 SPORTS SCHOOLS FUNCTION IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The sports schools of Armenia
opened their doors before pupils on September 1st. NT correspondent was
informed by Samson Hakobian, the head of the Unit for Organizing Work
on the Training of Young Sport Generation, that there are 165 sports
schools in Armenia, including 49 in Yerevan, with a total of 1,814
coaches (729 in Yerevan). Out of 43,471 sportsmen and sportswomen
engaged in 43 kinds of sports, 17,212 ones live in Yerevan. 56 out
of 927 Armenian communities have sports schools.

Among the most popular sport kinds are wrestling (7,452 sportsmen),
football (5,631), boxing (3,314), weightlifting (2,599) and judo
(2,169).

In 2001-2007, 52 gyms, 2 athletic maneges, a stadium, 3
shooting-grounds, as well as swimming-pools, educational and
dormitory buildings of 38 sports schools, 2 colleges and other sports
organizations were constructed and repaired with funds of the Social
Fund, the state budget and "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund.

The average salary of coaches is 33 thousand drams, the salary of
those with a seniority of over 20 years makes 42 thousand drams
(about 140 USD).

More than 12,000 sportsmen and sportswomen were engaged in athletics
in the early 1990s. Today their number has declined to 2,411. Not to
mention a small number of those engaged in games such as basketball
(3,419), volleyball (1,549) and handball (880).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HUSEYIN AVNI KARSLIOGLU: "IF ABDULLAH GUL VISITS YEREVAN, HE WILL SURELY DISCUSS NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM"

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. "It is not exact that Turkish President
Abdullah Gul will visit Yerevan on September 6", Huseyin Avni
Karslioglu, head of Turkish President’s Protocol Department told
APA exclusively.

To him, if the visit takes place, Turkish and Armenian Presidents
will also discuss Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"If the visit takes place, Nagorno Karabakh problem will surely be
discussed. We do not want Nagorno Karabakh to remain as a "frozen
conflict", but to be solved peacefully, through dialogue," he said.

Huseyin Avni Karslioglu had been Turkey’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan.