Month: October 2008

"RUSSIA NEEDS NO CONTROLLABLE CRISES"
Madina Shavlokhova, Olga Pavlikova

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 22, 2008 Monday
Russia

SERGEI LAVROV: RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA IS NOT
A PRECEDENT; Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Senators to
discuss results of the crisis in the Caucasus and proclaim Russia’s
foreign policy as peaceful.

Addressing enlarged meeting of the Federation Council’s Committee
for International Affairs yesterday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
said that recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was setting no
precedents for the Trans-Dniester and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts.

The minister reiterated his determination to continue promotion of
peaceful settlement of conflicts in the Commonwealth on the basis of
the international law. "I’m talking of the Trans-Dniester region and
Nagorno-Karabakh," he said. "Every conflict has its own distinctive
features and formats and mechanisms of international brokering,
but the South Ossetian crisis sets no precedents for them."

Committee Chairman Mikhail Margelov told Gazeta that the
Russian Federation intended to promote reunification of the
Trans-Dniester region with Moldova and settlement of the conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh. "We observe certain progress in the processes
of settlement there," he said. "Moreover, there have been no acts
of genocide or outright aggressions there." Margelov even referred
to the latest opinion poll conducted by the All-Russian Public
Opinion Research Center that revealed a doubling of the number of
the respondents supporting recognition of Kosovo. Pollsters say that
only 15% respondents advocated recognition of Pristina in March and
31% in September when Russia officially recognized South Ossetia
and Abkhazia. Margelov pronounced Russian diplomacy’s stand on the
matter of Kosovo unchanged. "We are constantly criticized for being
illogical because we do recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia but
deny recognition to Kosovo," Margelov said. "Let us then consider
the West. Is the West being logical? Since it recognized Kosovo,
it should have recognized South Ossetia with Abkhazia too, as well
as the North Cyprus and the republic in the west Sahara."

In any event, Lavrov’s meeting with senators was focused on results
of the conflict in the Caucasus. The minister reminded those present
that recognition of their sovereignty had been the only guarantee
of security of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and actually of their
very survival in the face of Tbilisi’s chauvinistic policy. "I’m
talking of the policy going back into the days of Gamsakhurdia (Zviad
Gamsakhurdia – first president of post-Soviet Georgia – Gazeta) who
suggested deportation of all Ossetians into Russia," the minister said.

Speaking of how the foreign media covered the operation against
Georgia, Lavrov called it counter-productive. "General public in Russia
is perfectly aware of Western journalists’ biases and prejudices,"
he said. According to the minister, the way the foreign media covered
the conflict exposed the depth of anti-Russian trends the West was
using to promote its own objectives and interests in nearby countries
including Ukraine.

Lavrov was disturbed by the efforts of some Western countries and
Georgia to revise the agreements president of Russia and France made in
Moscow. "We expect that our partners in the European Union, the ones
who also signed Medvedev-Sarkozy principles and became guarantors of
security of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, will put an end to the travesty
of the truth and common sense within the framework of the OSCE."

Margelov would later say that the minister proclaimed Russia’s
foreign policy as thoroughly peaceful. "Lavrov made it plain that
Russia is not going to foment any controllable crises in order to
fish in troubled waters."

IRAN TO MEET ARMENIAN ENERGY DEMANDS

UPI Energy
September 23, 2008 Tuesday 1:15 PM EST

Iran will supply Armenia with enough natural gas through the
Iran-Armenia pipeline to meet its energy demands for the winter,
officials said.

Reza Kasaei Zadeh, director of the Iranian Gas Export Co., told the
Iranian Students’ News Agency Tuesday Iran would surpass the original
estimated gas exports of 2.5 million cubic meters per year.

"Iran will pump 3 million cubic meters of gas to Armenia during this
winter," he said.

The $220 million, 87-mile pipeline began construction in 2007 during
a ceremony attended by Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to bring diversity to the region.

Russia was a primary exporter of natural gas to Armenia.

Construction on the pipeline concluded Sept. 12.

90TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAKU`S LIBERATION FROM BOLSHEVIK- ARMENIAN OCCUPATION MARKED IN TORONTO

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
September 23, 2008 Tuesday

Azerbaijani and Turkish communities have organized a ceremony, in
Toronto, Canada, to mark the 90th anniversary of Baku`s liberation
from Bolshevik- Armenian occupation.

The event brought together Azerbaijani and Turkish MPs who are
attending the OSCE PA fall session, Azerbaijan`s Charge daffaires in
Canada Farid Shafiyev, counsellor at the Turkish embassy in Canada
Yonet Tezel and others.

Azerbaijan`s Deputy Speaker, head of the parliamentary delegation to
the OSCE PA Bahar Muradova told of national leader Heydar Aliyev`s
efforts to enhance the country`s image in the world community.

She stressed the Azerbaijan Government was willing to organize joint
activities of Turkic-speaking peoples` Diaspora organizations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COORDINATION CHEMISTRY: RESEARCH FROM T.S. KURTIKYAN AND CO-AUTHORS YIELDS NEW DATA ON COORDINATION CHEMISTRY

Science Letter
September 23, 2008

According to a study from Yerevan, Armenia, "The formation of a
series of six-coordinate complexes (B)Co(TPP)(NO2) (B is ketone,
aldehyde, ether or epoxide; TPP is meso-tetraphenylporphyrin dianion)
on exposure of thin films of five-coordinate Co(TPP)(NO2) to vapors
of the O-donor ligands was established by IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy
(resorting to the data on isotope-substituted (NO2)-N-15)."

"The complex formation is accompanied by shifts of the vibration
frequencies of the trans-NO2 ligand and gives rise to new IR bands
corresponding to the O-donors in the nu(C=O) or nu(C-O) region
shifted with respect to these bands of free ligands. The complexes
are rather stable in the solid phase but eliminate the O-donor
ligand upon dissolution in an inert solvent (or upon maintenance
in a vacuum for some complexes) being converted into the initial
five-coordinate nitro complex," wrote T.S. Kurtikyan and colleagues
(see also Coordination Chemistry).

The researchers concluded: "Using the IR spectra of CCl4 solutions
of the complexes containing a large excess of O-donor molecules,
the equilibrium constants and the formation enthalpies of some
(B)Co(TPP)(NO2) complexes were determined, indicating weak coordination
of these ligands."

Kurtikyan and colleagues published the results of their research
in Russian Journal of Coordination Chemistry (Direct synthesis of
six-coordinate nitro complexes of cobalt meso-tetraphenylporphyrinate
with trans-O-donor ligands. Russian Journal of Coordination Chemistry,
2008;34(8):606-611).

For additional information, contact T.S. Kurtikyan, National Academy
Science Armenia, Center Invest Molecular Structural, Yerevan, Armenia.

The publisher of the Russian Journal of Coordination Chemistry can be
contacted at: Maik Nauka, Interperiodica, Springer, 233 Spring St.,
New York, NY 10013-1578, USA.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GENERAL CHEMISTRY: REPORTS FROM G.B. BAGDASARYAN AND CO-RESEARCHERS ADD NEW DATA TO RESEARCH IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY

Science Letter
September 23, 2008

According to a study from Yerevan, Armenia, "A method of the
s,mthesis of triphenylpropargylphosphonium bromide is developed. Its
isomerization and hydration in various solvents are studied, and
reactions with secondary arnines, tricthylamine, and triphenylphosphine
are carried out."

"It is established that secondary arnines add to the intermediate
allene isomer with subsequent migration ofthe formed double
bond to the phosphorus atorn. The reaction of triethylamine with
trir.henylpropargyl and triphenylethynyl bromides occurs similarly to
alkaline hydrolysis involving attack of’ the amine on the phosphorus
atom. Triphenylphosphine fornis with triphenylpropar-ylphosphonium
biomide a bis-salt with a terminal methylene group," wrote
G.B. Bagdasaryan and colleagues (see also General Chemistry).

The researchers concluded: "Experimental evidence is obtained showinc
-, that for plioi;phoxazole derivatives to form from oxiines derived
from triphenyl(oxomethyl)phosphonium salts tha latter should bear an
aryl substituent at the keto group."

Bagdasaryan and colleagues published the results of their research in
Russian Journal of General Chemistry (Synthesis and transformations
of triphenylpropargylphosphonium bromide. Russian Journal of General
Chemistry, 2008;78(6):1177-1183).

For additional information, contact G.B. Bagdasaryan, National Academy
Science Armenia, Institute Organ Chemical, Ul Z Kanakertsi 167A,
Yerevan 375091, Armenia.

The publisher of the Russian Journal of General Chemistry can be
contacted at: Maik Nauka, Interperiodica, Springer, 233 Spring St.,
New York, NY 10013-1578, USA.

IRAN TO PUMP 3 MILLION CM GAS TO ARMENIA

Moj News Agency
September 23, 2008 Tuesday
Iran

In an interview with ISNA, head of National Iranian Gas Export
Company (NIGEC), Reza Kasaeizadeh said that Iran is able to pump 2
million cubic meters of gas to Armenia during this winter. Recently
the Armeniaian Minister of Energy had announced that the annual
capacity of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project would increase to
2.5 billion cubic meters. Announcing that Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
will guarantee the energy safety of Armenia, he said that the aim
will be achieved by increasing the capacity of the Kadzharan-Yerevan
section of the pipeline by November, 2008. Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
project was started on March 19, 2007 and it will provide Armenia
with an alternative to the gas it now imports from Russia. The 140
kilometer project is valued at $220 million which is to be financed
by the two countries.

ARTIST SOARS PAST TOUR DE FORCE
George Warren

Fresno Bee
September 23, 2008 Tuesday
California

Babayan takes music to hearts of his audience.

Pianist Sergei Babayan has nothing to prove to his fans in Fresno. He’s
been here many times before and has shown extreme range of emotion,
total command of the keyboard, and a musical vision that goes well
beyond the idea of mere entertainment.

Babayan drew a full house to the Concert Hall at California State
University, Fresno, Sunday to open the season of the Philip Lorenz
Memorial Keyboard Concert series. The CSUF Armenian Studies Program
co-sponsored the recital.

Rather than putting on a tour-de-force of pianism as he has in the
past, Babayan brought a program that focused on the spiritually
expressive potential of his instrument. Opening with "Fur Alina"
by Arvo Part is an unusual way to draw in an audience. This music is
quiet and slow, and the harmony changes little throughout the brief
span of the composition.

In the hands of Babayan, what might be just a few notes turns into
a timeless experience of speechless beauty. Babayan was in no hurry
to finish phrases or get on with the piece. He allowed space to
breathe, and he allowed time for notes to recede to silence. While
the composition might not be groundbreaking in terms of harmony and
rhythm, the singular feel of the music sets Part in his own camp of
living composers.

As the last notes faded, the audience sat spellbound. There would be
no applause here, the magic would have evaporated. After a moment of
complete silence, Babayan began Liszt’s Ballade No. 2, the loudest and
most dynamically expressive music on the program. Babayan demonstrated
his understanding of the music by creating the wash of sound in the
background and then bringing the themes out front.

His demeanor here was not filled with excitement and energy. Instead,
he took the tone of presenting a sober moment of truth from Liszt’s
oeuvre. This is no slouch of a piece of music, but the unfolding
harmony sounds like something Moses might have written were he
a composer.

Brahms’ Theme and Variations in D Minor, an arrangement from his String
Sextet Op. 18, provided a brief diversion from the serious nature of
the program, and Babayan seemed to enjoy the rolling chords and various
treatments of the themes. He also delivered Liszt’s passionate setting
of two Schubert songs with a clear eye on the meaning of the program.

The first half of the program ended with Schumann’s Variations on a
Theme by Beethoven. The theme comes from Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony,
and Schumann presents it unabridged the first time. Then Schumann’s
imagination takes over, and while his development of the idea does
not match Beethoven’s in immediate appeal, the growth of the idea
to the stunning and riveting summation transforms Beethoven’s more
primitive musical constraints into seminal material for Arvo Part.

The end of the set matched the beginning, with Babayan unwinding
Schumann’s melody and countermelody over an unchanging harmony. It
took a few seconds after the end for the audience to realize that it
was time to applaud.

The second half featured the Suite in A Minor of Jean-Philippe Rameau,
the great 17th-century theorist who wrote the book on tonal harmony
and sealed the modal system into its churchyard grave. While Rameau
the composer has not achieved the following of Bach or Vivaldi, his
music belongs in the same museum as the other Baroque masters. After
all, it was Rameau who put into words the argument for a functional
tonal system.

How this fits into a program of highly emotional music is
clear. Without the foundation of Rameau and the other Baroque
composers, the music of Part, Brahms, and Schumann would not have
been possible. Moreover, in the hands of Babayan, this "intellectual"
music of Rameau becomes as spiritually profound and expressive as
the other music on the program. Maybe it’s not the era or the style,
maybe it’s that some compositions more than others elevate the spirit
of the listener.

Certainly, when Babayan is the pianist, the music is going to reach
the heart of the audience.

George Warren, Ph.D., directs the music program at Hallmark Charter
School.

IMF MISSION ANNOUNCED CONCLUDING STATEMENT ABOUT ARMENIA

RIA Oreanda
Economic News
September 23, 2008 Tuesday
Russia

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS On 23 September was announced, that an IMF
staff team, led by Ms. Marta Castello-Branco, IMF Mission Chief for
Armenia, visited Yerevan during September 3-16, 2008 to meet with
representatives of the government, the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA),
the international donor community, and the private sector. Mr. Lorenzo
Prez, Deputy Director of the IMF, also participated in the concluding
policy discussions. The goal of the mission was to review recent
economic developments, reach agreement on the 2009 budget, and conduct
negotiations on a new IMF-supported program for Armenia.

Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook

GDP growth continues to be strong, but inflationary pressures are
still high. Thus far, the conflict between Georgia and Russia does
not seem to have significantly affected the growth outlook and, unless
tensions persist, a 10 percent real growth rate is within reach this
year. Annual inflation surged to 11.5 percent in August, mostly
due to external shocks, but also as a result of higher domestic
demand-driven by rising incomes, rapid credit growth, and large
foreign exchange inflows.

Tightened monetary and fiscal policies and the recent fall in
international food and fuel prices are expected to bring inflation
back to around 7.5 percent by the end of this year. In the next few
years, growth should remain robust, and inflation should stabilize
around the central bank’s target rate of 4 percent.

Under the current macroeconomic conditions, fiscal policy could
play a more active stabilization role, notably with a tighter fiscal
stance this year. Budget execution in 2008 has been prudent thus far,
due to strong revenue performance and under-execution of expenditure,
despite the increase in average pensions by 60 percent. On this basis,
we expect the 2008 fiscal deficit to be significantly lower than
budgeted. Fiscal policy will need to remain tight in 2009 in order
to help keep inflation low.

To limit the effect of higher food and energy prices on other
price increases, the CBA has raised its policy interest rate
gradually from 4.5 percent in June 2007 to 7.75 percent in September
2008. Nevertheless, private sector credit and monetary aggregates
continue to grow at a rapid pace, reflecting strong domestic demand
and the still limited impact of monetary policy on bank lending rates.

The widening current account deficit is a growing concern. Although
private transfers have remained strong, the current account has
continued to deteriorate. Imports have surged on the back of high
international food and energy prices and strong import demand, while
exports have been sluggish. With appreciation pressures diminished
by rising import demand, the dram/dollar exchange rate has remained
broadly stable thus far in 2008.

Structural Reforms

The new government has given clear priority to tax and customs
reform. It approved a comprehensive and ambitious plan to make
the tax administration more efficient, and create more equal
conditions for businesses. To make tax compliance simpler for small
businesses, a VAT threshold of AMD 58.3 million will be introduced
in January 2009. Starting in 2010, trade fairs will be moved from
the presumptive to the general VAT and income tax regime. However,
there are still delays in processing VAT refunds, which negatively
affect exporters. The authorities are planning to reform the VAT
refund process following best international practices, clear the
stock of late VAT refund claims, and process all VAT refund claims
within the legal time limit. In the financial sector, the authorities
have introduced legislation to improve consumer protection, market
transparency, and financial intermediation. Finally, preparations
for the introduction of a funded pension pillar are underway.

New IMF Program

Under the previous three-year IMF program, which ended in May 2008,
Armenia achieved double digit growth, single digit inflation, and a
significant reduction in poverty. Nevertheless, more progress needs to
be made with structural reforms in several areas, particularly in tax
policy and tax and customs administration. The government has requested
a new IMF program to support this unfinished reform agenda. Given the
progress made so far, this new IMF program would provide less financing
than its predecessors. Its main purpose is to signal the IMF’s support
for Armenia’s macroeconomic policies and structural reform agenda in
the country’s transition from low-income to emerging market economy
status, thus facilitating Armenia’s integration into the world economy.

Structural conditionality under the new program will focus mainly on
tax administration and tax policy reforms, given their positive impact
on the business environment, financial intermediation, economic growth,
and poverty reduction. In addition, the program aims at making fiscal
policy a more effective demand management tool, improving the fiscal
framework, and strenghtening coordination between the monetary and
fiscal authorities.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT INVITES AZERI INVESTMENT IN KARABAKH

Mediamax
Sept 23 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 23 September: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated that
"the right to self-determination of the Nagornyy Karabakh people
should be accepted".

The president said this on 20 September at a meeting with
representatives of international media, answering the following
question: "What is the limit of mutual concessions in the issue of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the red line, which Armenia will
never cross? Does Armenia theoretically consider Nagornyy Karabakh
within Azerbaijan as a federative state, or any other way?"

The Armenian president answered: "We stated about the red line very
long ago, at least 14 years ago, when we concluded a truce, just as
we have stated it for a few times afterwards. The line is that the
right of the Nagornyy Karabakh people to self-determination should
be accepted.

"The matter is the following: the people of Nagornyy Karabakh lived in
this territory for thousands of years, and conditions should be set
now for the people of Nagornyy Karabakh to have the opportunity to
continue its secure existence in this territory. The Soviet period,
when Karabakh was within the composition of Azerbaijan, showed that
secure existence of Karabakh within Azerbaijan is impossible. What
concerns the theoretic variant of whether Karabakh may be within
the composition of Azerbaijan, this can be defined as a result of a
referendum, after asking the opinion of the Karabakh people.

"But I am sure that at least in the near future, no matter what
happens, any referendum will give one result – the Karabakh people
will not wish to be within the composition of Azerbaijan. I told
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that if the Azerbaijani people
are seriously interested in the issues of secure life and future
of Nagornyy Karabakh, let them make serious investments in Nagornyy
Karabakh and prove that Azerbaijan is ready to invest and convince
the people of Nagornyy Karabakh of the fact that Azerbaijan may become
a guarantor of their security. Maybe, after that the referendum will
show the wish of the Karabakh people to be within the composition of
Azerbaijan. If one day a miracle happens and Nagornyy Karabakh finds
itself within Azerbaijan, some short time later not a single Armenian
will remain there."

Sargsyan said that "there is no issue on recognizing South Ossetia
and Abkhazia on our agenda today".

The president said this on 20 September at the meeting with
representatives of international media, answering the question on
why Armenia did not recognize the independence of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia and whether it is ready to recognize the independence of
Nagornyy Karabakh.

"One cannot rule out anything. Today, we do not have the issue of
recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia on our agenda. It may seem
strange that we have always been for the right to self-determination,
but we did not recognize Kosovo, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"Our approach is simple: we have a similar problem – the issue of
Nagornyy Karabakh. We cannot recognize Kosovo, South Ossetia and
Abkhazia before Nagornyy Karabakh is recognized. And why don’t we
recognize the independence of Nagornyy Karabakh? Because today we are
in the process of negotiations with Azerbaijan and we want to reach
a peace settlement. Do you remember that in the case with Kosovo and
others, it was stated that recognition is the last means? If there
are no means left, Armenia will recognize the independence of Nagornyy
Karabakh," the Armenian president said.

BAKU DENIES ARMENIA WILL HOST NABUCCO

UPI Energy
September 24, 2008 Wednesday 4:11 PM EST

Azerbaijani officials Wednesday said there are no plans to alter the
route of the proposed Nabucco pipeline through Armenian territory.

Turkish media had reported Ankara spoke with officials in Armenia
about the possibility of altering the Nabucco route to Europe.

Construction on the 2,000-mile pipeline from Caspian gas fields to
Europe is slated for 2009. Azeri officials, however, denied the plans
included Armenia, Trend Capital News reported.

"The route of Nabucco has already been determined. It will run through
territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia, onwards to Turkey, Greece up to
Italy," said Ali Hasanov with the Public Policy Department in Baku.

Hasanov said Baku "has repeatedly stated" it will not deal with Armenia
until it releases territory Azerbaijan claims is under occupation.

Europe and the United States back development of the Nabucco pipeline
as a means of easing Europe’s dependency on Russian energy.